Posted by There’s certainly elements to nitpick at when it comes to Cardiff Arms Park; the toilets would be considered borderline in a 19th century rookery, there isn’t a huge amount of covered concourse/bar space and the South Stand having concrete cancer isn’t exactly comforting.
However, on a night like Friday last, when the old place is full and rocking and the Blue & Blacks are playing great rugby on the way to a statement victory, there are few better sporting theatres in world rugby.
You feel the history of the ground; the greats who have graced the field before today’s squad, the supporters who have stood where you stand roaring them on, and the occasions that have made Cardiff Rugby Club famous across the global game. It is a special place and that night was a special night, ranking up there with the win over Sale, the Champions Cup fixtures against Quins and Bath, and the Misfits afternoon of recent years.
Credit to the Munster supporters too, in that respect. Often a key element of memorable games and/or atmospheres at the Arms Park has been the presence of away fans in the ground, and the Irish supporters brought a good few hundred followers to the Welsh capital to add to proceedings.
Unfortunately for them, but fortunately for the majority in attendance, they would leave disappointed as the Blue & Blacks produced what was arguably the performance of the season to emerge victorious and keep hopes alive of a first play-off appearance since they were re-introduced to the league in 2009/10.
It was a Cardiff showing that underlined just how far this group have come on since the shambles of a summer that was the 2023 off-season. From forcibly blooding youngsters, to regularly brave losers and now taking 10 points from 10 against Ospreys and Munster across six days having at least matched, and in places bettered, them in the scrum, at the lineout, in the maul and at the gain line.
Of course there is plenty of credit to the players who were superb, but also to those off-the-field who have developed or identified them. The development of Evan Lloyd, Teddy Williams and Alex Mann has been noticeable, the recruitment of Danny Southworth, Rhys Litterick, Ben Donnell and Josh McNally have been masterstrokes, and the overall improvement of the forward play under Corniel van Zyl and Scott Andrews has been a revelation.
Being the better side up front is largely pointless unless backed up by a well managed game from half back though, and what we saw in the final 15 minutes against Munster at the Arms Park was a level of almost total territory and possession control from the Blue & Blacks.
Callum Sheedy continues to take a certain amount of stick from some quarters, particularly related to his goalkicking. That obviously hasn’t been near the required standard, but at the same time the level of his general play has been superb, as evidenced by how he marshalled the hosts around the opposition half in that final quarter.
Ably assisted by the quality Ben Thomas and always improving and impressing Johan Mulder, his decision making and tactical kicking resulted in Munster only once touching the ball inside the Cardiff 10 metre line from the point we went ahead in the 66th minute. That once, of course, coming with the last play of the game as Sheedy himself popped up with the match winning turnover.
The Blue & Blacks are gradually becoming a remarkably well-rounded rugby team, the trick now will be putting that out on a regular basis and, over the next fortnight, putting it out in the unforgiving conditions of South Africa.
It’s not yet job done for Matt Sherratt’s side in terms of tying up a United Rugby Championship play-off spot, and this trip to the Rainbow Nation is far from an end of season jolly. There are still points to be won, statements to be made and momentum to be gathered into what is hopefully a successful post-season run.
Last Friday was a great night at the Arms Park, but it would become even greater if it springboarded Cardiff to a quarter-final.
#TrustTheProcess
Cardiff Rugby Life 