Posted by Starting the season with a derby is a somewhat unusual occurrence. You have to go back to 2007/08 for the last time Cardiff took on a Welsh rival to kick the campaign off, with a 17-15 win over Ospreys at the Arms Park.
There are benefits to it in that mid-year derbies can be a momentum shifter for a team’s season but an opening round fixture means there is no form to be lost, while seemingly there should be fewer injuries to deal with and more chance to a stronger XV to get the United Rugby Championship underway, although that seems to be less and less of the case.
Yet the flip side is that a derby is not a run-of-the-mill game. It doesn’t ease you into the new season or allow you a slow start and to shake off any off-season rust. It’s a double-edged battle from the kick-off where inaccuracy in skill execution or being slightly off on it from an emotional standpoint is punished.
So it’s for that reason why the performance that Cardiff put in on Saturday should only be seen as an impressive one. Yes, it wasn’t the most free-flowing or incisive attacking showing from open play, and Gethin Jenkins may be disappointed with some aspects of the defending for the two tries Scarlets scored.
However, the fight and grit on display from the Blue & Blacks, particularly to battle back a second time and go in ahead at the break, and then hold on to a slender lead for the majority of the final quarter, was a huge positive that the winning attitude and mindset from last season is still on display in this.
The driving maul was a clear weapon that functioned very well, the physicality around the breakdown was impressive in retaining possession and stunting the Scarlets attack, the scrum and lineout went well overall and the aerial game improved as proceedings went on to turn the territory battle on it’s head.
There are some caveats around the injuries and unavailable new signings for the home side on Saturday, and the general fact that they are a team which has struggled throughout last season and has a bit of a mountain to climb when it comes to being regularly competitive again.
Similarly though there is plenty of room to grow for Cardiff throughout this first block of fixtures. Particularly in attack where there were glimpses of a more fluid shape and a few half-breaks that weren’t quite capitalised on, but the Dan Bowden effect should only increase as the weeks go on and with the talent throughout the squad.
The first home game of the season next week sees Zebre arrive at the Arms Park, and with the greatest of respect to the Italian side, they are regularly found around the foot of the URC table for a reason and have done little in the recruitment window to suggest that won’t be the case once again this year.
It’s a great opportunity to go out and really show off the attacking identity of the Blue and Blacks after a 2025/26 campaign during which there wasn’t a huge amount in the way of highlight reel tries. It would be great to see a Cardiff side striking from midfield and turning line breaks into tries on a more regular basis.
As ever though, the result is the most important thing and five points is the ultimate aim no matter how it comes, to build on the hard fought four points taken away from Parc y Scarlets.
Momentum is massive and with some tough fixtures on the horizon a good start to the season in which wins are racked up and points put on the board is incredibly important for Corniel Van Zyl. Saturday is a great example of how to make sure that happens, now the trick for Cardiff is getting ready to do that week-in, week-out.
