Posted by For the last 23 years Cardiff’s performances against Ospreys have, with one or two notable exceptions, been underwhelming. A miserable head-to-head record, an even worse stat line when heading down to Swansea/Neath/Bridgend/next door (delete as applicable), and the constantly impending doom of being bullied by a huge pack.
All that was hanging over the Blue & Blacks as they returned to St Helen’s for the first time since 2004 on Saturday night. A Halloween night of horrors lay in store with the hosts only missing Gareth Thomas to international call-ups from their pack, Ross Moriarty selected on the openside and the Dragons having been mauled to death the week prior.
Particularly prevalent was the memories of the last visit to Ospreys where, on New Year’s Day in Bridgend, Corniel Van Zyl’s men were miles off the level required to compete in a derby and were subsequently swept aside with ease. Only a late salvo stole potentially the least deserved losing bonus point in rugby history.
And yet, once Tom Bowen’s try capped a simply superb opening 20 minutes from Cardiff, all that baggage seemed to dissipate. You could almost see it strewn in the wake of the winger as he sliced through the defensive line in midfield and sped over in the right-hand corner.
The Blue and Blacks had come to Swansea to do a job, and had executed it with aplomb. The attack was high tempo and accurate, the lineout was simplified and effective, the maul defence was physical and organised, and the defensive breakdown work was utterly ferocious. It took the Ospreys by surprise on the field, let alone those watching from the stands and at home.
There was a steely energy to the away side, who pitched the emotional level perfectly to meet the physical demands that are required to beat the second city rivals, while still having clear enough heads to be sharp and expansive in attack. From there the confidence just grew and grew, with absolutely no let up.
Little wins were celebrated vocally but without hysteria. Momentum acknowledged but focus shifting immediately to the next job. An Ospreys player held up? Great work, but they’ll be coming back again. A turnover won? Superb individual skill, but now let’s go and make the most of possession. Steff Emanuel nudges a kick through for Josh Adams and the lead extends again.
Keeping the Ospreys out on the stroke of half-time was psychologically massive, and then draining their energy as they loudly banged on the door in the third quarter was almost sadistic. A massive effort bolstered by an effective bench; Scott Sio won a big turnover, Tom Howe won a big turnover, Lucas de la Rua won a big turnover, Callum Sheedy was part of a big counter ruck.
Once Howe trundled over at the back of a maul to secure the try bonus point the game was over as a contest. Still though there was no relaxing from Cardiff as the scramble defence kicked into gear where things got scrappy in the final few minutes, before Steff Emanuel personified the effort on show from the away side by holding Keelan Giles up in the corner with the last play.
The unavailable list was lengthy thanks to injuries and international call-ups, but the ‘next man up’ mantra this deepening squad has is impressive, characterised by the young players who have stepped up and placed themselves firmly in the first team picture. Not as talented youngsters, but as genuine selection options.
Howe is a super talent with his size, pace and willingness to be physical, Lucas de la Rua is having his best run at this level thanks to a grittiness and work rate that puts him right in the middle of the action, Tom Bowen’s confidence is growing week-on-week as he begins to embrace a touch of shithousery, while Matty Young just oozes class as an attacking full-back.
It’s Steff Emanuel who claims the headlines this week though with a performance that announced to the world he is a seriously talented young man. He carries hard, has some beautiful attacking touches, is a controlled footballer, and loves to hit people in defence. That three-quarter line of Johan Mulder, Jarrod Evans, Emanuel and Le Roux Malan enjoying a fast pitch on a calm night is a genuine joy to watch.
Just another tick in the box for Gruff Rees, Dan Fish, the Rags and the academy at the Arms Park where an integrated and aligned pathway is producing individuals capable of making the step up in a way that appears seamless from the outside.
So a superb manner in which to bring the first block of fixtures to a close, and a win that should be well celebrated, but while the players not in test action enjoy a week on holiday the attention should still be turning to next job as it did on Saturday night.
It’s all well and good winning a one-off big game like that at St Helen’s, but it needs to be backed up at the start of a huge run of games through December and January. Ulster at home in the 150th anniversary fixture, Bath at home in the Champions Cup’s return to the Arms Park, and a Welsh derby triple header are on the horizon before even thinking about the run into the Six Nations.
The season waits for no man, but it finally feels like it has properly started for Cardiff.
