Danny Wilson insists Cardiff Blues positive pre-season will count for nothing if they do not kick-off the new Guinness PRO14 campaign with a win.
The Blues have impressed in the last two weeks, notching up wins over London Scottish and most recently English champions Exeter Chiefs at Cardiff Arms Park.
They matched the Chiefs formidable forwards and shared two tries apiece, with Aled Summerhill adding a brace to last week’s hat-trick, but it was the boot of Jarrod Evans that proved the difference.
Wilson was delighted with his side’s performance but he refused to carry away and declared it is all about Edinburgh at the Arms Park on Friday night.
He said: “First of all it is a fantastic result. The English champions coming to the Arms Park, we always knew that would be a huge test and we wanted that.
“We got everything we wanted but as I have said ton the players, it means nothing if we lose next weekend. The objective was a good, tough work out to prepare us for next week against Edinburgh and our focus now is solely on that.
“The two wins we have had up to now will not mean anything unless we beat Edinburgh. They are pre-season games, friendlies, hit outs and it all starts for real on Friday night.”
Once again the Blues’ youngsters stood tall with Summerhill starring and taking his pre-season tally to five.
But the performance was built upon solid foundations. The scrum and defence held firm all evening and that was all the more impressive as 21-year-old Corey Domachowski and 20-year-old Keiron Assiratti tamed the Chiefs’ set-piece in the closing stages.
Wilson continued: “You saw some really good shifts and sets in defence. At times we were really solid in defence, we were aggressive and came with good line speed and organisation.
“We also scrummaged well all night and that was an area I had recognised as their main strength.
“Their maul and scrum has got them through in the Premiership week in, week out. For us to scrummage like that against a team like Exeter is really pleasing and especially with a 20-year-old and 21-year-old for half a game.
“We can’t get too carried away with a pre-season friendly but if we produce that in the Championship we will be happy and give ourselves the best chance of picking up more wins.”
Tickets for Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh in the Guinness PRO14 at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, September 1 (7.35pm) are available now. Season Memberships and match tickets can be bought here.