Blog Banner

CAP faithful can make all the difference - Williams

14th February 2019


Nick Williams insists the Arms Park crowd can make all the difference on Saturday (7.35pm) as Cardiff Blues take on Glasgow Warriors in a crucial Guinness PRO14 clash.

With the race for the play-off places, which warrant qualification for the Heineken Champions Cup, intensifying, the Blues find themselves two points adrift of the all-important top three.

They face Glasgow for the fourth time this season, searching for their first win and are determined to make it four victories from their last five PRO14 encounters.

Williams said: “We owe them one and everyone is looking forward to it.

“Home advantage is massive, a lot of people don’t think it counts but the people that do turn up on weekends and cold nights, they make a hell of a difference, especially when we are down in the trenches. 

“When you’re on your hands and knees, and you’re blowing out of your backside, that’s when you want the people to raise their voice and help us get over the line. Hopefully we can get as many of our faithful down there and we will try to do them proud.”

Following a tense 8-7 victory over fellow play-off rivals Connacht, the Blues enjoyed a week off before returning for a two-week build-up to Saturday’s clash.

Williams believes the break came at the perfect time and that Wales’ Capital Region are now focused with steely determination on the top three.

And while there is ground to make up, and lessons to put into practice against the Scots, he insists John Mulvihill’s men can play with plenty of confidence.

He added: “The break came at a good time. The boys, both physically and mentally, were a bit shattered and I know myself, I took a bit of time off, turned the switch off, re-energised and pushed the reset button.  

“We’ve got back on the horse, we’ve had two good weeks of preparation and mixed it up to keep it fresh and now we’re looking forward to giving it a good crack against Glasgow. 

“We always give them fast starts, John mentioned in the week that we have won every second half but unfortunately rugby is a game of two halves and we’ve probably been at our worst in the first 20 minutes every time we’ve played them.

“They come out of the box fast and they play an expansive game but the last time we played them the last 30 minutes was probably a good blueprint about how we want to play.

“Rugby is a game of confidence and you have to be confident otherwise you are half way to losing. It’s all about self-belief, self-confidence and crossing the ‘I’s and dotting the ‘T’s during the week to make sure come Saturday it’s the norm and hopefully all the stars align for us.

“Last season, on the outside, everybody thought it was all doom and gloom but we’re a tight knit group and the boys definitely know how to play for each other, especially when times are dark. 

“You make your own confidence, you make your own luck and hopefully we can get that win on Saturday evening.”

Tickets for the crucial encounter between Cardiff Blues and Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, March 16, (7.35pm) are available now by clicking here or calling 029 20 302030.