Welsh derbies can showcase the best of regional rugby, says Cardiff Blues boss ...

CARDIFF Blues boss Phil Davies has hailed the Christmas derbies as a perfect chance to show what regional rugby is all about.

The hectic holiday period kicks off at the Arms Park on Friday night – when the Ospreys are the visitors – amid the continuing unrest in Welsh rugby.

There’s mounting uncertainty surrounding the futures of the four regions with no resolution to their ongoing dispute with the WRU.

But Davies believes the festive fixtures, which feature five Welsh derbies, provide an ideal opportunity to showcase the best of the regional game.

After hosting the Ospreys, the Blues face back-to-back matches against the Dragons on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

“The derbies represent old rivalries that go back years, back to when I played a long time ago,” said the former Wales forward.

“They are not difficult to get the players up for, because of all the rivalry and the history behind them all.

“It’s important we perform well and give people a real taste of what regional rugby is.

“All the young players that are developing and coming through will be on show.”

Despite all the issues within the Welsh game, director of rugby Davies insists the players remain firmly focused on the job in hand.

“We talk about controlling what we can control, which is going out on the training field every week and preparing and then going on the pitch and trying to play to the best of our ability,” he said.

“We talk to the players about what they are representing, the jersey they are putting on their backs.

“For us, we represent the capital city of Wales, as we keep saying to the players. We represent the people of the Welsh valleys.

“All those things are important for us as rugby people to get across to the players. Their commitment to performing in these derbies will be absolute, that’s for sure.

“There will be no quarter asked or given from any of the players in these games.

“Their commitment to it is fantastic and it will be easy to get them up because they know what they represent.”

More than 10,000 tickets have been sold for tomorrow’s meeting with the Ospreys and bumper crowds are expected for the Dragons games at Rodney Parade and the Arms Park.

“It’s great for the fans and the supporters,” said Davies.

“It’s really exciting. The atmospheres will be electric.

“All that sort of stuff the fans love to talk about is going to be there for the next couple of weeks, so it’s going to be terrific.

“The grounds will be packed out and that’s fantastic. We are looking forward to playing two of the games at home. That’s a real bonus for us. It will be great crowd here on Friday night, with more than 10,000 people. It will be terrific.

“The Arms Park will be rocking. Some of the atmospheres we’ve had there this year have been brilliant, but this is a bit special. It’s different. The intensity will be right up there.

“We go to Rodney Parade on Boxing Day and the atmosphere will be white-hot there too.”

The Blues go into derby season undefeated in their last three games and with back-to-back Heineken Cup victories over Glasgow under their belts.

“The European momentum has been good for us,” said Davies.

“We are happy with the way we are building.

“We are in good shape going into the derbies.

“But they are one-off occasions in many ways and form goes out of the window.

“They are traditionally huge and hopefully that will continue on Friday night.

“We are up against a very strong Ospreys team. We will see where we are after that and then we’ll turn round to next Thursday and New Year’s Day.

“We’ve planned for it and we are organised for it and we will take it in our stride.

“It will be big tough challenges, but it’s great and we are really looking forward to it.”

There’s some welcome good news on the fitness front for the Blues, with Andries Pretorius available again, while fellow back rower Josh Navidi and centre Dafydd Hewitt could also be back in contention to face the Ospreys.

Prop Tao Filise is a new doubt with a sore shoulder and Wales skipper Sam Warburton will miss the whole derby programme with his own shoulder issue.

Article source: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/rugby-league/355557/Sydney-Roosters-appoint-England-rugby-coach-Steve-McNamara

Welsh derbies can showcase the best of regional rugby, says Cardiff Blues boss ...