Mission Unlikely

Dai Young
By Andrew Collins
January 19 2006

Dai picks his 22 man squad for what may well be the last time, as Cardiff face mission unlikely against Leeds. Qualification is very unlikely now, with the Blues needing at very least a win and other results, with 5 points still not enough to guarantee anything.

Never has to do or Dai scenario been more true than Sundays game against Leeds, in Yorkshire. Following last weeks disappointing loss to Perpignan, the Blues go up to Leeds knowing qualification is out of their hands.

The Blues need at very least a win, with 5 points only helping their cause, not guaranteeing it. Should the Blues not qualify, it could well see the end to Young’s reign at the helms.

The side itself sees just 1 change from the one that was outplayed by the French side.

Craig Morgan is dropped, and young wing Chris Czekaj starts.

The main news is that, as thought, Nicky Robinson remains unfit as does Roger Warren. That means Nick Macleod stays at 10, despite having a very poor match last week.

The Blues can reach 20 points, which tends to be enough to qualify as a runner up, but getting 5 points at Leeds in easier said than done, especially when the Tykes themselves can reach 20.

Other teams who can go through in runners up spot include, Munster, Sale, Biarritz, Saracens and Leinster, and they can all finish with more than 20, meaning it's not in our own hands.

The Blues missed their chance to qualify by losing last week. Simple as that. They were in a position to qualify as group leaders, and now look outsiders to qualify as runners up.

For the Blues to even get any result up there would be very surprising, given away form in the last 3 years, but with so much on the line, will the players produce something special, albeit too late?

Coach, Dai Young said

"If we can go to Leeds and get a result, which is easier said than done, it all depends on how results go elsewhere and we can sneak through, if we had qualified against Perpignan we would still be kidding ourselves if we thought we were one of the top eight sides in Europe at the moment."

Though on paper, the Blues can't be far off those 8, especially with Peter Thomas promising another 6 top players this summer.

Monday could be a whole new era for the Blues, and may see the 1st ever coach of the regional side step down; however, it could still see Cardiff qualify for the quarter finals.

R Williams (capt); C Czekaj, J Robinson, M Stcherbina, J Lomu; N Macleod, M Phillips; G Jenkins, R Thomas, M Jones, D Jones, R Sidoli, A Powell, M Williams, X Rush.

J Yapp, D Goodfield, C Quinnell, R Sowden-Taylor, R Powell, L Thomas, T Davies.