Thursday 11 December 2014 16:24, UK
The boys performed awesomely against Munster last Saturday and it was a great win to get. I thought our defence was just outstanding.
The result has put us in a really good position but we are well aware about what is coming this weekend and how important it is for us to stay focused. We can’t sit back and have the mind-set that we beat Munster away so beating them at home is a foregone conclusion. They are one of the giants of European rugby and we cannot underestimate what they can do.
We know they will be coming for us and it is up to us to be ready for them. Now is the time to go and finish the job and end the year on a real positive note.
We are under no illusions that it will be really tough game and it is up to us to get off to a good start – And like we did in Thomond Park – that way we don’t have to chase the game and we can use our defence to soak up the pressure. We want to make sure that with the ball we use it more effectively but even without the ball we control the game with our defence.
Our forwards were so good last week and have worked really hard this week to make sure we keep that pressure up and really dominate the breakdown and the set-pieces. Despite the win last weekend we did not get as much field position as we would have liked too and we did not use our set-piece moves as much as we would have liked. However in the end we have kept it all in the locker for this weekend.
This weekend is about the result. We need to make sure that we are top of the pool heading into the final two rounds. That way we can control our own destiny. A victory this weekend means we don’t have to worry about anyone else and that there are no distractions.
I was delighted to see that Nick Abendanon come back on after that clash with Felix Jones – it was a nasty and I was slightly relieved when I did not go on as full-back!
Nick has been really good this year and he is a real threat and makes great decisions which puts the team into great positions. I was pleased to see him get through the concussion protocols last week and take his place back on the field. I know he is really keen to get back into the mix this weekend.
Away from the field, I am looking forward to Christmas. I can’t get back to Wales this year so myself, Fritz Lee and Brock James have all been invited over to spend Christmas with Zac Guildford and his family. It should be a nice little break for us all – it will be strange for me not to be playing a game on Boxing Day so I can relax a little bit more on Christmas Day. I am not sure if that is a good or a bad thing!
But before that we have to focus on getting back-to-back wins against Munster and I cannot wait to take them on at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
