Tuesday 19 May 2015 13:42, UK
Sam Warburton is already putting a disappointing season with the Cardiff Blues behind him and looking forward to a more stable future.
The Blues finished off a poor season with a 29-5 victory over Zebre in Cardiff which consolidated their 10th place in the Guinness Pro12 table – the lowest-placed Welsh region.
Much was expected of the Blues this season, especially with former Hurricanes boss Mark Hammett at the helm. However he lasted just six months before heading home following disappointing results and rumours of player unrest.
Wales skipper Warburton admits it has not been the best of seasons but says that the players are already looking forward to next season where they believe stability in the coaching team will help them move up the table.
“It hasn’t been the season that we’d have wished for. We had a head coach who came in and then unfortunately he left for personal reasons during the season," Warburton told Sky Sports.
"So we’ve had to make do with what we’ve got, we won the last game but we’ve had a difficult run before that. I think it’s just been one of those seasons where we wanted to finish at home in front of our home crowd and finish on a positive but I think already players will be looking forward to next season and trying to do a bit better, go up the league a bit.
"There’s a long term plan at the Blues now, we’re realistic enough to realise that we’re not going to be going for the Championship next season, we just need to stabilise our squad and try and get into the top six.
“It would be great for us to get back in the Champions Cup again where we were when I first came through because Cardiff is a great club with a huge following.
"People want to watch a winning team so we want to get back to winning ways and hope that we get some big crowds back down at Arms Park again, that’d be great for the future."
The right stuff
After Hammett's departure, Paul John and Dale McIntosh took over as caretaker coaches, however the search for the a new head coach is underway with both John and McIntosh throwing their hats in the ring. Whoever gets the job will be given three years no matter what happens, and Warburton says that stability in the management will filter down to the players.
“What’s good is that the Blues have told the new coach that he’s got three years regardless in the post," added Warburton.
"You need stability in a management set-up, not just players, the coaches as well. So I think that’s great for the coach, he’s got that security, he’s got three years to build the squad which gives him plenty of time.
“In the past we’ve had coaches who’ve had one season or not even that on some occasions. That’s a good thing and I think they’ve got a thorough process to find who that is going to be to make sure they get the right guy in.
“As a player it is nice to know that and know that stability will be coming to the club in the next few seasons."
Flying the flag
While Munster may have finished far down the table, their fierce rivals the Ospreys will travel to Thomond Park on Saturday to take on Munster in the PRO12 play-offs. And Warburton is hoping that they fly the flag for Wales all the way to the final
“Being a fan of Welsh rugby I’m hoping the Ospreys do well. They’re the only Welsh team in the top four play-offs and obviously I’ve got a lot of friends playing for the Ospreys so I’d personally like to see the Ospreys win.
“The Welsh game at a regional level hasn’t had the best of publicity over the last few years with the teams overachieving so it’d be great to see the Ospreys pick up some silverware and fly the flag for Wales.”
Watch Munster v Ospreys, 2.30pm, Sat, Sky Sports 1 HD
