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Cardiff Rugby boss Dai Young believes the battle for Vodacom United Rugby Championship top eight play-off spots could well go right down to the wire as he reflects on his team’s all-important 30-13 bonus point victory over Benetton at the Arms Park. When 15-point utility back Ben Thomas crossed in the final play to secure the four-try bonus, it took Young’s men above the Italians on points difference and up to ninth, just one point behind Connacht who currently occupy the final play-off position. “We knew this was a huge game for us. If we didn’t get that result, things would startto look more and more difficult,” said director of rugby Young.“The players have been outstanding, their focus in training has been excellent and I am really pleased with that performance and that result. “We won the second half 14-0, playing into the wind, so that’s a big tap on the back for the players. There were big smiles on the faces coming off the field and that’s what playing rugby is all about.“We have got Ulster here in a couple of weeks, so that’s another massive game. All we can do is pick up as many points as we can moving forward. “It could go right down to the wire. We are hoping that come the last game on Judgement Day we are going there with a realistic chance of getting in that top eight and challenging to be the best-placed Welsh region. But there are three games before that which we have got to get right as well.” There was also a big bonus point win for the Scarlets, who ran in five tries in beating Edinburgh 42-14, with winger Ryan Conbeer crossing twice. They have now won eight of their last nine matches in all competitions, turning their season on its head. Skipper Sione Kalamafoni commented: “It feels very good to keep that momentum going. The boys have been working very hard and it’s shown in the last few weeks. I am extremely proud for the fans, families and friends.” Head coach Dwayne Peel added: “We prepared really well for this game. The boys have trained really hard. We were physical when we needed to be, we gave a big performance defensively and were clinical. I’m very pleased and it’s good to carry on the momentum.” A record crowd of 41,205 turned out at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld to watch the DHL Stormers defeat the Vodacom Bulls 23-19 in a repeat of last season’s Vodacom URC final.It was the biggest attendance for a league match in South Africa and it was a titanic tussle to match the occasion, with the reigning champions turning round a 12-3 deficit. They claimed tries through back row men Marcel Theunissen and Junior Pokomela, with fly-half Manie Libbok landing five shots at goal, while the Vodacom Bulls’ one touchdown came from winger Sbu Nkosi. DHL Stormers coach John Dobson said: “I’m very proud of the character shown by the team. We knew the level of motivation and desperation for this game and that the first 20, 30 minutes would be really tough. “At 12-3 down we were under the pump, but the way we stayed in the fight, got into the lead at half time and then started the second half was magic – and then the character at the end. That’s what this team is about, what happened in those last 10 minutes, and I’m so proud of them. We were defending so well. There was just this desperation to defend to win.” Dobson added: “We have the Sharks game next and if we get that right we’ve got a clean sweep of the local derbies, which would be brilliant for us. “We probably need another win from the last four games to get the SA Shield, whichI’m sure we’ll get and that’s important for us.“You want to be the best team in South Africa and we’re getting very close to that, given our results. If we can win the Shield two years in a row it’ll be a great feather in the cap for this union and the team.” In the other South African derby, the Cell C Sharks pulled away in the second half to claim a 29-7 bonus point victory over the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg and maintain their bid for a play-off spot. |