McIntosh is ready for Keys challenge
CHAMPIONS Merthyr begin the defence of their Principality Premiership crown this afternoon when they entertain Cross Keys at the Wern (2.30pm).
The Ironmen bagged the big prize in their first season of Premiership rugby last term after defeating Aberavon in the Grand Final at the Talbot Athletic Ground.
And they certainly haven’t rested on their laurels during the close season – with the squad boosted further by the likes of fly-half Richard Powell from Bedwas, winger Stef Andrews from Aberavon and centre Tom Riley, who has made the journey from Newport.
Former Ospreys back-rower Joe Bearman has joined as a player and defensive coach, while helping to steer the ship off the field is ex-Wales coach Nigel Davies – who is the club’s new chief executive after stepping down as Ebbw Vale head coach.
Merthyr are backed by multi-millionaire Sir Stan Thomas and have come in for criticism in some quarters as a result, but head coach Dale McIntosh once again brushed that aside this week.
He said: “The perception is we’re Chequebook Charlies, we’re full of old journeymen, supported by a controlling businessman.
“The reality is they’re good, honest boys, we win games because of the culture, quality of traits, quality of people and Sir Stanley is a good bloke, very generous and very proud of his town.”
As he prepares his side to face Keys, McIntosh is expecting a stiff test first up against the Gwent men. “Cross Keys will be tough,” he said. “They bring a huge presence in the pack and, with that, they’ve got some youngsters out wide who are willing to play.
“You can’t coach against lack of predictability – and that’s what they’ve got in abundance.
“But everyone’s excited and, hopefully, we can put into fruition what we’ve done in preseason.”
The structure of the Premiership has been tweaked again and will now feature East and West conferences, with the eight teams in both playing each other home and away.
The two divisions will then be joined together for the second half of the season – all playing each other once – with no end-of-season play-offs.
Other games in the East today see Pontypridd entertain Bedwas on a newly re-laid artificial Sardis Road surface, while 2016 champions Ebbw Vale head to Bargoed.
Newport host Cardiff tomorrow – with a new hybrid Desso pitch on show at Rodney Parade.
In the West section, last season’s beaten finalists Aberavon entertain Bridgend, Llanelli host Carmarthen Quins while the standout fixture is at Church Bank where Llandovery host National Cup holders RGC 1404.
Expectation on the North Walians will no doubt be higher because of that cup success while, in what was their first season of Premiership rugby, they also made the play-off semis before eventually losing to Merthyr.
RGC head coach Mark Jones said: “I think it’s a different challenge for us this season – and there’s no doubt that teams will be looking to put one over on us
“We’ll be going into some games now as favourites where as previously we weren’t – certainly in the first half of last season.
“If we handle that, that’ll be another step forward for us.”
The other game in the west comes at the Gnoll where Neath entertain Swansea this evening, kick-off 7.30pm.