Davies banks on big result in front of the home faithful
THE scoreboard may have looked bad, but Seb Davies doesn’t believe Cardiff Blues were too far behind Sale Sharks in their first of their European Challenge Cup clashes
And the new Wales second row is convinced Danny Wilson’s men can turn things around to stay on top of Pool 2 and set-up a New Year shot at reaching the quarter-finals.
“We are looking for a big result this weekend. It’s a big clash and we really want to go through,” said Davies, who was in the side that lost 24-0 to Sale at the AJ Bell Stadium in round three.
“It’s a chance to put right the wrongs of last weekend. We need to play the conditions a bit better than we did in Manchester.
“We didn’t do that as well as they did, especially in our 22, and the scoreboard didn’t look good in the end. But I don’t think we were a million miles off them and, in front of what we hope will be a big crowd at the Arms Park, hopefully we can get a big result.”
Davies’ remarkable year has seen him emerge from nowhere to become a Blues regular and full Wales international.
“I didn’t think I would be in this position, but I guess I’ve just flicked a switch and I’m now playing for the team I grew up watching. All I want to do is play well for the Blues,” he said.
“It’s a good thing I can play in three positions and I’m not really sure where I will end up. I’m not looking too far ahead at the moment.
“The Six Nations is a few months away and that is in the back of my mind, but I have to play well for the Blues to get into the squad.
“I felt a lot more comfortable playing international rugby in the autumn compared to the summer, I didn’t feel out of place at all.”
Davies starts at lock against Sale as his Wales team-mate Josh Navidi returns to the back row. Wilson’s side have been hit by a string of key injuries and are at their bare bones as they welcome the Premiership side to the Welsh capital but have been boosted by the return of Wales prop Gethin Jenkins.
Willis Halaholo replaces Rey Lee-Lo in the centre while Tomos Williams comes in for Lloyd Williams at scrum-half.
Sale boss Steve Diamond returns for the first time since he was given a sixweek stadium ban.
Diamond has made nine changes from last weekend with Sam James starting at fly-half for the first time this season and also includes England winger Denny Solomona.
Diamond said: “We anticipate a really difficult fixture away from home this weekend – we’ve got to be right on it to stand a chance of beating them.
“Cardiff have secured some good results against a few teams in the last six or seven weeks and I don’t think it will be a walkover for us – we’ve got to go there and take our opportunities.
“They could have around half a dozen players coming back, so we know it will be a totally different game at the weekend and if we are not ‘on it’ then we won’t win.”