‘Smiler’ still smiling as he takes Cardiff Blues helm
HE may now be 36, but former Wales captain Matthew Rees is enjoying his rugby as much as ever and still leading from the front.
Having signed a one-year extension with Cardiff Blues, the 60-cap hooker remains hungry for the battle and starts the season as the man in possession in the front row.
With Kristian Dacey sidelined, Rees packs down at No.2 against Edinburgh in tonight’s opening Guinness PRO14 clash at the Arms Park (7.35pm) and also skippers the team.
“Towards the end of last season, I played a bit more than I thought I was going to play, and I’ve enjoyed it,” he said.
“I’m just taking every opportunity at the moment. It’s nice to have a couple of younger boys coming up through the ranks, but I’m not going to hold back. I still want to play as much as I can.
“Pre-season has gone well for me. It’s been more about looking after my body, which is something I’ve done over my career and it’s paying dividends by still being able to play at the age of 36, and still enjoy it.
“It’s good here at the moment in terms of strength in depth at hooker, although the younger boys are probably thinking, ‘when is he going to retire?!’
“But as I said, I’m still enjoying it and I’ll keep fighting as long as I can.”
Despite the fact he will turn 37 in December, Rees could still find himself the youngest member of the front row at times this season, as loosehead Gethin Jenkins is a month older than him, while tighthead Taufa’ao Filise is now 40.
Jenkins is sidelined at present, but Filise is on board, with Rhys Gill completing the front row against Edinburgh.
The Blues have been boosted by the return of centre Rey Lee-Lo following his break after a busy summer of international rugby with Samoa.
“Rey was our player of the year last season and will be important for us again,” said Blues boss Danny Wilson.
“It’s hard to keep him out of my office because he wants to play every week and is desperate to play. Trying to hold him off this long has been a challenge, but it’s great to have him back.
“He has been training the last couple of weeks and we’ll manage him over the first month because he had a huge summer of rugby.”
Lee Lo will line up outside 21-year-old Jarrod Evans, who has been handed the fly-half duties in the absence of Gareth Anscombe with a groin problem.
Evans gets the nod ahead of Steven Shingler after impressing off the bench in last Friday’s win over Aviva Premiership champions Exeter. Aled Summerhill starts on the wing after scoring five tries in his two pre-season outings, while Josh Navidi moves to the openside flank with Ellis Jenkins facing a lengthy spell out due to a hamstring tear that requires surgery.
The fit again Nick Williams fills the No 8 vacancy created by Navidi’s switch.
“Edinburgh have always had a big pack of forwards who set-piece well and a good defence and I don’t see that changing from Richard Cockerill taking over,” said Wilson.
“Now is their first chance under their new coach to make a mark, and I’m sure they’ll be coming down extremely motivated.”
Skipper Rees added: “They’ve changed their coaching set-up with Cockerill coming in and we know how tough a taskmaster he can be, especially at set-piece, and that’s probably where the biggest challenge will be.”
Cardiff Blues: M Morgan; A Cuthbert, R Lee-Lo, W Halaholo, A Summerhill; J Evans, L Williams; R Gill, M Rees (capt), T Filise, S Davies, D Welch, J Turnbull, J Navidi, N Williams. Reps: K Myhil, C Domachowski, K Assiratti, M Cook, S Bennett, T Williams, S Shingler, T James. Edinburgh: B Kinghorn; D Fife, C Dean, J Rasolea, J Harries; D Weir, S Hidalgo-Clyne; D Marfo, S McInally, WP Nel; A Bresler, G Gilchrist; J Ritchie, J Hardie, M Bradbury. Reps: R Ford, M Rizzo, S Berghan, B Toolis, C de Preez, N Fowles, J Tovey, G Bryce. Referee: George Clancy (Ire)