Wilson’s excited by Blues’ big Euro test
CARDIFF Blues have been handed a formidable European Challenge Cup draw for next season being pulled out of the pot with four-times Heineken Cup champions Toulouse.
Danny Wilson’s Arms Park region have also daunting opposition as top the top seeds in Pool Two having to make as second trip to a French Top 14 outfit in the shape of Lyon as well as playing Mike Phillips’ former side Sale Sharks.
But coach Wilson said his side were anxious to test themselves in the competition and hoped the away games would be attractive to fans.
“It’s certainly an exciting and challenging group, and we’re going to come up against three very good sides,” said Wilson.
“Last year we experienced the highs of qualifying for a cup quarter-final at Gloucester, progressing past another tough group, and I think we have to target another place in the knock-out stages this time around.
“Of course, we also felt the lows of being losing at Kingsholm, but these are the type of games you want to be involved in as a coaching team and as a squad.
“Toulouse have been giants in the European cup competitions for a number of years and boast an impressive squad of experienced internationals across the board.
“Sale Sharks and Lyon, likewise, have a great deal of depth in their squads respectively, but we’ve seen at times last season that we can compete against quality opposition.
“I also think these are the type of games that will be attractive to our supporters,” he told the region’s official website.
“Not only will we be welcoming some big-name players to Cardiff Arms Park, but there are also three great away trips there for the supporters, which should see a large travel contingent of supporters there to give the side an extra boost.
“As we’ve seen in Gloucester, Bath, Pau, Stade Francais, Bristol during last season, the Cardiff Blues supporters travel in numbers and make themselves heard, which is always a big motivation for the boys.”
It wasn’t a kind draw either for the Dragons, as they face a first season next term under the ownership of the WRU, with the Rodney Parade region making a second successive trip to Russian outfit Einsei STM, who they lost to 38-18 last October.
Kingsley Jones’ region also have Aviva Premiership Newcastle Falcons in Pool One as well as Top 14 outfit Bodeaux Begles.
In the Champions Cup, Ospreys insist they will relish being part of one of the toughest pools ever drawn after being pitched into a pool that includes back-to-back champions Saracens and last season’s runners-up Clermont Auvergne.
George North’s Northampton Saints will be the other side in the Pool Two mix as Steve Tandy’s team make their return to the top table of European rugby.
Ospreys coach Tandy felt able to put on a brave face, saying: “We want to pit ourselves against the best and that’s definitely the case in this group.
“We’re excited about this pool and are already looking forward to testing ourselves in a group which is probably as tough as it is possible to get.
“For supporters, players, or as a coach when you look at these three games, it’s exactly what you want.”
By contrast, the Guinness PRO12 champions Scarlets look to have it easier, with Toulon, Bath and perennial whipping boys Treviso for company in Pool Five.