Blues fans facing a wait to see new boy Samu in action
CARDIFF Blues fans will have to wait a number of weeks before they see Samu Manoa in action at the Arms Park.
The USA international was arguably the region’s most significant summer signing but at 6ft 6” and 20 stone, he is unquestionably the biggest.
Fans will be keen to get a glimpse of their new abrasive forward, who can cover No.8 or second row but head coach John Mulvihill will resist the temptation to rush him into action.
Manoa only arrived at the region this week after representing his country this summer and will go through a conditioning block to get himself up to speed.
Mulvihill insisted he would be doing the player a ‘disservice’ to throw him straight in and is instead looking towards the fourth or fifth week of the season at the earliest.
“He’s not in the squad for the next few weeks,” said Mulvhill.
“It’s really important for me, as a coach that has brought him in, to make sure that he’s right to go.
“When we roll him out, he’ll be ready to go. I don’t want to put him out there to fail.
“If you put players out there that aren’t 100 per cent fit, you do them a disservice.
“We’ll get him primed and ready to go possibly around the time we play Munster or the Cheetahs but definitely leading into the Heineken Cup.
“We need to treat him as a person and an athlete, I don’t think you always get that in France.
“They get a lot out of the players, they play a lot of the games and they perhaps push them through when they’re injured as well.
“So we want to make sure we give him a good reconditioning period before we let him loose because when we do, we won’t be able to hold him back.”
Manoa will bring some added power to the Cardiff Blues pack that has lacked it in the second row in recent seasons.
His ball-carrying will be noticeable and Mulvihill hopes he will be able to share some of the load that has been carried by No.8 Nick Williams in recent times.
The 34-year-old has shouldered much of the load when it comes to getting the team on the front foot and suggested it has made the team a bit predictable in the past.
“We looked at areas last year where we needed to get across the gainline a little bit better,” explained Mulvihill.
“Nick Williams is a handful but if there’s only one of him, then it’s pretty easy to understand where the ball is going.
“I thought it was important to find a ball-carrier that could really share the load with him.
“Nick is still a fantastic player and we’re going to get a lot out of him but we just felt that Samu coming in would just help him get over the gainline.
“The seasons very long and we’ll be able to share the load a little bit more.”
The Cardiff Blues kick off their Guinness PRO14 campaign by welcoming defended champions, and reigning Champions Cup winners, Leinster to the Welsh capital this Friday.
An daunting prospect but one the Aussie is looking forward to as he prepares for his first taste of the league.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us, you want to play against the best,” insisted the Blues’ boss.
“It’s a massive challenge but, if you saw the way these guys finished off last year, they love a challenge and I’m sure that’s what will be coming at us on Friday night.”