Young: It’s a real shame Wales stars will miss derby
DAI Young says it is “a real shame” Saturday’s derby between his Cardiff side and the Dragons will see both teams missing their Wales squad players.
And he has revealed how he will be without his Welsh stars once again for next month’s two-match trip to South Africa.
None of Wayne Pivac’s homebased autumn squad members will be available to the regions for United Rugby Championship action this weekend as they will be in camp preparing for the campaign opener against New Zealand on October 30.
That means Cardiff will be without 10 players, plus the longterm injured Josh Navidi, while the Dragons will go into the Arms Park clash minus six, all forwards.
So the likes of Josh Adams, Ross Moriarty, Willis Halaholo, Aaron Wainwright, Tomos Williams, Elliot Dee, Rhys Priestland and Will Rowlands will all be absent.
As a result, one of the biggest games of the regional season will be played out between significantly depleted teams, much to the disappointment of fans.
Cardiff director of rugby Young commented: “I understand why we haven’t got our internationals, but I think it’s still a shame.
“We all look forward to the derbies and to having all our best players on the field for them.
“That’s a real shame, but it is what it is.
“It doesn’t change the fact that when Cardiff go out to play the Dragons it’s a big rivalry and everyone wants to get that result.
“It is a challenge, but one most clubs in this league are used to.
“You would like to think the boys stepping up are looking forward to their opportunity.”
One piece of positive news for Cardiff is that they will have fly-half Jarrod Evans back following the sternum injury he picked up in the league opener against Connacht just under a month ago.
After the Dragons showdown, the Arms Park outfit will have four weeks without a game before resuming URC action with backto-back away fixtures against the Lions and the Stormers in the last week of November and the first week of December.
Originally those matches were due to be played in Italy, but they will now take place in South Africa as that country has been taken off the UK’s Covid red travel list.
That recent switch has presented some significant logistical issues, while Cardiff will have to head out missing their Wales Test stars.
No player involved in the final autumn international against Australia on November 20 will fly with the main party and it’s unclear if they will join up for the second match, especially as Europe kicks off the week after that with defending champions Toulouse heading to the Arms Park on December 11.
“What I expect to happen is discussions will take place with Wayne going into Wales’s last game the week before we fly out,” said Young.
“We would probably look at it on an individual basis in terms of how much rugby the guys have played. They are obviously still going to be needed there until the end of the week.
“I don’t envisage anybody that plays against Australia on the Saturday to be part of our squad for the first game in South Africa.
“Another spanner in the works for us is after the second game against the Stormers we have got to fly back and play in Europe a few days later.
“Time will tell, on an individual basis, whether we look to involve those Wales players (who figure against Australia) in the second match or whether we don’t involve them and make sure they are right for Europe.
“We have got to make sure the prep is right for that as well as playing the two South African games.”