Young banks on Timani to be king of collisions

DAI YOUNG insists the signing of former Wallaby Lopeti Timani along with the significant improvement of Rhys Carre can give the Cardiff pack an edge next season.

Cardiff have one of the most potent back divisions in the URC but have struggled up front this season. Young has strengthened his pack with the signing of back-five forward Timani from Toulon, and he is confident they won’t go backwards with the 31-year-old in their pack.

“One thing we have struggled with this season is collision dominance with regards winning collisions both sides over the ball,” said Young

“We’ve lacked penetration to allow us to go forward, and also, we haven’t been able to stop the opposition’s penetration. He’s a big guy who will add to our capabilities in the driving lineout, while he’ll also help us stop driving lineouts with his physicality and size.

“But the main thing he’ll bring us is that collision dominance both sides of the ball.”

Despite Cardiff’s struggles of late, one man who has impressed has been Wales loosehead Carre. The 24-year-old has always been an explosive ball carrier, but his scrummaging has gone to the next level, and Young insists both Carre and his fellow loosehead Corey Domachowski can take Cardiff forward.

He said: “We’ve got two youngsters on the loosehead in Rhys and Corey who can take us to the next level. They are only going to get better.

“Are they at the top end of their development? No, I still think they can get better. We talk in Wales about not having big men, but Rhys is a genuine big man.

“He needs to be conditioned well enough that he can carry that weight and be effective and I think he is starting to show that he can do that. I thought he scrummaged really well against Tomas Francis in the Ospreys game, and he is one of the best about.

“Rhys is progressing and showing maturity in his preparation on and off the field.”