Centre Ben Thomas has highlighted the importance of a strong finish as his team prepares to take on Ulster this Saturday at the Arms Park in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
After a challenging block of fixtures, the Blue and Blacks are looking to secure a crucial win against their Irish opposition to cap off this phase of the season.
“They’re similar to most Irish teams, they tend to test your basics very well,” said Thomas, acknowledging the difficulty of facing Ulster.
“I think they're pretty solid in the wide contact areas. At set-piece, they're always pretty dominant and they're a pretty connected team. They move the ball around the park quite well, so it's dealing with the multiple tests that they'll pose.
“When we get the ball, it'll be about imprinting our style of play on them.”
Thomas believes the team has made significant strides this season and have their eyes set on moving up the table.
“We want to finish well for our fans, but also, I think if we get a win this weekend, it puts us in a good position.
“League-wise, it's probably the first time in a few years that we’ve finished a block talking about positions in a league table, so that probably gives you an idea of where we're looking to go as a squad and how far we’ve developed from last year.
“I think a win this weekend will be very important for us.”
A win against Ulster would not only boost Cardiff’s league standing but also reinforce the hard work put in on the training ground.
Added squad depth and players returning from injury has led to competition for places and contributed to raising standards, according to Thomas.
“I think it probably shows in training more than anything, which ultimately will help us on the weekend,” added Thomas.
“We've got a lot of competition. I think the back row is probably the hardest to pick.
“We’ve got a few backs coming back fit, and then I suppose the start of the next block will have a few more boys dropping in.
“It’s definitely helped us training-wise, and the better you train in the week, the better the product on the weekend.
“I know it is a cliché, but competitive positions are good if it drives your own performance and day to day makes you improve a bit more.”