Rhys Carré has called on Cardiff to finish a disappointing United Rugby Championship season in positive fashion as he continues to pull on the Blue and Black.
The loose-head prop has featured in every Cardiff game since the Six Nations, including six consecutive weeks, something he has rarely achieved before due to international call-ups.
He is set to make his 50th first team appearance for the club against Zebre Parma on Friday night and will also take is season tally to 15, which he has only hit once before.
The 24-year-old has been one of the shining lights in recent weeks, progressing in the set-piece and producing a series of dominant collisions both with and without the ball.
He is relishing that consistency of selection and feels he has benefitted from regular game-time and familiarity to perform at his best.
But the Cardiff pathway product is also desperate to get back to winning ways and he wants to finish the season “with a bang”, beginning with Zebre at the Arms Park.
He said: “I have always wanted this opportunity to get four, five games under my belt and I think it’s the first time in my career than I’ve actually got that. I am feeling better for it. I am getting match fit and more confident in our set-ups out on the pitch.
“Every player you ask will want to play week in, week out but obviously it’s not realistic to keep your body in check and fit.
“But for me playing is the most important thing I can do. I am happy at the moment that I’m getting the opportunity to put a shift in week in, week out.
“As a team we haven’t been happy with our performances in the last four or five weeks.
“We are trying to drive standards in camp, in training, on the pitch and off the pitch to make us better. We know there are little fixes to do here and there and we were not the finished article but we are all working to get there because we all want to be better.
“Every time we go out at the Arms Park we try our best to win. We have fallen short the last couple of times but this week is a massive opportunity to put that right and send off the season with a bang.
“Every one knows how Zebre like to play. They like to attack from deep and have threats across the park. We have to neutralise them and if we play our game, the way we want to play it and train it then we should put in a good performance on the weekend.
“We then have two more away games and our aim is town these last three games to finish the season on a high.”
Tickets for Cardiff Rugby versus Zebre Parma in the URC on Friday night (7.35pm) are available now. Simply call 029 20 302030 or click here.
The Blue and Blacks then finish the season with consecutive away trips to the Dragons and Benetton Rugby.