Dai Young insists Cardiff need to get back to the performance levels they’re capable of, as the Blue and Blacks prepare to take on Emirates Lions on Sunday.
The clash in Johannesburg is the first of two United Rugby Championship encounters in South Africa for Young’s men, who will be desperate to bounce back following a disappointing defeat to Ulster last week.
The director of rugby admits there’s been an honest review to the performance in Belfast, but he’s confident that his side can be a match for any team if they play to their potential.
“It wasn’t just a case that I wasn’t happy with it, the players are honest enough with themselves as well,” explained the former Cardiff and Wales prop.
“It’s not something you can put right in a week, but we have demonstrated previously that our performances have been far better than that.
“Obviously we’ve had a hugely disruptive season, with no chance of getting momentum, which doesn’t help.
“But the frustration for me last week was that we were up against a good team, but they didn’t have to be good to beat us.
“I went away and the first thing you have to do is look at yourself. I put my hand up and said that I couldn’t have got it right.
“The reality is that 1 to 23 weren’t at the races, so preparations couldn’t have been right.
“We had five weeks without a game, so the first thing I looked at was that and our preparations.
“In saying that, the players were also honest enough to put their hands up. They knew that wasn’t good enough and we’ll have to bounce back this week.
“Altitude is something we’ll have to deal with, because we’re not here long enough to get used to it.
“So it’s just a matter of getting there and dealing with it.
“We’re very respectful of the team that we’re facing and we know these are real quality teams.
“I know it’s a cliché, but we know we’ll need to be at our best to come away from South Africa with anything.
“A big focus has been on getting ourselves right and back up to the performance levels that we’re happy with.
“That’s been our mantle all year because we set our own standards. If we adhere and play to those standards but aren’t good enough on the day, then so be it.
“But certainly last week we weren’t and that’s the big goal for us this week and hopefully that’ll be enough on the day.”
The home side themselves will be heading into Sunday’s clash with a point to prove, as they target their third win of the campaign.
Having already faced South African opposition at the Arms Park earlier in the season, Young expects an extra challenge in their own back yard and says his side need to be ready for a Lions side who offer both power up front and pace behind.
The director of rugby added: “Speaking to the teams we were involved with earlier in the season, they were disappointed that they didn’t hit the ground running in the northern hemisphere.
“But they got better with every game and you could see them going back with a real determination.
“You knew it was going to be different when we were coming over the water over here and we’re under no illusions in terms of what we’re going to get.
“We know that there has been a lot of work for these teams to be in the league and they want to make their mark.
“I’m sure we’ll have to be at our best to be near these teams but we’re looking forward to it.
“We’re very respectful of them, and know their strengths, but we also want to play to our strengths. If we’re not good enough on the day, then we’re not good enough on the day.
“But we feel that if we can play as well as we can then we’ll be more than a match for any team.
“We’ve really seen a difference in our players when we’ve had the supporters back and I’m sure the Lions players will be no different.
“Getting them supporters back in the stadium will put a real spring in their step. It’s a pity they’re coming back when they’re playing us, because they don’t need any help!
“But it’s great for us to be in a stadium with supporters and it’s just a shame it’s not packed out.
“It will definitely be an advantage for them, and will help them in their performance.
“We’re expecting a really determined team who will be looking to start climbing up the ladder.
“They’re a lot better than their results would show to date. They’ve got a really strong scrum and a big and heavy front five. You certainly don’t want to get into an arm wrestle with them.
“If the game becomes an arm wrestle then it becomes slow and that will be difficult for us.
“But they’ve also got the backs to attack and enjoy throwing the ball around and playing attacking rugby.
“That can go both ways. If things stick for them, they can score a lot of points, and if not then they can leak a lot.
“But they’re certainly an exciting team to watch and play against. But the first thing we need to handle is their big, fearsome front five, especially at scrum time.”