Dai Young insists Cardiff will need a repeat performance when they take on Benetton Rugby in the Challenge Cup quarter final on Saturday.
The Blue and Blacks sealed their place in the last eight with a thrilling win over Sale Sharks last weekend, thanks to a Corey Domachowski try followed by a Josh Adams brace.
It was an electric occasion at the Arms Park, and while Young believes his side can travel to Italy with confidence, he knows that they must be at their best against a strong Benetton side on their own patch.
The Director of Rugby said: “Yes we’re confident but we have to have another performance like we had against Sale. We went out there last year and had our dinner fed to us if you remember.
“They’re a good team, a quality team and are very hard to beat at home.
“All the talk last week was about making sure the Sale game wasn’t our cup final. We need to back that performance up and it will take another performance like that to go there and win.
“There’s no reason why we can’t go there with confidence but we’re also hugely respectful of the opposition. They had a good win against a good Connacht team and we’re going to have to be somewhere near our best.”
The pack set the platform for the backline to flourish against Sale, enjoying dominance in the set piece and providing front foot ball against the side that currently sit in second place in the Gallagher Premiership.
Young was pleased to see the forwards’ effort receiving the plaudits they deserved, but also gave a nod to the backroom staff at Cardiff.
“To be fair, for most of the season I don’t think our front five has had the recognition. It’s just a stereotype that Cardiff haven’t got a front five. It just rolls off people’s tongue,” added the former Wales international.
“On occasions against the big boys, like Ulster, we have been found wanting but then you look at the budgets and the people they’ve got in, like bringing a British Lion off the bench.
“But I’ve got to give a lot of credit to our coaches. All you can do as a coach is try and get the best out of the squad and I don’t think the coaches are too far away from that.
“For me, people like Keiron Assiratti and Corey Domachowski and have improved as the season has gone on.”
Join us at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday as the Fanzone returns for the European quarter finals. We are urging fans to come together to show their support for the boys as they look to book their ticket to a semi final. Toulon v Lyon and Exeter Chiefs will also be shown on the big screen, so make a day of it at the iconic Arms Park.