South Africa is a great place to make a statement - Dai Young

Cardiff Rugby arrived in South Africa on Wednesday and Dai Young insists they have the perfect opportunity to make a statement in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

The Blue and Blacks resume Championship action as the top placed Welsh club with four wins from seven, including two narrow defeats.

Young is wary that the weeks ahead present a significant challenge - his side take on Cell C Sharks on Sunday before travelling to Pretoria to take on Vodacom Bulls - but is determined to see improvements and lessons learnt from last season and the opening weeks of the 2022-23 campaign. 

Speaking to the media in Durban on Thursday, he said: “We’ve had a pretty good start to the season, it’s not been perfect by any stretch of the imagination and it could be a lot better but we want to kick on and this is a really good place to come and make a statement. 

“These games are hugely important to keep momentum going. We know from last year, that once the momentum starts to go the wrong way it is difficult to turn it around. It’s important we keep that positivity amongst our group, it’s important we keep looking to improve and put in performances. 

“Hopefully with some decent performances we will keep picking up points and we can stay where we are (in the table) and even look to push further up.”

🗣"We've had a pretty good start to the season, not perfect by any stretch and it could be better but we want to kick on and this is a really good place to come and make a statement."

The thoughts of Dai Young as Cardiff prepare to take on @SharksRugby in Durban #YmlaenCaerdydd pic.twitter.com/fsTegjyhLL

— Cardiff Rugby (@Cardiff_Rugby) November 24, 2022

Cardiff triumphed over the Sharks at home last season but are yet to taste victory over any of the current South African sides in the Rainbow Nation. 

They were unfortunate not to triumph over the Lions last season and fell to a heavy defeat to the DHL Stormers but their last outing against South African opposition saw them down the reigning champions. 

With plenty of experience now amassed against South African teams, Young knows what the Blue and Blacks face - an unrelenting physical challenge up front and electric backs.

Both teams will be missing their international contingent, with nine Sharks in the Springboks’ 23 this weekend, but there is no lack of quality in either team and Cardiff are determined to continue their pleasing early season form.

Young added: “They are coming through the front door and not the back door, we know exactly what is coming our way. We have played against South African teams enough now to know what we need to do . 

“We’ve had a couple of good results at home and last year I thought we did really well against the Lions in a game we should have won but then the Stormers really put us to the sword.

“They are missing some Springboks but if you look at their squad they are still formidable. When we played the Stormers they had won 16 on the bounce so these are quality teams and we know seven out of ten from us won’t be good enough. 

“We need to be nine out of ten individually and as a team. If we are nine out of ten then there’s no reason why we can’t get the result. 

“The boys are in the right mood to come out here and do a job. Our last game out here against the Stormers we were taught a lesson and we are all determined to put that right. 

“We are in pretty good spirits but we are determined to go back home with something with regards to points.”