Young calls on Blues to make history

Jan 19 2008 by Andy Howell, Western Mail

DAVID YOUNG has called on the Blues to summon up all their reserves as they bid to make history in the Heineken Cup.

They have never reached the knockout stage in Europe since the region was formed five years ago, but go to Bristol tomorrow knowing victory would put them through.

“It is a massive game for us and we can’t hide from that fact. It is up to us now to pull out the big performance,” declared the Blues coach.

A draw or losing, but picking up two bonus points by losing by seven or fewer points and scoring four tries, would guarantee them a last-eight tie.

Victory might land the Blues a lucrative home draw, possibly at the Millennium Stadium, but Young is not prepared to look too far ahead.

Understandably so, following the disappointment of two years ago when they blew it against Perpignan and threw away a chance of redemption at Leeds the following week.

Caution is the watchword at the Blues’ training headquarters in the Vale of Glamorgan with Young aware Bristol have turned their Memorial Stadium into a fortress since going down in their season-opener against Leicester.

“We know the challenge is a big one because they have only lost there once this season so not many teams go there and win,” said the former Wales skipper.

“It is a game most people think could go either way and go to the wire, but we are quite confident, if we can bring our best game to the table, we can get the result.”

Blues did that on their last visit to the West Country seven weeks ago when they shocked Bath by pulling off a stunning 14-6 triumph.

A bonus-point victory would put Bristol – if the Blues don’t pick up anything and Stade Francais fail to get a maximum at Harlequins – into the last eight of the Heineken Cup for the first time.

“I think they will still feel they are favourites because of their home record and the questions they will be asking themselves is can they get that bonus point,” surmised Young.

“We know what they are going to bring and we don’t anticipate any surprises. They will focus on the driving line-out, they will have the big scrum and they are very direct behind.”

And he conceded, “Knowing what they are going to do and stopping it is going to be difficult. The challenge is going to be up front and, if we can match them, then we can play our own game.”

The three-times British Lions tourist, who also led Wales at rugby league, admitted attempting to decipher the various different scenarios was almost impossible.

“It would blow your mind to try and think of every conundrum,” he said.

Young preferred to keep it simple, saying, “Win and we are through. It is as simple as that.

“If we don’t get it then there is still a three-horse race, but we can’t focus on that.

“We will keep an eye on Stade Francais and we will have somebody texting the scores from the game. But we have to focus on ourselves. Nothing else matters. We know what is front of us and a lot of the boys have worked extremely hard this season.”