Lineout was a big factor for us – Dai

Nov 19 2007 South Wales Echo

A DISAPPOINTED post-match Blues dressing room at The Stoop was a measure of how far the team has come, according to Dai Young.

In most situations a draw on the road in the Heineken Cup would be considered a success.

But the Blues head coach insisted his players were not seeing it that way in the immediate aftermath.

“There were some hugely disappointed boys because we know we could have 10 points on the board by now,” said Young.

“But we have to realise that this game could have gone either way as well.

“It looked very much like they were going to get a penalty or a drop goal at the end and when we tried to run the ball out our own 22 I nearly fell out of the stand.

“We did not play well but I thought we defended quite well at times.”

Young though did acknowledge his team’s failings in other areas.

“I thought we lacked composure and accuracy, we turned over too much ball and the lineout went wrong,” he added.

“And there’s no doubt the lineout was a big factor for us.

“It’s annoying because up to now this season we have done well in that area and even had a 100 per cent success in some games.

“But they put pressure on us there when we had good field position and caused us problems.

“They are the best we have faced in terms of the lineout.

“We undercooked a few throws but it was a collective failure not an individual one.

“In the first-half Chris Malone dictated the game for them.

“I don’t think either team played anywhere near their potential.

“The ball was very slippery and it seemed that everyone was afraid to make a mistake.”