Swansea look for triple success against Cardiff

The West Wales team came out on top in both of the Principality Premiership matches this year but Hopkins says that will count for nothing in Sunday’s Konica Minolta Cup quarter-final at St Helens.

“Cup games are always a one off and you can’t put recent form in the frame to see who is going to come out as the winner,” said Hopkins. “It is a one-off and everyone will be have to on their mettle to secure the win. Thankfully we’ve been on the right end of two pretty close league games this year but that will count for nothing on Sunday.”

Hopkins hopes the quarter-final outcome will be different to two previous cup final meetings that saw the capital side carry off the WRU Challenge Cup crown.

In 1987 they defeated Swansea 16-15 after extra time in the then named Schweppes Cup. Ten years on and Cardiff were 33-26 winners in the Swalec Cup final. A further ten years on, two of Wales’s most famous names have been drawn together again in a knock-out event; with a traditional 2.30pm kick off.

“Cardiff and Swansea have healthy tradition of rivalry in this competition and having a home draw gives us a good chance to get into the semi-finals,” said Hopkins. “It’s always a pleasure to play against Cardiff because of the type of rugby they play. They play much like ourselves, they play an open running game which makes for good viewing.”

Hopkins knows backs cannot play without the ball and is looking for his front eight to dominate on Sunday.

“As with every game the side who wins the battle up front will put themselves in a strong position and Cardiff didn’t make it easy for us the last time we met,” he said. “They could have turned us over at St Helens but we dug in and did the hard work which gave us a chance to run the ball.

“Both sides have good attacking backlines, but I think the battle is in the forwards initially. Whoever dominates up front will create a platform for the backs to play the wide game.

“We have secured the services of Damien Karauna who has created a lot more stability for us in the back line, and full back Ricky Williams is playing particularly well.

Swansea and Cardiff kick off their Konica Minolta Cup quarter-final at St Helens at 2.30pm.