The Blues thumped the Dragons 40-13 at Rodney Parade at the start of the season in September thanks to four tries and fifteen points from the boot of Nick Robinson. Now, Young is braced for a fierce Dragons backlash to level the scores.
“We had a good win at Rodney Parade at the start of the season and I expect them to want to come here to avenge that result,” he said. “We played really well that day and I’m sure they will want to come here and spoil our party. They probably think we are a bit vulnerable at the moment because we’ve played well and we’ve got to make sure that we are not over-confident.
“Although we have the confidence and the belief that we can win, we also know that the Dragons are capable of coming to the Arms Park and getting the result. We’ve got to make sure that our preparation is spot on and we are at our best.”
The Blues are second in the Magners League table and on the verge of qualifying for the last eight of the Heineken Cup for the first time since Cardiff RFC were in the competition seven years. Young knows that will count for little in the hot-house atmosphere of a local derby.
“We went into Europe wanting to make a statement and we have done as well as we could have expected up to this point,” he continued. “The win over Stade Francais has put us on the map and in a position to qualify, but it is important we don’t build it up to something that it isn’t. We have not won or achieved anything yet and we have not qualified for the quarter-finals.
“Now it’s back to the bread and butter of the Magners League match. The Welsh derbies are always big occasions, and form is immaterial in these type of matches. They are one off games that can go either way regardless of whether a team is playing well or not. All the Welsh rivalry is still there and all the players enjoy the contest.”
Blues: Jamie Roberts; Tal Selley, Jamie Robinson, Tom Shanklin, Gareth Thomas; Nick Macleod, Richie Rees; John Yapp, T Rhys Thomas, Gary Powell, Deiniol Jones, Scott Morgan, Ben White, Robin Sowden-Taylor (capt), Andy Powell
Replacements: Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Williams, Paul Tito, Mark Lewis, Darren Allinson, Rhys Jones, Dafydd Hewitt
Dragons: Kevin Morgan (capt); Richard Fussell, Rhodri Gomer Davies, Ashley Smith, Richard Mustoe; Aled Thomas, Wayne Evans; Adam Black, Ben Daly, Gethin Robinson, Adam Jones, Peter Sidoli, Jamie Ringer, Richard Parks, Joe Bearman
Replacements: Steve Jones, Rhys Thomas, Michael Owen, Colin Charvis, Paul Emerick, Ceri Sweeney, Alex Walker
Referee: Huw Watkins (WRU)
Young: Over-confidence could cost
Cardiff Blues Coach Dai Young has warned his players against over-confidence ahead of their Boxing Day derby with Newport Gwent Dragons.
