By Simon Thomas
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt insists he won’t be getting carried away by his team having opened their United Rugby Championship campaign with back-to-back bonus point victories.
They followed up the round one maximum against Zebre by coming from behind to claim another as they won 24-15 away to the Scarlets in Saturday’s Welsh derby.
It has put them level on 10 points with Leinster at the top of the table and set them up nicely for Friday’s big Arms Park clash with champions Glasgow.
“It’s a good start overall, but that’s exactly what it is,” said Sherratt.
“I didn’t get carried away last year when it was the other way and I certainly won’t this year. It’s a new group and there will be ups and downs.
“But I’m just pleased that the players have got some reward.”
Wales stars shine as Cardiff overcome slow start to inflict derby defeat on Scarletshttps://t.co/J1vQpUz8PS
— WalesOnline Rugby (@WalesRugby) September 28, 2024
The signs didn’t look too promising when Cardiff trailed 15-0 early on, having conceded tries to centre Macs Page and No 8 Taine Plumtree.
But they reduced the deficit to three points by half-time and then took control, capitalising on the Scarlets being reduced to 13 men following two yellow cards and sealing the win with a final quarter try from centre Ben Thomas.
Sherratt said: “It’s actually not a bad thing sometimes, going down early, because there is only one way to go then. It’s backs to the wall and you come out fighting.
“We talk about fight and resilience and we showed bucket-fulls of that to come back from 15-0 down.
“We played some nice stuff as well and showed flashes of what Cardiff can do. We attacked from deep and had some really good ball movement.
️ Read the thoughts of Matt Sherratt following a bonus-point victory over the Scarlets #YmlaenCaerdyddhttps://t.co/VhcoQEt5cI pic.twitter.com/sOkh4eGfNo
— Cardiff Rugby (@Cardiff_Rugby) September 29, 2024
“I am really pleased for the players that they got what they deserved. It’s about enjoying your wins and you have got to enjoy a derby win away against the Scarlets, after two disappointing results against them last season.”
The Player of the Match award went to new Cardiff flanker Dan Thomas, who said: “We didn’t start off the best, but we finished strongly and showed the character in the end, so we are very happy.”
It leaves the Scarlets still searching for their first win of the season after seeing a promising start fizzle out in disappointing fashion.
Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel commented: “We started brightly and were in good shape, but we just let Cardiff back into the game.
Now THAT is what you call a fast start!
Cardiff’s kick-off only leads to Macs Page delivering a 14- second try for @scarlets_rugby pic.twitter.com/T51mVx61HW
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 28, 2024
“In the second half, we just couldn’t get flow in the game and made a lot of unforced errors and turnovers which gave them field position and ultimately they got over in the end, so we are bitterly disappointed from that perspective.”
As a footnote, the try from teenage Scarlets centre Macs Page after 14 seconds was the fastest in the league since Scotland winger Dougie Fife touched down after just 10 seconds for Edinburgh against Connacht in March 2018.
