Blues will pay for ‘faction fights’

FORMER Cardiff and Wales centre and current Old Crescent coach, Mark Ring, claims the Blues will fail again in Europe because of an unwillingness by “factions” to support the regional concept.

Ring, who signed a two-year contract with AIL division two side Old Crescent in the summer, claims the Munster provincial template will never be matched by Cardiff Blues because they’re part of “a system that still has factions in it who are still not supporting the regional concept.”

And he says Munster will win on Sunday by targeting weaknesses in the Blues side, especially in their scrum which “creaked” in their 17-21 home defeat against Leicester in their round two clash on October 28.

“It will be very close but I think Munster will come through on Sunday,” said Ring, who won 32 caps for Wales. “They are European champions and I think they will be too strong for the Blues, even at the Arms Park.

“Munster have a great physicality and superb decision-makers in the crucial positions. And the wet weather will suit them because they have the game to utilise the poor conditions. They will put the ball ahead of the pack and try to create enough pressure to see out the game and capitalise on the weaknesses of the Blues side.

“They will target the Cardiff scrum which creaked against Leicester and I think they will have the advantage there.”

And Ring issued a stark warning for the Blues if his prediction of a home defeat comes true on Sunday.

“There will be a lot of pressure on the coaching staff leading up to the first game and it is up to them to shoulder it and not let it affect the players,” said Ring. “If they lose at home their European campaign is over and they might as well not get the plane over to Ireland. Better teams have arrived at Limerick, but left Thomond Park with their tails between their legs.”

Ring, whose Old Crescent side lie in sixth position in the AIL division two table, five points behind leaders Greystones, believes the Blues region could learn a lot from the Munster province off the field.

“Everything is geared towards Munster and I don’t think the Blues will ever have anything like the same following,” said Ring.

“The Irish were lucky to have the provincial system in place as professionalism was bedding in. And what the Blues are faced with is a system that still has factions in it and different elements who are still not supporting the regional concept.”

Ring is amazed at the level of passion people have for rugby in Limerick.

“I know the Irish have their own sports like Gaelic football and hurling, but nobody can tell me this isn’t a rugby town at heart, especially now.

“That’s the uniqueness of it, the passion the supporters have. I’m sure it gets the team through matches when they are up against it. That’s why I fear for the Blues. Munster have this unbreakable resolve and it would not surprise me to see them go all the way again.”