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Navidi ready for Judgement Day clash

12th April 2017


Josh Navidi is relishing the unique atmosphere of Judgement Day as Cardiff Blues prepare to face the Ospreys in front of more than 50,000 at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

The versatile back-row forward has made a habit of producing barn-storming performances at the showpiece event and has scored on the last two occasions.

He admits it is an occasion that excites the players and he is now counting down days until the big kick-off.

Navidi said: “It’s becoming a big occasion now. Each year they’re selling more and more tickets from when it started five years ago - they’ve already sold fifty or sixty thousand tickets. 

“It’s good for Welsh supporters to have both games on and good for us to have a full-ish stadium to play under - the atmosphere is amazing, just running out onto the Principality Stadium.”

With so many internationals on show and going head-to-head in the respective matches, Navidi admits it is a chance to impress national selectors.

The 26-year-old has been unfortunate not to add to the Wales cap he won in the summer of 2013 but he hopes to stake a claim for another.

He continued: “I haven’t thought of it like that to be honest it’s a big occasion and each year you want to put a good performance and big shift in and hopefully we can play well and cross that whitewash again.
 
“Four years ago is a long time ago. Obviously I’m always itching to get another cap so hopefully I can go on the tour and add something, maybe I can get another cap or two.”

With Sam Warburton ruled out of the encounter due to the knee injury he suffered last weekend, there will be a reshuffle of the Blues back-row.

It is arguably the most competitive position in the squad and Navidi is confident his team will cope without the Wales star.

He added: “Obviously it’s a big loss but we’ve got boys who can step in like Ellis (Jenkins) who played seven last week or Nick (Williams) who came on early, which he probably wasn’t expecting.

“But he had a good shift and we have a good bunch of back rows here with the likes of Macaulay Cook and (Josh) Turnbull who is injured. We’ve got a good bunch who can slot into any position.”