Danny Wilson expressed his pride after Cardiff Blues achieved back-to-back victories over Cheetahs and Munster, but insists it's only job half-done as they prepare for consecutive Guinness PRO14 games against Italian opposition.
Three tries, and 19 points, in an eight minute period saw Wales’ Capital Region seal a momentous victory over the Irish province on Saturday, as they move within eight points of third place Cheetahs in Conference A.
Wilson believes they must back up their victories with wins over Zebre and Treviso over the next two weeks, as the look to over-take the South African outfit for a place in the end-of-season play-offs.
“I’m really proud of the group of players for their effort over the past two weeks, but as we said, in this block it’s only 50% done, it’s half time, and we’ve got two big games ahead of us against Zebre and Benetton,” said Wilson.
“There is going to be a short turnaround from one game to another, but our minds is on completing the block of four games.
"We’re looking up. We want to catch up with the Cheetahs rather than defending what’s below us. That has to be our mindset and tonight was big step in the right direction to do that.
“Two home victories against two sides that are above us in the table is really pleasing and keeps us in the hunt for where we want to be.
“We’ve had the quarter final again this year, but want to go one better, but we also want to get top six, automatic placement into Europe and that’s my goal."
The Cardiff Blues head coach once again tipped his hat for the defensive effort shown from his side, and believes his players showed fantastic attitude to adapt their game-plan to face a very different outfit in Munster.
Wilson said: “In the week, we’ve prepped to face a very different team. Munster play and defend very differently to Cheetahs, so you must turn your gameplay around in a week.
“I thought we could’ve been far more comfortable than we were in the end.
“First half we scored three great tries and we dictating the tempo of the game. We found ways of dealing with their blitz defence, such as the front peel from the line-out and not allowing them to get off the line.
“These things gave us front-foot ball and we put in a couple of clever kicks behind. We felt really good at half time.
“I look at the last two weeks at how many scrums and line-outs we’ve defended from five meters out.
“It’s a credit to the set-piece group of players and the team as a whole that we’ve been able to get off the line, and Shaun Edwards and Richard Hodges have been outstanding in those two areas, in a goal-line defence point of view.
“Once the set-piece is completed, we’ve been able to get into team defence and that’s allowed us to hang in there in big games, and we know we can be extremely dangerous at the other end of the pitch."
Be there to make the difference as Cardiff Blues host Benetton Treviso at the Welsh capital on Friday, March 2nd. Tickets available HERE