John Mulvihill has admitted huge relief at his first win as Cardiff Blues coach after revealing: “We’ve been to hell and back.”
After three opening Guinness Pro14 defeats – following no wins in his pre-season matches – the Australian was understandably reassured by his team’s thumping 37-13 victory over Munster at the Arms Park on Friday night.
The Blues gained a winning bonus point with four tries on a night when centre Willis Halaholo reminded people why there was excitement at his arrival from New Zealand two years.
Halahalo scored one try, made another for Tomos Williams – who also crossed late on – and helped Nick Williams claim another as the Irish province were made to look a class beneath their neighbours Leinster, who won at the same venue on the opening weekend.
That was the first of three defeats for Mulvihill – followed by two losses against Italian teams – who conceded the results, and the manner of them, had affected him and his players.
He said: “We’ve been to hell and back over the last three weeks but we haven’t questioned anything we’ve done. We’ve kept faith in what we’re trying to achieve and if we can play for the full 80 minutes, we’ll get some fantastic results this season.
“I don’t think there was a bad player throughout the whole evening. You need your quality players to stand up. You can’t afford them to have an off night.
“The quality shone through our front row, our back row, our halves were brilliant, our centres were making breaks at will and our outside backs were covering the kicks behind and supporting when the line breaks were made.
“I really didn’t read too much into the team they picked. I knew that a lot of their internationals were back but as I said at the start of the year, we’ll prepare a team to win regardless of who we play. So this week, we prepared a team to win.
“We weren’t too concerned about what they were going to do, it was about what we were going to do. If we get us right, then other teams will find it difficult to handle.”
Andrew Conway scored two tries for Munster, with Joey Carbery kicking a penalty
But the Blues overcame two late withdrawals, with Jarrod Evans [illness] and Blaine Scully [throat injury] being removed from the starting line-up.
“The senior players really stepped up and controlled that game. We kept knocking it over getting two scores in front, then three scores in front.
“I know the boys decided to chase the bonus point towards the end. It was 30-13 and you’d take those four points but fair play, we kept going after them.
“The intent is there. We’re a really good rugby team and a really good rugby club.
Next up for Mulvihill’s side is a home clash against South African outfit, Toyota Cheetahs, who visit the capital next Friday.
“We have the Cheetahs up next Friday and again they’ll give us an opportunity,” added Mulvihill.
“But if you don’t stand up against them in defence they will move the ball really well and they have an excellent back three. They have a very smart 10, who takes the ball to the line and has a good kicking game.”
Mulvihill also paid credit to the impact of the Blues supporters and added: “I said before the game that we were looking forward to a packed Cardiff Arms Park.
“They’re the best supporters in the competition and again they were out in force – whether that was having a go at the referee or TMO, celebrating the tries or gasping at the near misses.
“They’re an extra player for us, and it’s only good for us that they keep the pressure on ourselves but also keep the pressure on the game. That’s gives us something to build on.”