Steve Law is hoping the bitter memory of last season’s chastening Indigo Premiership final defeat to Llandovery will provide his Cardiff side with the motivation they need to reach another final.

The semi-final clash at Church Bank is a repeat of the 2023 final when not only did the Drovers upset the then reigning champions in the final to strip them of their title, but they also did it at the Arms Park.

“There will definitely be a bit of an edge. It’s a one-off game and I hope we can make up for last season’s defeat,” said Law.

“Llandovery have been by far the best performers week in, week out in the league this season. We have the same amount of ability as them, but we are going to find out if we have the same amount of synergy.

“We are more than capable of competing in all the right areas of the game and with the ball we will be very competitive. We have to be better than we have been without the ball for much of this season.

“We can’t let them do what they want, when they want, which is what happened last year. It ended up being a game too far for us, so now we owe them one!”

Law joined the club at the beginning of the 2018-19 season and has overseen the club’s most successful period of the semi-professional era. During his time at the helm Cardiff have won two Premiership Cup finals, won a first Premiership title in 13 tears, and finished as runners-up twice. Cardiff were also leading the Indigo Prem when the Covid pandemic caused a premature end to the season.

Despite delivering title after title and helping to bring through a host of younger players who are now featuring regularly in the regional team, Cardiff Rugby decided not to extend his contract at the club. Today could be his final game in charge, although he is hoping to extend his stay for another week with a win at Llandovery.

“Getting the team to the play-offs is arguably the biggest achievement of my time at the club given the difficulties and challenges we’ve experienced this season,” added Law.

Those problems continued this week when Law learned that the highly abrasive Hudd brothers, Craig and Nathan, will be missing this weekend due to a stag weekend, while stalwart hooker Alun Rees is at a wedding. To compensate, Cardiff Rugby have made five players available.

Rhys Barrett and Rhys Litterick will start in the front row, although the latter’s game time will be limited, while hooker Efan Daniel starts on the bench. Arwel Robson will wear the No 10 jersey and Luca de la Rua will join Sean Moore and skipper Morgan Allen in the back row.

The champions have made three changes, one positional, to the team that beat Merthyr in the WRU Premiership Cup final at Principality Stadium last month. Jack Maynard starts at full back in place of Harri Doel, who moves to the left wing in place of Aaron Warren.

The other change sees Wales U20 centre Macs Page take over from Kian Abraham on the right wing. The pack remains the same, with lock Jack Jones bidding to become a double-winning skipper.

The Drovers haven’t been beaten at home since 10 March last year when Aberavon won 25-16. Since then, they’ve won 16 on the trot, including all 13 in the league and cup this season.

Llandovery: Jack Maynard; Macs Page, Adam Warren, Rhodri Jones, Harri Doel; Ioan Hughes, Lee Rees; Jamie Hughes, Taylor Davies, Berian Watkins, Jack Jones (captain), Chris Long, Osian Davies, Stuart Worrall, ⁠Joe Powell
Reps: Dino Dallavalle, Harry Thomas, Llyr Green, Nathan Hart, ⁠Jordan Evans, Ilan Phillips, Kian Abraham, Dafydd Land

Cardiff: Joe Goodchild; James Beal, Luke Pollock, Arron Pinches, Dewi Cross; Arwel Robson, Tom Habberfield; Rhys Barratt, Joey Tomlinson, Rhys Litterick, Callum Bradbury, Ethan Phillips, Sean Moore, Lucas De la Rua, Morgan Allen (captain)
Reps: Efan Daniel, Cam Tyler Grocott, Tom Harper, Evan Rees, Tom Rice, Joe Williams, Harrison James, Matty Young

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