Blues now have added Spice on their side for Ospreys clash.Byline: By Gareth Griffiths Gareth John Griffiths (born 10 April 1970 in Winsford, England) is an English footballer, who last played for Northwich Victoria. External links
'jason Spice is a past master at winding people up and getting under their skins.' The quote last Christmas from Cardiff Blues Cardiff Blues (Welsh: Gleision Caerdydd) are one of the four professional Welsh rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team play at Cardiff Arms Park and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club. director of rugby Dai Young after the then Ospreys scrum-half contributed to Martyn Williams' only sending-off of his career during the ill-tempered Welsh derby at the Arms Park. The red mist descended on Williams at the end of that game after Spice had given the Lions flanker a gentle condescending tap on the head. Williams aimed a headbutt Verb 1. headbutt - butt with the head; "The soccer player headbutted his oponent and was sent off the field" bunt, butt - to strike, thrust or shove against; "He butted his sister out of the way"; "The goat butted the hiker with his horns" at the New Zealander which resulted in the sending-off and a three-match ban. At least when the Blues openside steps out on the field against the Ospreys on New Year's Eve in the corresponding fixture at the Liberty Stadium, he should be safe in the knowledge that history can't repeat itself. Because a lot has happened in 12 months since that infamous incident. Spice and Williams are now team-mates at the Cardiff Blues after the Kiwi joined the Arms Park outfit from the Ospreys, with Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips making the opposite move down the M4. "There is a certain irony looking back on it," admitted Williams. "It was nothing ever personal against Jason it was just a spur of the moment "<B>Spur of the Moment</B>" is an episode of the American television anthology series <em>The Twilight Zone</em>. <H2>Details</H2>*Episode number: 141*Season: 5*Production code: 2608*Original air date: February 21, 1964*Writer: Richard thing. "Jason took a bit of stick when he first arrived at the Arms Park but I have got to know him and he is a good guy." The Kiwi is hoping to shake off a leg injury to face his old side where he would face fellow countryman Justin Marshall or Phillips. And Williams admits Spice has brought his combative attributes to the Blues side this season. "I am sure he will be desperate to play against the Ospreys," said Williams. "I have found this year that he is a good guy to have in your side and he can wind up the opposition. "He has been brilliant for us this season and been a real unsung hero. "Especially with Nicky Robinson being out injured because he has really helped Dai Flanagan and taken him under his wing." Williams and Spice sat out the Boxing Day 11-6 victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons at the Arms Park. But despite the win, which kept them in second place in the Magners League, the Blues coaching staff were not impressed with Rob Howley describing the display as embarrassing. "There was some doom and gloom doom and gloom n. Gloom and doom. doom  -and-gloom adj. but we still got the win,"
said Williams. "It was a typical derby.
"Both teams made changes and there were a lot of boys who were playing for their first games and it was difficult for them to get a rhythm. "We will have to step up a few gears against the Ospreys though in what is a massive game for us. "It has become a bitter rivalry and developed as the strongest since the regions came in. "The quality they have got in the squad and the fact it is down the Liberty Stadium will make things very different." One other New Zealander who is set to be in direct opposition to Williams is former All Blacks openside flanker Marty Holah, who epitomises the quality the Ospreys possess. The last occasion the two went head-to-head was during the 2005 British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions (until 2001 known as the British Isles Rugby Union Team or more colloquially the British Lions tour of New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. . Holah came out on top on this occasion with his performance for the New Zealand Maoris in their victory over the tourists. "I tried to forget about the last game where I played against him because that was a tough old battle which I came out on the losing side of," said Williams. "I have seen a couple of the Ospreys' games this season where he has been brilliant for them and he is a great signing. "He is a world-class player and it has been said many times before that if it wasn't for Richie McCaw he would have lot more caps for the All Blacks. "It will be a tough day at the office but hopefully we can gain some parity." And Williams believes Holah's fellow Kiwi Andrew Hore will also have a similar positive impact on the Swansea-based region after he was last week unveiled as the new elite performance director, starting his post in February. "Having worked with him I think he is a massive gain for the Ospreys," added Williams. "Everyone is saying that he is just a fitness coach. While that was his main role when he was with Wales, seeing the amount of work he did behind the scenes and dealing with the structures it will be a massive plus for the region. "It would have been great for him to have got the Welsh job but that did not work out." |
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