Navidi: Cardiff can rise up the table
An in-form Josh Navidi believes Cardiff Blues can still climb up the Pro12 table, after a pocket of good form came to an end at the hands of Leinster on Saturday.
The Blues had won three of their last four Pro12 games before fronting up to the champions at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, and were motoring along nicely after a Manoa Vosawai try and Gareth Anscombe's kicking haul of eight points.
However, Jarrad Hoeata's red card just before the break, for a swinging arm tackle on Rob Kearney, spoiled their fine start and Leinster came roaring back.
Jimmy Gopperth, Noel Reid, Tadhg Furlong and Luke McGrath all crossed the whitewash as the Irish province ran out 22-13 victors, leaving the Blues staring up from ninth place on the table.
However, back row Navidi is certain things will click in the long run and believes the European break can act as a springboard for success.
"Our ambition is to climb the table as high as we can, that hasn't changed," Navidi said.
"The confidence is there but we are slipping off a few points and that is costing us. There is still much more we can do out on the pitch. We are aware that some games are slipping away and costing us. Hopefully we can now move into the European games and take it forward, build momentum and then come back into the Pro12 with some big wins.
"The result is hugely disappointing but the spirit shown by the boys for that game was absolutely outstanding. We dug in, with only 13 men on the pitch at one point, and I felt we did well considering who we were playing."
