"I feel privileged" - Cardiff fly half Callum Sheedy reveals goal-kicking teachings from Wales legend Leigh Halfpenny

Sheedy landed a match-winning penalty in the final kick of the game, to secure a 29-26 victory in the pool stage of the EPCR Challenge Cup. This remarkable triumph comes alongside Cardiff's mesmeric start to the season, as the blue and blacks sit in second place with five wins in six matches, just two points adrift of the URC leading Stormers.

Behind Sheedy's form sits an invaluable guiding hand. Wales and British & Irish Lions legend Leigh Halfpenny, now back at Cardiff in a player-coach role, has been working closely with the club’s kickers. Sheedy admits the experience has been transformative, with his marksmanship taken to a new level from thanks to the advice of Halfpenny.

"It's been unbelievable to be able to work alongside him,” Sheedy said. "He's very good. I remember the first time we had a chat about kicking and him saying he wasn’t coming in to change me or how any of us kick, because we all have our different styles. It's more if we wanted to lean on him in any way.

"What I have found with Leigh is he can watch a kick and know exactly what is right or wrong - something technical like when you're opening up too early or you're closing off with your kick. Something we wouldn't know, he's just got an eye for it.

“You can tell he's been top of the game for 17 years, even if you just look at what he does in the week, with his visualisation and how professional he is with his preparation for each session.

“It's eye-opening for me and I'm 30. People pay a lot of money to go and watch Leigh kick and I get to do it as a job. I feel privileged to be able to learn from someone as unbelievable as him.”

Cardiff had trailed 26-12 with just 15 minutes remaining in last weekend's Challenge Cup clash with Ulster, before late tries from Danny Southworth and Dan Thomas hauled them back into contention against the Belfast side. This set the stage for Sheedy’s decisive moment, with the out-half striking his effort to record a famous win in the Welsh capital. Sheedy reflected upon the kick, as he knew all to well the pressure he was under to land the match-winner.

"I've been around long enough to know that people will jump on you when you miss a few kicks," he said. "It's fine, it's part of the job, there's no problem at all. I missed a few kicks last year, I'll miss some more. But nights like Saturday are what all the hard work's for, so I was pleased it went over. I'm just glad we got the result. That kick was the icing on the cake."

Sheedy was quick to highlight the role played by the entire match day 23 and also the Cardiff crowd in getting the capital city club over the line against Ulster last weekend. Whilst Sheedy took the headlines for the dramatic match-winning kick, the 16-capped Wales international ensured to hand plenty of plaudits to both the whole squad and the sea of blue and black shirts that packed out the Arms Park.

“The crowd were brilliant. They always are here at the Arms Park,” he said. "It feels like when we really need them, they step up. There is no feeling quite like it when we are chasing that win at the end and you can just feel them right behind us. It makes you feel invincible out there. It’s brilliant.”

He added: “For us to have the ticker to come from 14 points down with 15 minutes to go really shows what we have got in the squad. I think we have got a special group here.”

Attention now turns quickly back to domestic matters, with Cardiff hosting the Scarlets tonight in a URC Welsh derby that is expected to draw a bumper crowd to the capital. “It’s going to be a massive test,” Sheedy said. “I think the Scarlets are playing some really good rugby. I watched them against Bristol the other week (17-16 defeat) and I thought they were excellent. They are really coming into form.”

Despite Cardiff sitting second in the URC table and the Scarlets propping it up, Sheedy knows form counts for little when derby day arrives. “Derbies are physical,” he said. "Form goes out of the window, the league table goes out the window. It’s who is best on the night and we are really looking forward to it.”

With confidence flowing, pressure embraced and one of the greatest goal-kickers in Welsh history offering daily insight, Sheedy heads into another big Arms Park occasion firmly in the groove — and ready for whatever comes next.