Cardiff Blues vs Leinster TEAMS ANNOUNCED

by wales606 Fri 06 Jan 2012, 12:07 pm

CARDIFF BLUES

Blues:
15. Gavin Henson
14. Leigh Halfpenny
13. Casey Laulala
12. Gavin Evans
11. Tom James
10. Dan Parks
9. Lloyd Williams

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Marc Breeze
3. Scott Andrews
4. MacCauley Cook
5. Michael Paterson
6. Maama Molitika
7. Sam Warburton (capt)
8. Xavier Rush.

Replacements: Rhys Williams, John Yapp, Sam Hobbs, Matthew Screech, Josh Navidi, Richie Rees, Ceri Sweeney, Richard Mustoe.

Not available due to injury

Alex Cuthbert - groin
Ryan Tyrell - hamstring
Paul Tito - head
Chris Czekaj - hamstring
Jamie Roberts - knee
Dafydd Hewitt - hamstring
Thomas Rhys Thomas - neck/shoulder
Taufa'ao Filise - shoulder
James Down - ankle
Andries Pretorius - knee
Deiniol Jones - shoulder
Martyn Williams - arm

Strongest side available, but that's not saying much with that injury list.

Interestingly, Sam Warburton captains the Blues for the first time with Tito injured, he is preferred to usual stand-in captains Gethin Jenkins and Xavier Rush.

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Dave Kearney
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Andrew Conway
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Damian Browne
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Rhys Ruddock
20: Leo Auva'a
21: Isaac Boss
22: Isa Nacewa
23: Fionn Carr

by wales606 Fri 06 Jan 2012, 12:52 pm

Looking at the teams...im pessimistic :/

by asoreleftshoulder Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:14 pm

Disappointed with our centres,McFadden should be getting more chances at 12.Other than that we have a strong team out but the bench looks a little callow.

by **rodders** Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:26 pm

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Disappointed with our centres,McFadden should be getting more chances at 12.

Any possibility Kidney played his hand here? Perhaps he wants to see how McFadden fairs at 13 heading into the 6N? With Earls playing there for Munster too I'd say he won't be looking beyond those two for Wales.

by Mickado Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:29 pm

Very strong team, i presume that Fitzgerald is being given another week off to rest up for the HC, he did play a lot of games at the start of the season.

After getting 2 weeks off Darcy was always going to start this one, O'Malley started last week.

Cullen deserves to be dropped after his 3rd card of the season last week, hope it gives him a kick in the hole and he improves his discipling now.

Interestingly Ruddock is on the bench as a second row, i suspect if we need to make a replacement McLaughlin will slot into lock.

The bench looks good to me, hopfully Cronin can last the 80 minutes but every other player can add something with their introduction.

22/23 IQ players in there, with a fully IQ starting team. Great stuff.

by asoreleftshoulder Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:32 pm

Hard to say,I'd love to know how many starts McFadden has actually had at 12 because it's really hard to think of more than 5 off hand.
My guess is Schmidt wants D'Arcy to get some game time before the HC starts up again but I'd still prefer McFadden to get more time at 12.

by gowales Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:33 pm

Interesting to see Henson at fullback again. Probably because of the large injury list and form of Gavin Evans.

by Mickado Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:35 pm

roddersm wrote:
asoreleftshoulder wrote:Disappointed with our centres,McFadden should be getting more chances at 12.

Any possibility Kidney played his hand here? Perhaps he wants to see how McFadden fairs at 13 heading into the 6N? With Earls playing there for Munster too I'd say he won't be looking beyond those two for Wales.

Don't think Kidney has anything to do with it. Darcy was rested last week, O'Malley played, this week they swap.

by Mickado Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:36 pm

Just noticed there. Heaslip as captain. clap

by **rodders** Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:37 pm

It will be interesting to see how McFadden gets on against Laulala. I'm not convinced by McFaddens defence so this should be a good test for him because yer man's a bit of a beast.

by Mickado Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:40 pm

roddersm wrote:It will be interesting to see how McFadden gets on against Laulala. I'm not convinced by McFaddens defence so this should be a good test for him because yer man's a bit of a beast.

He got on alright against him when we beat Cardiff 52-9!

by **rodders** Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:43 pm

Mickado wrote:
roddersm wrote:It will be interesting to see how McFadden gets on against Laulala. I'm not convinced by McFaddens defence so this should be a good test for him because yer man's a bit of a beast.

He got on alright against him when we beat Cardiff 52-9!

Well there you go then! Boy do I feel the fool! laughing

by Mickado Fri 06 Jan 2012, 1:47 pm

Different story now of course, we’re away from home and Cardiff have a few bodies back from injury. We’ve a stronger team out this time too though, so could be a good game.

0-3 with no injuries would be good for me!

by Feckless Rogue Fri 06 Jan 2012, 2:36 pm

McFadden is not a 13. In my opinion.

by dogtooth Fri 06 Jan 2012, 3:06 pm

im happy the blues kept gavin at fb. he's not done anything wrong there and 1/2p is quite good on the wing.

i assume cuffbutt is being rested for hec game next week

by Mickado Fri 06 Jan 2012, 3:11 pm

Just read that Bradley Davies is out. Can anyone confirm?

by Cardiff Dave Fri 06 Jan 2012, 3:56 pm

Mickado wrote:Just read that Bradley Davies is out. Can anyone confirm?

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/5647.php

by J_D Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:00 pm

Macauley Cook in for Bradley, promising youngster

by maestegmafia Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:39 pm

J_D wrote:Macauley Cook in for Bradley, promising youngster

Definitely a very exciting move.

by maestegmafia Fri 06 Jan 2012, 9:23 pm

I see Tom james is offered another start.

by maestegmafia Fri 06 Jan 2012, 11:39 pm

Justin Burnell Blues Coach wrote:

We know the calibre of Gavin Henson, we do appreciate that perhaps his best position is at centre but he's mindful that we do have injuries and he is capable of playing in other positions.

The big thing with Gavin is breaking him in gently. He has now played two full games of rugby and the last time he played was when he was injured against England in August.

We're working hard in being able to bring Gav forward. That is something that is coming into the equation.

He may have more of an input somewhere else, because that is where he has made his mark before. But he is doing a fantastic job back there for us. I don't think he has put a foot wrong at full-back and has shown some outstanding glimpses.

by munkian Sat 07 Jan 2012, 7:29 am

I'll be there as a relative neutral , could be a cracker !

by wales606 Sat 07 Jan 2012, 12:52 pm

dogtooth wrote:im happy the blues kept gavin at fb. he's not done anything wrong there and 1/2p is quite good on the wing.

i assume cuffbutt is being rested for hec game next week

Cuthbert is injured.

Tom James is back fit, so starts

Gavin is kept at 15 so we don't have 2 wingers who haven't played for months as Mustoe has only just returned from injury.

I expect that in the 2nd half, Mustoe will come on and Gavin will move to 12 with Halfpenny at 15.

Losing B.Davies is not good :/ - He has been on excellent form recently.

Also, not sure why the coaches keep choosing Gavin Evans over Daffydd Hewitt at 12 - Hewitt is far better at 12.

by **rodders** Sat 07 Jan 2012, 1:30 pm

Is there any tv coverage for this?

by Rava Sat 07 Jan 2012, 1:37 pm

(18:00 – 20:00) – 18:15 – BLUES v LEINSTER - RABO PRO 12 – S4C plus TG4
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistants: Neil Hennessy (Wales), Phil Fear (Wales)
TMO: Neil Ballard (Wales)

by maestegmafia Sat 07 Jan 2012, 1:42 pm

roddersm wrote:Is there any tv coverage for this?

S4C have coverage... I think you can get a link online through their website too..

http://www.s4c.co.uk/rygbi/e_index.shtml

by **rodders** Sat 07 Jan 2012, 1:47 pm

Cheers!

by maestegmafia Sat 07 Jan 2012, 1:49 pm

No problem mate...! Enjoy the match.

by **rodders** Sat 07 Jan 2012, 2:30 pm

Gotta support the Leinster boys but I'm sure it will be a cracker, there's some serious talent on show, on both sides.....who says the Rabo isn't a great league!.. Smile

by Rava Sat 07 Jan 2012, 2:49 pm

roddersm wrote:Gotta support the Leinster boys but I'm sure it will be a cracker, there's some serious talent on show, on both sides.....who says the Rabo isn't a great league!..

I'm nearly sure........sorry..........I'm quite sure it was Portnoys Whistle

by **rodders** Sat 07 Jan 2012, 3:27 pm

I hear HERSH likes it though... Whistle

by Smirnoffpriest Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:00 pm

Henson out as well mustoe in

by Smirnoffpriest Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:17 pm

Good start from blues

by Smirnoffpriest Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:19 pm

Good start from blues

by **Notch** Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:23 pm

You leave a big hole for Heaslip to waltz through like that... they're going to take that kind of chance.

by eirebilly Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:27 pm

Kearney. Too easy so far for Leinster

by Smirnoffpriest Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:29 pm

I spoke too soon - awful, simply awful defending from blues - molitika left a gap for both tries

by Smirnoffpriest Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:31 pm

This is goin to b like last years hammering

by eirebilly Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:35 pm

Its not pretty so far for the Blues Smirnoff

by Shifty Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:35 pm

Jesus christ, at Leinster really that good, or are the Blues really that clueless. Headscratch

by Smirnoffpriest Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:37 pm

The blues havent been pretty all season Laugh

by Smirnoffpriest Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:38 pm

I think its a mixture of both alyn

by Artful_Dodger Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:38 pm

This ref looks out of his depth in my opinion, cant officiate the breakdown.

by eirebilly Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:40 pm

Lots od easy yards for Leinster

by Artful_Dodger Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:44 pm

I reiterate - ref doesnt have a clue at the breakdown everyone of them is a mess and is it just me or did anyone else hear him say "hands off green" ?

by eirebilly Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:45 pm

He hasnt a clue artful

by bigballbag Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:47 pm

Does anyone know why fairyboy didn't start?

by Artful_Dodger Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:50 pm

If he says hand off white when he means hands off blue one more time.....

Blues definitely getting back into this now.

by glamorganalun Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:56 pm

The hooker for the blues can't hit a barn door, the opposition just needs to kick for touch.

by maestegmafia Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:57 pm

If dan parks tackled ever it would be 6 - 0.

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