Cardiff Blues v Scarlets

Cardiff Blues
15. Ben Blair 14. Alex Cuthbert 13. Casey Laulala 12. Dafydd Hewitt 11. Tom James 10. Dan Parks 9. Lloyd Williams

8. Xavier Rush (c) 7. Josh Navidi 6. Michael Paterson 5. James Down 4. Macualey Cook 3. Scott Andrews 2. Ryan Tyrell 1. John Yapp

16. Marc Breeze 17. Nathan Trevett 18. Sam Hobbs 19. Cory Hill 20. Maama Molitika 21. Richie Rees 22. Ceri Sweeney 23. Chris Czekaj


Scarlets Team: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Gareth Maule (capt), 12 Scott Williams, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Gareth Davies, 1 Rhodri Jones, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Deacon Manu, 4 Dominic Day, 5 Damian Welch, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 Ben Morgan.

Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Phil John, 18 Peter Edwards, 19 Sione Timani, 20 Kieran Murphy, 21 Liam Davies, 22 Aled Thomas, 23 Jon Davies.


A strong Blues backline, matched by the Scarlets, but I think the Scarlets for once have the stronger pack, plus I think we have the stronger bench.

Really chuffed so many of the international players (for the Scarlets at least) are back either starting or on the bench. Just hope the likes of Monty and Ben aren't too rusty slotting back in.

Going to be a close game, but think that the Scarlets should win it. I really hope so anyways!

How do you guys see the game going?

Blues injuries

Leigh halfpenny – dead leg
Gethin Jenkins - shoulder.
Sam Warburton - shoulder
T Rhys Thomas - neck
Martyn Williams - ribs
Paul Tito – Head
Richard Mustoe - hip
Fau Filise - shoulder
Andries Pretorius - knee
Deiniol Jones – shoulders
Bradley Davies - suspended

..................................

Also, Robert is being rested.

I have no idea where Henson is?

Good to see Hewitt start over Evans (coaches finally realised - though it might just be because Evans normally plays 13)

Great to see Down back after such a horrible injury!


Teams look pretty well matched overall. Should be good (unless the Blues are as incompetent as last week)

Scarlets have Shingler and Reed out with injury.

Did Henson not half a calf problem?

I'm just so chuffed we have Scott, Monty, Ben, Ken, Rees and Foxy all involved either starting or on the bench, and add to that Sanjay and Rhodri too, they were involved with Wales training.

Only George and Rhys being rested for us, chuffed with that.

rugbydreamer wrote:Scarlets have Shingler and Reed out with injury.

Did Henson not half a calf problem?

I'm just so chuffed we have Scott, Monty, Ben, Ken, Rees and Foxy all involved either starting or on the bench, and add to that Sanjay and Rhodri too, they were involved with Wales training.

Only George and Rhys being rested for us, chuffed with that.

Calf strain, then flu, now he isn't on the injury list at all.

Its getting a bit suspicious now

hmmmm. that is a bit odd.

Guess maybe he's not going so well in training?

rugbydreamer wrote:hmmmm. that is a bit odd.

Guess maybe he's not going so well in training?

With Czekaj on the bench, we have to use Sweeney to cover centre

With Henson we would have Centre and FB cover - with Blair covering the wing to.

If he is fit and the coaches havent at least put him on the bench - I will not be happy at all.

At least Blair is starting.

606 - do you think he will feature again in a Blues shirt? After all he has probably played too many games for tehm already going by his number appearances for Sarries and Toulon. Also given that he is unlikley to remain come the end of the season, it may not be worth feilding him anyway.

Looking at both sides I am feeling hopeful that the Scarlets can sneak this one. With the expection of Fenby and Thomas out backs (and backs on the bench) are all pretty much 1st teamers, so we shouldn't feel worried there. And our pack is IMO the best we have (that is fit and well).

I think our 2nd row looks weak. James Down has potential but he's made of glass. Having looked at the teams I think the Scarlets do look stronger. The bench and pack are better and I think unfortunately they'll win. Scarlets by 7 points.

Looks like two very good line ups there. Should be a greats game. Even with only a couple of internationals returning both regions are putting out very strong teams.

I thought Davies suspension finished after the 6Ns

Him and Downs would be a good partnership.

Cook and Hill are both very promising - Cook is quick, but, I think Hill is a better all-rounder - he should be starting really (he has been very good in the lineout aswell)

Will be interesting to see how Downs does after a long lay-off. Blair, Laulaula and Hewitt also haven't had much gametime recently

Davies returnes for the weekend of the Heineken QF's I believe.

rugbydreamer wrote:Davies returnes for the weekend of the Heineken QF's I believe.

:/

He will need gametime before Leinster.

Warburton will miss it too :/

wales606 wrote:

Calf strain, then flu, now he isn't on the injury list at all.

Its getting a bit suspicious now

Signed on a pay as you play contract wasn't he?
Don't play him, don't pay him.
Makes sense to me since the club is in dire straights, financially.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Calf strain, then flu, now he isn't on the injury list at all.

Its getting a bit suspicious now

Signed on a pay as you play contract wasn't he?
Don't play him, don't pay him.
Makes sense to me since the club is in dire straights, financially.

Don't think so Dave, is that even legal? I thought he was on a regular 8th month contract.

gowales wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Calf strain, then flu, now he isn't on the injury list at all.

Its getting a bit suspicious now

Signed on a pay as you play contract wasn't he?
Don't play him, don't pay him.
Makes sense to me since the club is in dire straights, financially.

Don't think so Dave, is that even legal? I thought he was on a regular 8th month contract.

Yeah, he is on a proper contract

He also gets paid for appearances like every other player

Unfortunate situation, we would all rather see him playing than not.

Strange... i thought they get a basic salary as well

gowales wrote:Strange... i thought they get a basic salary as well

Thats what I meant

He is on a proper contract

Oh you changed it , you wrote "just for appearances" before.

gowales wrote:Oh you changed it , you wrote "just for appearances" before.

Just making it more clear for future reference

Aaaaaaargh it's twitchy bum time. I hate the preamble to these games. We have to win this. Don't lose boys pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeas!

Totallybiasedscarlet wrote:Aaaaaaargh it's twitchy bum time. I hate the preamble to these games. We have to win this. Don't lose boys pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeas!

No, we have to win this

from Rick O'Shea on twitter: Ben Blair out, Czekaj to start, Henson on to bench.

Oh so they didn't select Henson first of all. Baber's effing useless

Just heard

Baber and Burnell are complete idiots

Seriously!?

I'd rather Henson at 12 than Hewitt tbh - and he definitely should have been on the bench!

I assumed he was injured or on loose women or something.

No Blair for kicking either :/

Parks was hopeless last week - could cost us the game

wales606 wrote:Calf strain, then flu, now he isn't on the injury list at all.

Its getting a bit suspicious now

Why suspicious?
He is on a pay as you play deal, so if they don't pick him, they pay him a lot less.

AlynDavies wrote:

wales606 wrote:Calf strain, then flu, now he isn't on the injury list at all.

Its getting a bit suspicious now

Why suspicious?
He is on a pay as you play deal, so if they don't pick him, they pay him a lot less.

He is on a proper contract

What a joke, Blues got an almost improbably task of beating Leinster in HC 1/4, but I would like them to have their best players out there to give them a chance. They have Henson, who can play 12, 10 and 15, free from injury finally, yet he wasn't even in the squad, and for some reason Burnell and Baber believe Dafydd Hewitt and Gavin Evans are better players. WOW.

I would honestly rather him playing tonight without 2 weeks of rugby than any of the above mentioned players, and I include Dan Parks in that bracket. Henson gets bums on seats, fact. I understand they are trying to save money but people will pay to see him. The Barbarian game vs Wales was a perfect example, I'm sure a good few of the 30,000 there that day, me being one of them, was there to see how Henson would get on, because on his day, he can be an excellent player. Blues are a better side with him there, and the fact is I thought the few times I've seen him he's looked decent. The Dragons game, Ulster, Osprey's were all decent performances, and he was showing some glimpses of his former self, such as the pass to set up the try against Ulster.

He's not everyones cup of tea, but in rugby terms he's a darn sight better than Hewitt, Evans and Parks.

I think coaches like Baber and Sean Holley pretty much sum up regional rugby

Go,

It just baffles me, he's made the effort to come back and put rugby first, yet they don't even put him the squad. The guy wants to play, and the coaches are denying him that chance. Disgrace.

You've got to wonder if they're just putting their egos ahead of the interests of the region and Wales!

I know martyr its ludicrous to be quite honest. If Gatland was the Blues coach you could pretty much guarantee he would pick Henson not only for his ability but commercial value as well

Blues showing some good attacking intentions early on - scrums in trouble though

Cuthbert is getting involved early on - good for the Blues

Stupid turnovers in and around the Scarlets 22 though - not good

Blues with all the pressure, still 0 - 0

Scott Andrew and Ryan Tyrell have kicked the ball in the last minute - not good

Blues tight 5 are doing well slowing the ball down

Give away a penalty in the last phase though :/

Scarlets chance to get the first points.

Fairplay to Nige for letting the game flow the way he has. Clancy take note.

Laulaula has been missed

Awful game so far.

Arggg stupid turnover

Forwards are doing well, backs are letting them down

Starting pack

1. Yapp
2. Tyrell
3. Andrews
4. Downs
5. Cook
6. Paterson
7. Navidi
8. Rush

Missing pack

1. Gethin
2. TRT
3. Filise
4. Bradley
5. Tito
6. Pretorious
7. Warburton/Williams
8. Molitika

Tap tackle on Laulaula stops a certain try!

DAMN!

Poopie commentary by O'Shea. He is getting the players names wrong.

Im watching online - don't have the English commentary.

Cuthbert and Laulaula are looking dangerous - but score is still 0 - 0 - frustrating

Another knock on - yawn.

Blues tactical kicking is very good today

Scott Williams of off with an arm injury

JD2 on - well thats not fair!

Navidi "does a Warburton" - Penalty Blues

Parks misses an easy one!

0 - 0

3 pts Blair or 1/2p would have got

ANOTHER KNOCK ON!

DAMN!!!!!!!!!

Cuthbert misses picking up the ball running back after JD2 chips though

Try Scarlets - Fenby