Cardiff Blues v Scarlets

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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?

Luckless - its mathematically possible, but pretty unlikely. Looking at the games left I expect the Blues to pick up 5-10 points, the Dragons to pick up 6-10 points, and the Scarlets to pick up the full 20 (ok, 8-12 points)

its unlikely but you have no idea how much satisfaction it would give the dragons faithful if mr tovey left us 'to improve his chances of playing for wales by playing hcup rugby' to find himself in a shambles of a team shorn of its best players playing h-cup rugby next year.....i would love it!

there would be a certain amount of irony to it....

shorn of it's best players? Laulala & Gethin are the only players of note that we're losing. They will be missed massively, the others won't be.

And you can't really blame Tovey for leaving, he wants to play in a team which tends to do alright in the H-Cup which he believes will enhance his chances of getting in the wales squad. It sounds quite reasonable, as a player, you want to play the best...

But the problem is that there aren't natural replacements for them at the moment...

I would say Sam Hobbs is the youngster going to try and fill gethin's boots, it will take a while but i think he should be ready to step up. Whether he can do it consistantly and against top teams is another thing. As for Laualala's replacement? Who know's.

If Baber has his way Gavin Evans probably

GavinDragon wrote:its unlikely but you have no idea how much satisfaction it would give the dragons faithful if mr tovey left us 'to improve his chances of playing for wales by playing hcup rugby' to find himself in a shambles of a team shorn of its best players playing h-cup rugby next year.....i would love it!

Gav I said when he signed that it would be an amusing end to the season if TOvey kicked the points that won the Dragons the game and put the Blues out of hte HEC.

gc laulala is your only creative element in an otherwise one dimensional backline, take roberts and halfpenny out for large periods in 6n and AI and you guys are going to struggle

i agree, but i believe the one dimensional play this season is down to our 9 & 10 rather than 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15. Which is why they went after tovey, they want to try and get someone in at 10 who the play revolves around, not someone at 13 who is further away from the action.

fair enough, hope it works, tbf tovey has the quality to do it, just im not going to be cheering him on after leaving us...whatever his reasons

i couldn't imagine you would

To be fair to the Blues they have got Blair back who will add a lot and then Cuthbert and Robinson will both develop their games and if they keep Henson then it's a very decent backline even without Roberts or Halfpenny - but GcBlues who will be your replacement SH after Rees goes?

Smirnoffpriest wrote:To be fair to the Blues

Where's the fun in that?!

luckless_pedestrian wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:To be fair to the Blues

Where's the fun in that?!

LOL

The Blues?
Who are they?

Cardiff Dave wrote:The Blues?
Who are they?

A shortened name for the Cardiff Blues - Since Cardiff implies Cardiff RFC and not the region.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:To be fair to the Blues they have got Blair back who will add a lot and then Cuthbert and Robinson will both develop their games and if they keep Henson then it's a very decent backline even without Roberts or Halfpenny - but GcBlues who will be your replacement SH after Rees goes?

LLoyd Williams, Rhys Downes and Lewis Jones at the moment.

Warren Fury has been rumoured, but I don't know if that would be a good signing at the moment.

Replacement 10 could also be a problem with Sweeney (likely) and Parks gone. If Tovey gets called up, there is nobody else - Could see Patchell brought into the 1st team (In which case, I want Blair to stay even more, since his goal kicking is invaluable)

13 is the problem in next seasons backline - No Laulaula, and Evans is not fit to lace his boots. Henson is unlikely to stay, so during internationals we will only have Hewitt and Evans. Hopefully there will be a new centre signed, and Owen Williams gets a chance in the 13 shirt (a similar 13 to Shanks), not sure if Cory Allen will cope in the 1st team.

wales606 wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:The Blues?
Who are they?

A shortened name for the Cardiff Blues - Since Cardiff implies Cardiff RFC and not the region.

Cardiff RFC then. Sorted.

wales606 wrote:

LLoyd Williams, Rhys Downes and Lewis Jones at the moment.

Warren Fury has been rumoured, but I don't know if that would be a good signing at the moment.

Replacement 10 could also be a problem with Sweeney (likely) and Parks gone. If Tovey gets called up, there is nobody else - Could see Patchell brought into the 1st team (In which case, I want Blair to stay even more, since his goal kicking is invaluable)

13 is the problem in next seasons backline - No Laulaula, and Evans is not fit to lace his boots. Henson is unlikely to stay, so during internationals we will only have Hewitt and Evans. Hopefully there will be a new centre signed, and Owen Williams gets a chance in the 13 shirt (a similar 13 to Shanks), not sure if Cory Allen will cope in the 1st team.

Cardiff Blues, up front are the concerns.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:The Blues?
Who are they?

A shortened name for the Cardiff Blues - Since Cardiff implies Cardiff RFC and not the region.

Cardiff RFC then. Sorted.

Dave, have you actually read what you've quoted?

Luckless he's under the impression that Cardiff RFC actually have professional internationals playing for them and that they play against the cream of Ireland, Italy and Scotland in the Pro12 rather than playing in the Welsh Prem