Cardiff Blues V Ulster

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 6:35 pm

Tonight Cardiff Blues take on Ulster at the Arms Park in Cardiff with the home team having beaten Zebre but then lost to Glasgow in their opening 2 games. Ulster arrive with 8 points after a bonus point Draw with Scarlets in the first week and then beating Zebre with the bonus last week.
Ulster have looked like they are creating lots in attack but mistakes and poor defending so far has cost them.
The match is live on BBC 2 NI and Wales and kicks off at 19:35

Cardiff Blues: Rhys Patchell; Alex Cuthbert, Adam Thomas, Gavin Evans, Richard Smith; Gareth Davies, Lewis Jones; Sam Hobbs, Matthew Rees (c), Adam Jones, Jarrad Hoeata, Filo Paulo, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi, Manoa Vosawai

Replacements: Rhys Williams, Taufa'ao Filise, Scott Andrews, Macauley Cook, Ellis Jenkins, Lloyd Williams, Cory Allen, Geraint Walsh

Ulster: Louis Ludik; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Stuart Olding, Tommy Bowe; Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best (capt), Wiehahn Herbst; Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe; Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, Bronson Ross, Neil McComb, Roger Wilson, Michael Heaney, Ian Humphreys, Criag Gilroy.

Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)

So whats our predictions for this one with both sides somewhat stuttering into the new season?

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:37 pm

Teams are hitting the pitch here we go

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:41 pm

Ah you have to love gusher on commentary, says good play by Scarlets and then less than 3o seconds later says good play by the men in blue and black

by Guest Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:46 pm

Great scrum, Warwick!

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:46 pm

Paddy Jackson notches the first points up after 7 minutes Ulster lead 3-0

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:49 pm

Warwick has really impressed me at the end of last season start of this, that was a good drive but they went the wrong way when it went to ground.

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:56 pm

Vicious game so far

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:00 pm

The Pro12 has been so fast and loose this season! Both teams tonight playing positive rugby once again.

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:01 pm

3-3 after 21 minutes now plenty of attack from both teams so far, so mighty hits going in here too

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:02 pm

Notch wrote:The Pro12 has been so fast and loose this season! Both teams tonight playing positive rugby once again.

Yep, good contest so far....unfortunately I was saying the same thing after 60 minutes last week and that didn't turn out well...

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:02 pm

Players are just expressing themselves here, great to see.

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:04 pm

Their was a hint of a high tackle in there on best

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:05 pm

Tommy Bowe is a real handfull, I wish Cuthbert could catch, or kick, or defend.

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:06 pm

There in a nutshell is Marshall problem, you never know what you will get passing wise

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:07 pm

Lewis Jones is a real handful at scrum half,

also liking Patchell coming onto the ball at FB

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:07 pm

Some of these tackles are wild. Both teams just trying to keep the tempo high. Ulster have had the better fitness in the second half both games so far, we just have to not shoot ourselves in the foot before then.

It's rushing not accuracy.

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:08 pm

2 good scrums with Lewis Jones really putting Nick Williams under pressure, much better

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:08 pm

Patchell is going well here but come on Ulster the scrum is one place we are good and we do stupid stuff like that off the back of it

by justified sinner Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:09 pm

Cuthbert = Welsh Visser you have my sympathy. Great to watch though.

by The Saint Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:09 pm

Feel sorry for Patchell, he's surrounded mostly by garbage in the backline tonight. Must be frustrating for him. In comparison to Ulster's well drilled backs they look poor.

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:10 pm

That was stupid by Vosawai!

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:11 pm

Argg, frustrating, discipline had been so much better so far

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:11 pm

Jacko levels it up 6-6 at half an hour but plenty of agression out there. Mistakes round from both sides so far

by bedfordwelsh Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:12 pm

Never been afraid to admit I was wrong and whilst its still early days Patchell is look very very good, he has never convinced me in the past but fair play to him.

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:12 pm

The Saint wrote:Feel sorry for Patchell, he's surrounded mostly by garbage in the backline tonight. Must be frustrating for him. In comparison to Ulster's well drilled backs they look poor.

Looking forward to seeing him with Anscombe and an on form Allen and Cuthbert - we just need a decent centre to replace Gavin 'hopeless' Evans

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:13 pm

bedfordwelsh wrote:Never been afraid to admit I was wrong and whilst its still early days Patchell is look very very good, he has never convinced me in the past but fair play to him.

He is still learning his game and does make errors, but overall he is one of the most talented players the Blues have produced

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:13 pm

Frustrating errors now :/

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:14 pm

Cardiff are up in defence very very quickly here although it would help if we were not terrible at breakdown there

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:14 pm

Both teams making errors and making ground. I mean, this is hectic rugby.

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:14 pm

Arggg, again poor penalty to give away :/

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:15 pm

Another pen from jackson 9-6

by bedfordwelsh Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:15 pm

606,

Never doubted his talent just didnt rate him as highly as others but then each to their own etc. I hope he gets an AI squad place and I also hope the Blues don't start messing him about once Anscombe gets there.

Touchy subject I know but if we are giving dual contracts out I would rather see Patchell get one than Anscombe.

by The Saint Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:16 pm

wales606 wrote:
The Saint wrote:Feel sorry for Patchell, he's surrounded mostly by garbage in the backline tonight. Must be frustrating for him. In comparison to Ulster's well drilled backs they look poor.

Looking forward to seeing him with Anscombe and an on form Allen and Cuthbert - we just need a decent centre to replace Gavin 'hopeless' Evans

I agree. Surely there's someone coming through at the academies or Pontypridd?

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:17 pm

We seem to be trading pens right now. It's very tight here this is going to the wire at the moment. 9-9

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:19 pm

The Saint wrote:
wales606 wrote:
The Saint wrote:Feel sorry for Patchell, he's surrounded mostly by garbage in the backline tonight. Must be frustrating for him. In comparison to Ulster's well drilled backs they look poor.

Looking forward to seeing him with Anscombe and an on form Allen and Cuthbert - we just need a decent centre to replace Gavin 'hopeless' Evans

I agree. Surely there's someone coming through at the academies or Pontypridd?

Quite a few centres about but no real stars beside Allen and of course the injured Owen Williams. I think the coaches saw this season as one for Williams and Allen but that won't happen.

Personally I think Richard Smith should play 13 and Allen 12, but I think the coaches are thinking of moving Patchell to 12 when Anscombe arrives - which could work I suppose, but I would prefer him at 10 and Anscombe at 15.

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:23 pm

So Ulster lead 12-9 at the half, lots of mistakes, lots of penalties all round so far

by Standulstermen Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:24 pm

Have to say I think it's an atrocious game of rugby. Conditions do look tricky but by God it's rubbish.

Very disappointed in ulster

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:27 pm

Both teams going hammer and tongs though. The desire is there for all to see. I'm enjoying it. Error count is spoiling things in terms of attack but the effort is massive.

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:37 pm

Matthew Rees' lineout work has been very poor so far this season.

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:42 pm

Flip me.

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:44 pm

Set piece fallen apart and errors creeping in Sad

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:44 pm

Ulsters scrum minced them there. Wiehahn Herbst. Lovin' him.

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:46 pm

Sub Adam Jones now, although with Scott Andrews on the bench our scrum will fall to pieces,

I assume Mitchell is injured.

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:47 pm

by neilthom7 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:48 pm

Ah nice try there for big Dan, big gap in Cardiff's defence

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:48 pm

For the third week in a row, Dan Tuohy scores!. I do believe Dan Tuohy is top scorer in the Pro12 the year?!

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:48 pm

All from Blues mistakes

by wales606 Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:48 pm

Notch wrote:For the third week in a row, Dan Tuohy scores!. I do believe Dan Tuohy is top scorer in the Pro12 the year?!

Well Zebo just got a hat-trick in Zebre

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:49 pm

wales606 wrote:
Notch wrote:For the third week in a row, Dan Tuohy scores!. I do believe Dan Tuohy is top scorer in the Pro12 the year?!

Well Zebo just got a hat-trick in Zebre

Eh, he's still the top scoring second row in the league Wink

by **Notch** Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:50 pm

Great attack Cardiff

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