Scarlets v Cardiff Blues

I'm not able to go to this derby game due to the ridiculous kick off time. But it's on s4c in 40 mins.

Some lovely offloading from Patchell and Lloyd Williams.

Patchell clearly has a point to prove at 10, and after Anscombe's recent performances, he is taking his opportunity.

Not a bad game so far. Not sure why Williams picked up a yellow. He wasn't off his feet. No arms in the tackle?
Cardiff really making a game of it, but can they keep up the intensity?

Munchkin wrote:Not a bad game so far. Not sure why Williams picked up a yellow. He wasn't off his feet. No arms in the tackle?
Cardiff really making a game of it, but can they keep up the intensity?

I think he never really released the player but it was hard to see from the angle they showed.

Yeah, think it was for not releasing the player in the shadow of the posts

Oh dear Patchell, what's happened :/

Thanks, Vince. I didn't think Williams actually held on to the player went he went to ground, but could have that wrong.

Pretty generous penalty for the Scarlets there, saying Phil John was supporting his weight at that ruck

Blues defence is actually holding up okay so far, there's a first time for everything I suppose.

Surely that was knocked on?

Have Blues saved their best defence of the season for this game?

Patchell looks better at fly-half than Anscombe, and should take his place in the international squad.

Great pace from the Williams but terrible hands from Ball lol

Some of Patchell's passing on the gainline is very impressive

Cuthbert really has gone backward as a player

He has. He looks a shadow of the player who made the Lions team. He could probably do with a new lease of life (IE a new club).

He isn't going to make the Wales 23 and to be honest, could struggle to make the plane with the way Amos is playing (and Amos can cover 15)

Scrums are a joke

The basic skills on show today are...well nonexistent actually

wales606 wrote:He isn't going to make the Wales 23 and to be honest, could struggle to make the plane with the way Amos is playing (and Amos can cover 15)

He'll definitely be in the squad, it isn't likely that Gatland will go for Prydie over him. I would like to see Amos start though. Guess some of it also depends on whether North comes back into the squad.

Now S4C are so uninterested in the game they are interviewing random women about their children

Scarlets have a major flaw in their backrow: they don't have a ball carrier. I can see them losing this one.

This game has a major flaw ... the women with children are having a better half.

brainless from Cardiff

IronMike wrote:Now S4C are so uninterested in the game they are interviewing random women about their children

Not random women. The captain's wife.

The Saint wrote:

wales606 wrote:He isn't going to make the Wales 23 and to be honest, could struggle to make the plane with the way Amos is playing (and Amos can cover 15)

He'll definitely be in the squad, it isn't likely that Gatland will go for Prydie over him. I would like to see Amos start though. Guess some of it also depends on whether North comes back into the squad.

But Gatland may choose to only take 4 back 3 players - Halfpenny, North, Williams and Amos

Calm down Liam

Was about to say this was on course to be pretty much the only game this season that we haven't conceded a try...and the fancy Scarlets backs...drive over in a maul.

Set piece has been an absolute joke from the Blues

Ref has been very generous to Scarlets plays off their feet challenging for the ball

How did Scarlets not score a try from that....

Well done boys. Connacht now need a win v Ospreys to get 6th I think

No bonus point for Scarlets might prove costly if they don't put Treviso away and Connacht win.

Munchkin wrote:No bonus point for Scarlets might prove costly if they don't put Treviso away and Connacht win.

If Scarlets lose by more than 7 to Treviso and Connacht beat Ospreys then Scarlets don't really deserve to be 6th.

Treviso can be difficult to play against at home. It probably depends on their attitude on their final game of the season. I think Scarlets will win, but they have been a bit shaky away from home. Can't see them not picking up a losing bonus point at least, but still possible.

I was impressed by Treviso results in Ireland in their last 2 games. I have been thinking they could shock Scarlets next week.

VinceWLB wrote:I was impressed by Treviso results in Ireland in their last 2 games. I have been thinking they could shock Scarlets next week.

It wouldn't be a shock

Treviso have got more dogged as the season comes to an end yes.  And let's not forget they are in their own battle with Zebre to get to the Champions Cup!  Big incentive to never-say-die on the field.

Having said that, I think a side prepared to really have a genuine go at them (unlike tepid/torpid Leinster!) would still effect a pretty good win.

That certainly makes next week's 6 matches a great last day.

1. Connacht looking for 6th spot against Ospreys looking to keep top spot or at least hang-on grimly to chances for ERCC qualification via the play-off spot.
2. Glasgow and Ulster against each other looking for the home semi-final as a minimum.
3. Munster the same against Dragons - Dragons nothing to play for though from what I can see, except to put one in the eye of an Irish province.
4. Leinster need to win against Edinburgh to make sure Scarlets can't overtake them. Edinburgh on an outside chance for 6th spot but need a TBP to do it or else get enough points to overtake Connacht for the play-off spot.
5. Treviso will be looking to nick the 7th qualifying spot from Zebre and face Scarlets looking for 6th spot.
6. Zebre away to Cardiff Blues hoping for a win against a side with nothing to play for but pride, and for Scarlets to do them a favour.

Guinness Pro12 - no other beer league comes near!!

The changes have made a MASSIVE improvement to the league. It's a shame they had to come from decisions not within the league, has to be said.

What an exciting next saturday we have in our hands.

VinceWLB wrote: It's no surprise they had to come from decisions not within the league, has to be said.

.

Fixed it for you

The Saint wrote:Patchell looks better at fly-half than Anscombe, and should take his place in the international squad.

Anscombe shouldn't have been in there in first place. Biggar Priestland and Hook for the WC then start to bring Patchell through.

VinceWLB wrote:The changes have made a MASSIVE improvement to the league. It's a shame they had to come from decisions not within the league, has to be said.

What an exciting next saturday we have in our hands.

Well the IRFU wanted to change the format years ago, but.....

Chunky Norwich wrote:

VinceWLB wrote: It's no surprise they had to come from decisions not within the league, has to be said.

.

Fixed it to for you suit my agenda

Agreed.

VinceWLB wrote:The changes have made a MASSIVE improvement to the league. It's a shame they had to come from decisions not within the league, has to be said.

What an exciting next saturday we have in our hands.

Hold up...  it's only exciting when Pro12 maintains a serious presence in Europe too.  Let's not forget why the New Way was forced by our Competitor Leagues - it was forced to virtually end Pro12 genuine interest in Europe and let the BIG Leagues have that contest to themselves, like the good old days,

So excitement this year in Pro12 - grand.  Let's see how things pan out over the next few years in all competitions.  I do also think this year in Pro12 is being influenced by an encroaching World Cup too.

VinceWLB wrote:I was impressed by Treviso results in Ireland in their last 2 games. I have been thinking they could shock Scarlets next week.

It would not be a shock. After them man shaming us at PYS on the final weekend two seasons ago (when we needed a win to secure a play off spot), I think we know exactly what to expect.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:I was impressed by Treviso results in Ireland in their last 2 games. I have been thinking they could shock Scarlets next week.

It would not be a shock.  After them man shaming us at PYS on the final weekend two seasons ago (when we needed a win to secure a play off spot), I think we know exactly what to expect.

I remember that SS. Didn't you concede 50? At home?! They have in the past had the knack of dishing out some good beatings, Treviso!

SecretFly wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:The changes have made a MASSIVE improvement to the league. It's a shame they had to come from decisions not within the league, has to be said.

What an exciting next saturday we have in our hands.

Hold up...  it's only exciting when Pro12 maintains a serious presence in Europe too.  Let's not forget why the New Way was forced by our Competitor Leagues - it was forced to virtually end Pro12 genuine interest in Europe and let the BIG Leagues have that contest to themselves, like the good old days,

So excitement this year in Pro12 - grand.  Let's see how things pan out over the next few years in all competitions.  I do also think this year in Pro12 is being influenced by an encroaching World Cup too.

You sound like Chunky now with your conspiracy theories! You're in danger of tarnishing the product and putting off the investors

Seriously though, I'm not sure that was the reason OR the outcome (for the competitor leagues forcing it through). The Pro12's top teams are still in the Euro Comp. If they've done worse this year in Europe I don't think it's to do with the 'meritocracy' in our league. What am I missing?

Griff wrote: I'm not sure that was the reason OR the outcome (for the competitor leagues forcing it through).  The Pro12's top teams are still in the Euro Comp.  If they've done worse this year in Europe I don't think it's to do with the 'meritocracy' in our league.  What am I missing?

You're missing what I said, that's what you're missing Griff.  
I said 'Hold up' - let's not make rash decisions about how great the new way is until we get a few years down the line to see how genuine 'competitiveness' pans out - in all contests.

I wasn't talking about this year - obviously this year is Much too early to be making rash judgements on the success or otherwise of anything.  But that was my exact point.


Oh..... and it was a Reason not an outcome......   I have my Chunkified Conspiracy Rights in this place too!!!

But was it forced by our competitors to end Pro12 interest in Europe? Really?! I don't see how the changes mean that Leinster and Munster, for example, are now not contenders for Europe? How does it cripple them? That's what I'm missing!