Cardiff Blues v Treviso - KO 6:30pm on Saturday September 6th

After last weeks shambolic display between the Dragons & the Blues, Cardiff picked up the much needed win and now sit 5th in the Pro 12 league with 2 wins from 3 and a losing bonus point. If you had said before the season started that we'd have won away against Connacht and the Dragons but lost at home to Edinburgh, i would have taken that as 'burgh are no mugs, but this is where it becomes crucial.

The Blues face Treviso on saturday and they've already beaten the Ospreys and run Leinster extremely close, the only comfort in this was that was at home and they lost their away game to Munster. It's only a small crumb as Munster are a far better team than we are right now and i think this could be a real banana skin for us. Days gone buy we'd have wanted a BP from this game but i will settle for a win and stopping them getting a LBP, get some momentum in to our season. I wouldn't turn down a 4 try win but i am unsure as to how likely this is given our previous outings.

Jamie Roberts came on in the second half of the derby game and may be put in for his first start for the Blues. No news on Halfpenny, he may be kept until the Ulster game on the 28th.

It's regional clubs day down the arms park with each regional club able to claim 25 free tickets for their members so i would say we're hoping for a big crowd. The only downside is that it's on a saturday evening, most who may go on a friday after work may not be able to make this...but then again, it's better than a saturday night in while the mrs watches Casulty so come on down!

For anyone attending the game, thearmspark forum has information about a new bar open on Womanby street called 'Solo'. It is run by cardiff blues fans and is a lot cheaper than the club with pints around £2, so hopefully this will become the pre match hub for fans before the game.

TEAM NEWS

Cardiff Blues: TBC
Treviso: TBC
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell, Chris Williams (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Jeff Mark (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)

Blues have had by far and away the easiest start to the Rabo - Dragons, Connacht and Treviso in their opening matches, will be interested to see how they once they start to meet the big boys.

That's a fair comment, it could have been far worse. But then on the other hand it's been Connacht and Dragons away, and those two a notoriously difficult to beat at home, especially when we had the typical connacht weather when we played them and the Dragon's are game raisers when we play them at Dave.

But 2 wins from 3 with the wins coming away from home is a big plus for us, we're going to get very little away from home this year so good to get some points early. If we beat Treviso we can then try and build on being strong at the CAP after losing to Edinburgh in the opening round. It won't be easy as we have Ulster next week, but we will cross that bridge when it comes.

From the blues website

Cardiff Blues have confirmed that back-row forward Rory Watts-Jones has signed a new professional contract with the region.

Watts-Jones who is product of Cowbridge Comprehensive showed his ability during the summer warm up matches proving a handful in attack and solid in defence against Worcester, Gloucester and Bath.

There's an interview on the website but it's rather boring so i didn't post it

gcBlues wrote:

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)

Good luck getting a decent game out of this one lads

Cardiff Blues

15. Dan Fish 14. Alex Cuthbert 13. Gavin Evans 12. Jamie Roberts 11. Tom James 10. Rhys Patchell 9. Lloyd Williams

8. Robin Copeland 7. Sam Warburton 6. Josh Navidi 5. Lou Reed 4. Bradley Davies (c) 3.Benoit Bourrust 2. Andi Kyriacou 1.Nathan Trevett

16. Kristian Dacey 17. Campese Ma'afu 18.Scott Andrews 19. Macauley Cook 20.Rory Watts-Jones 21.Rob Lewis 22. Jason Tovey 23. Dafydd Hewitt


Injury list

Jake Cooper-Woolley: ACL reconstruction on Wednesday - will start rehabilitation process next week - expected 6 months + return

Chris Czekaj - successful surgery 3 weeks ago - expected return in 3-4 months

Ryan Harford - neck surgery 10 weeks ago - expected integration into training within next few weeks

Michael Paterson - recovering from shoulder injury - return in October

Leigh Halfpenny - mid grade ankle sprain against Edinburgh, expected to return in 2 -3 weeks

Sam Hobbs - injured ACLreturning to full training in October

Tovey finally involved. Be interesting to see how he goes.
He could even come on at 15 as a second playmaker.

Or you could move Patchell into the centre at 12 instead of Evans as a 2nd play maker and have Tovey at 10.

Be interesting to see how Dan Fish does as well on his comeback - I quite liked the look of him when he 1st came on the scene.

I think if you replaced Trevett with Mafu and if Patterson/Pretorious was back at 8, and Lloyd was on form then that would be a pretty good complete 1st team.

Evening All.

Just settling down to watch the match. I'll post score updates as we go along.

Minute silence beautifully observed by the crowd. Could hear a pin drop. Good start for the Blues. They get the first penalty, but Prince Harry (Patchell) sends it wide.

Good start by the Blues, Patchell just wide from a long penalty.

First scrum.

Reset

Blues drive forward at the scrum (bourrust looks good)

It gives Dan Fish a long run with some good footwork and offloading, unfortuently Warburton can't pick up a poor pass from Tom "can't pass for toffee" James and its a knock on.

Good intent from the Blues

They need Patchell to Roberts if they are going to smash Treviso, not Patchell to Evans.

Good kick from Cuthbert, he most have been working hard on it in the preseason.

That's better Tom James...shame he didn't make it all the way, but at least he held onto the ball this time.

Fair play, Tom James can make a break.

And this time he can pass, but there is no quick man, only Bradley Davies. Treviso do well to keep the Blues out.

Penalty though.

Penalty for the Blues.

3 - 0.

Good start by the Blues, looks promising.

Lou Reed showing off some offloading he must have learnt at the Scarlets.

They do Wales. They've had the best chances so far.

Treviso's no.12. even though he knocked on there...

TRY from Dan Fish!!!!!!!!!!!

Patchell breaks the line and offloads to Roberts.

Lots of offloads and line breaks so far.

AND DAN FISH IS IN!

8 - 0

Bit of individual skill from Fish after a good build up

10 - 0 after 13 minutes following the conversion.

Bit pedantic at the breakdown there if you ask me.

Treviso kick for touch rather than trying for a longish 3.

They've got another penalty now anyway which is successful.

10 - 3 after nearly 17 minutes.

Good kickoff.

Tom James bundles the catcher into touch

Robin Copeland having a decent pro12 debut in the unfamiliar position of 8.

Good field kick from Patchell, finds space on the Treviso 22.

Warburton is a one man defensive and turnover machine. Pity the rest of the Blues don't have glue on their fingers, need to cut down the knock ons

Under pressure now.

Roberts doing a Lydiate for Warbs to steal the ball, but play is stopped (knock on by Treviso???)

Patchell's defense has been very good so far in his first 2 starts.

Tovey will have a hard time getting into the team at the moment, and bar injuries we could see very little off Ceri Sweeney.

Quick tap by Lloyd Williams who is obviously trying to prove a point. The forwards have been practicing offloading too.

Cuthbert slightly overruns the pass though or he would have had a run to the line with only a couple of players in front of him....easy try for Alex.

Superb kick in behind from Patchell, making up for a poor pass with his last touch.

Cuthbert over the line!

But the pass is deemed forward from Dan Fish.

A bit harsh but it does edge forward on the replay.

Play goes back for a Blues scrum 5m out.

Backhand flick pass from Patchell (some 7s skills there) and Roberts won't be stopped from there.

Try under the posts

15 - 3.

A lot better than the last home game.

Sloppy fumbling by the Blues almost gifts Treviso a try.

But its a scrum 10m out.

17-3 after 33 minutes.

Blues seem to be playing a lot better than previously. It'll come...

The Blues are looking pretty decent their building confidence slowly.

Lets hope they get back to their best soon.

Dan Fish is as slippery as a...ummm.

Unfortuentely he passes to a Treviso player in support (must have a Cardiff accent)

Tom James shows that he can break a line too.

Blues need better support play, but they must be tiring themselves out with all this running!

Havent seen this reckless offloading from a Blues team since we have Nicky and Shanks in the backline.

The Blues are attempting to avoid any breakdowns.

Dan Fish crosses the line!

But again is called back for a forwards pass....hmmm.

We could have had a BP already.

Length of the field running rugby tonight. Are you sure the Scarlets played the O's last night? Or did they mix up the teams?

Aye it's a shame those two tries weren't. To-Jam seems to have learnt his lesson from last time anyway.

Good defence on the line by the Blues

How did tom James knock on when he still had the ball?

HT 17-3

Summary of the first half.

Tom James and Lloyd Williams looking to prove a point. Williams showing that he is still a good scrumhalf and James that he has at least 1 brain cell.

Warburton and Roberts looking to get into some form for the region, Warbs is everywhere and Roberts looks very solid and is doing a good job organizing the backline, good reading of the game for his try too.

Patchell continues his form from last week, very good so far, still making a few mistakes, but mainly due to experience and nothing shocking either.

Dan Fish making a point at FB after being left out last week. The ginger 10 - 15 combination working well.

Robin Copeland looking good at 8 for his debut and Navidi getting better in the 6 role.

Lou Reed is enjoying the Scarlets like pace and showing up well along with captain Brad. Probably 1st choice now displacing Downs.

Bourrust shoring up the scrum, we need him to play every game this year, especially the HC. Kyricau also putting in a good shift in a good forward performance.

Blues will be gutted not to get a BP at the moment, they have created a lot of chances and been a bit unlucky with the passing for tries. Crossed the line 4 times, but only 2 tries, they need to watch the passing with this ref.

Good time to perform with Gats watching

Also, a young 19yr old out performing his elders with very few Pro12 starts in his first season, in a position Wales are lacking depth in.

Now where have I heard that story before...

Penalty Warburton, he really is getting back to his best this season. Obviously enjoyed his summer holidays...

Patchell takes the ball at his feet then flicks it behind him to Cuthbert on the angle. That's some class skills there.