HC, Pool 2, Round 4: Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Blues

First topic message reminder :

Glasgow Warriorsv Cardiff Blues
 
Friday 13 December 2013, KO 20:00
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
 
Live on Sky Sports
 
Referee Pascal "I am not George Clancy" Gauzere (France)
Touch Judge 1 Patrick Pechambert (France)
Touch Judge 2 Jean-Luc Rebollal (France)
Fourth Official Philippe Bonhoure (France)
TMO Philippe Bonhoure (France)

Citing Commissioner John Cole (Ireland)
 
A. HC Form (last 4 games):
 
1. Warriors
 
6/12/13
Blues 29 - 20 Glasgow

20/10/13
Glasgow 20 - 16 Chiefs
 
13/10/13
Toulon 51 - 28 Glasgow
 
19/1/13
Glasgow 27 - 20 Saints
 
2. Blues

6/12/13
Blues 29 - 20 Glasgow
 
19/10/13
Blues 19 - 15 Toulon
 
13/10/13
Chiefs 44 - 29 Blues
 
19/1/13
Blues 26 - 14 Sharks

B. Table

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	BP	PTS
1	Toulon	3	2	0	1	80	56	2	10
2	Cardiff Blues	3	2	0	1	77	79	1	9
3	Exeter	3	1	0	2	69	63	3	7
4	Glasgow	3	1	0	2	68	96	1	5

C. Teams
 
1. Warriors

15 Hogg
14 Maitland
13 McGuigan
12 Dunbar
11 Seymour
10 Jackson
09 Matawalu

01 Grant
02 MacArthur
03 Welsh
04 Nakarawa
05 Kellock
06 Harley
07 Holmes
08 Wilson

16 Hall
17 Big Jerry
18 Kalman
19 Strauss
20 Fusaro
21 Cusiter
22 Weir
23 DTH

2. Blues
 
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Richard Smith, 12 Rhys Patchell, 11 Harry Robinson, 10 Gareth Davies, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Sam Hobbs (c), 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Chris Dicomidis, 5 Filo Paulo, 6 Macauley Cook, 7 Rory Watts-Jones, 8 Robin Copeland.
 
16 Marc Breeze, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Benoit Bourrust, 19 James Down, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Andries Pretorius, 22 Lewis Jones, 23 Dan Fish

 
D. Parliamo Glasgow:
 
Alphabetty Spaghetti - D.T.H. van der Merwe, wing
Angel - Gabriel Ascarate, centre
Angela - Jon Welsh, prop
Barry - Byron McGuigan, wing
Big Boab - (see Ginger Tackle Monster, the)
Big Mike - (see Coo, the)
Big Naka - Leone Nakarawa, lock/loosie
Bluto - Josh Strauss, loosie/no.8
Centre, the - (see Lesser Messiah, the)
Coo, the - Michael Cusack, prop
Cooseetah - (see Cus)
Cus - Chris Cusiter, scrum half
DTH - (see Alphabetty Spaghetti)
Flippy - (see Toonie)
Fozzy - Christopher Fusaro, loosie
Furra Lineeeee - Peter Horne, centre
Ginger Tackle Monster, the - Rob Harley, loosie
Guns - Tim Swinson, lock
Henners - Henry Pyrgos, scrum half
Hoggy - Stuart Hogg, full back/wing/centre
Ickle Jon - Jonny Gray, lock
Jedi - James Eddie, loosie
Lesser Messiah, the - Richie Vernon, loosie/no.8
Mark of Nazareth - (see Messiah, the)
Meatball, the - Duncan Weir, fly half
Messiah, the/ - Mark Bennett, centre
Niko - Nikola Matawalu, scrum half
Niko's Mate - Jerry Yanuyanutawa, prop
No Maits - Sean Maitland, wing
Rhubarb - Ruaridh Jackson, fly half
Ruck Inspector, the - Alastair Kellock, lock
Schlong - Sean Lamont, centre/wing
Sherlock - Tyrone Holmes, loosie
Shrek - Gordon Reid, prop
Toonie - Gregor Peter John Townsend MBE, head coach
Wee P - Pat MacArthur, hooker
Weegie from Fiji, the - (see Niko)

Glasgow...based on their last two games, cannot seem to generate quality ball from their own breakdown.  Its a combination of poor protection from their backrow and Matawalu being a bit too energetic in trying to do something before possession is secure.

Have to say Matawalu isn't really helping the cause right now. If only we had a solid, dependable, experienced scrum half for Glasgow

Oh wait there's on the bench. BRING HIM ON

Artful_Dodger wrote:Glasgow...based on their last two games, cannot seem to generate quality ball from their own breakdown.  Its a combination of poor protection from their backrow and Matawalu being a bit too energetic in trying to do something before possession is secure.

Also they really do force the offload when it isn't quite on.

I really like Nakawara. Typical Fijian in that He is just such a naturally gifted rugby player.

Can we just get Cusiter on, move Matawalu to the wing. Get Maitland off

cakeordeath wrote:Can we just get Cusiter  on, move Matawalu to the wing. Get Maitland off

Good plan

It's like the keystone cops have signed for Glasgow

Final score prediction: Glasgow 5 - 6 Cardiff

cakeordeath wrote:It's like the keystone cops have signed for Glasgow

except the keystone cops only last for 20 minutes..then the car blew up and they went home...

You know what I agree with them in studio, though - they really should keep the one man crash ball going because it's working way better

I'm sorry DTH on for McGuigan ? That's not fair, just because they're internationals doesn't mean Hogg & Maitland are helping us tonight

well i won't be blaming the tmo if Glasgow lose, so so many mistakes. story of their season.

Even if Glasgow won with a converted try (in the 85th minute after 23 phases) I just couldn't bring myself to celebrate...

Argybargy wrote:Even if Glasgow won with a converted try (in the 85th minute after 23 phases) I just couldn't bring myself to celebrate...

There has been nothing positive to take from this performance tonight. I think it's only a matter of time before the Blues score a try

Argy why choose *this* match to come out of the depths?! Consolation?

This match has the feel of countless Scotland or Scottish games - you just feel that we will somehow conspire to lose. And that's if we're even ahead. If we're behind you get that feeling that we will somehow manage to botch any chance to win the match. This is one of those matches. Just NOTHING.

I am done watching this game.

There's something about it - I like Cusiter & Weir. How old is Cusiter? I really think WC 2015 partnership

Ineffable wrote:Argy why choose *this* match to come out of the depths?! Consolation?

This match has the feel of countless Scotland or Scottish games - you just feel that we will somehow conspire to lose. And that's if we're even ahead. If we're behind you get that feeling that we will somehow manage to botch any chance to win the match. This is one of those matches. Just NOTHING.

Ineffable
I suppose its just been building up. I take strength from others who have recently "come out" regarding our feelings regarding the unrealsied potential of this team...
Suggest we now swap Solomons to Glasgow (give him something to work with) and let Toonie mince around with the MFLs.   
(No offence meant to the MFL's - sort of)

Why not take the 3 points??

Honestly I think swapping coaches would work astonishingly well for both teams. Edinburgh seem to have more nads for high scoring games as per the HC couple years ago so great for TOonie.

Cake - I don't blame ya mate. Seriously.

Penalty try coming up shewerly?

Of course we will get a TBP win against Toulon..

WOW look how well the weegie play with a scrum half that just gives quick service from the ruck and stops mincing about thinking about making high profile decisions

Argybargy wrote:Of course we will get a TBP win against Toulon..

Yeah it's very kind of Barnes to imply that if we sneak this game we're still in the HC ...

and about time too Glasgow.

You have to question Toonie's decision making, for a windy night in Glasgow, he decides to bench two Scottish internationals in Weir and Cusiter who can control a game as well as anyone and decides to play an incredibly talented, but completely insane, Fijian who doesn't know the meaning of the word sensible and a, supposed, Scottish international who believes he was born in Fiji and cannot kick, and nor could any other Glasgow player. He decided to play an expansive game plan yet dropped the club's top try scorer and the week before sent the best outside-centre on a jolly to South Africa.

It really doesn't help that Rhys Patchell is the best fly-half in Britain by a mile.

We've got to smash this scrum and get the three points

123456789 wrote:We've got to smash this scrum and get the three points

Is that what they're trying to do? How about get the damn ball out, smash it up one man at a time (which has worked every single time we've tried it tonight) gain territory and force the error.

That is a long, long way out ... we're more likely to score a try

123456789 wrote:You have to question Toonie's decision making, for a windy night in Glasgow, he decides to bench two Scottish internationals in Weir and Cusiter who can control a game as well as anyone and decides to play an incredibly talented, but completely insane, Fijian who doesn't know the meaning of the word sensible and a, supposed, Scottish international who believes he was born in Fiji and cannot kick, and nor could any other Glasgow player. He decided to play an expansive game plan yet dropped the club's top try scorer and the week before sent the best outside-centre on a jolly to South Africa.

It really doesn't help that Rhys Patchell is the best fly-half in Britain by a mile.

Patchell isn't even first choice FH for the Blues?   

Cusiter must be cursing his pack right now. That's 50% of the time he's getting cleared out at the ruck.

Ineffable wrote:That is a long, long way out ... we're more likely to score a try

We urgently need "old" Hoggy to deliver something magical from here ... not this very average replicant ..

Frak Scottish rugby !

Commiserations Glasgow fans. Glasgow players and coaches... give me my Friday evening back!

That was a really desperate game of rugby.

Blues in with a shout of the quarter finals now.

Copeland man of the match....again after also winning it in Blues victory over Toulon.  Looking like a very good signings by Munster, the guy is quality.

Notch wrote:Commiserations Glasgow fans. Glasgow players and coaches... give me my Friday evening back!

That was a really desperate game of rugby.

I would have felt more fulfilled had I stayed at work tonight....

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

123456789 wrote:You have to question Toonie's decision making, for a windy night in Glasgow, he decides to bench two Scottish internationals in Weir and Cusiter who can control a game as well as anyone and decides to play an incredibly talented, but completely insane, Fijian who doesn't know the meaning of the word sensible and a, supposed, Scottish international who believes he was born in Fiji and cannot kick, and nor could any other Glasgow player. He decided to play an expansive game plan yet dropped the club's top try scorer and the week before sent the best outside-centre on a jolly to South Africa.

It really doesn't help that Rhys Patchell is the best fly-half in Britain by a mile.

Patchell isn't even first choice FH for the Blues?   

He is.

Cardiff played with the stuborness that Glasgow used to...well played to them.

I am disgusted with Glasgow just now

No one else to blame but the Glasgow players themselves, consistently going for a scrum over getting points on the board, they didn't start playing with any pace until grant scored. Top players making stupid handling errors.

Can't agree, toonie's fault, picking the wrong team again and wrong tactics. When Matawalu is at scrumhalf, everyone else struggles because of the lack of structure. Its great if Matawalu is playing well and makes the breaks, but if he's not then we just get put under pressure.

Copeland is irreplaceable. I'm gutted he's leaving. Top game again.

Toonie is full of Poopie

Expectations are so much higher on "Les Weege" these days...not sure if it this or Kebabgate but something ain't right.  

  

GLove39 wrote:  

A perfectly summarised assessment.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

123456789 wrote:You have to question Toonie's decision making, for a windy night in Glasgow, he decides to bench two Scottish internationals in Weir and Cusiter who can control a game as well as anyone and decides to play an incredibly talented, but completely insane, Fijian who doesn't know the meaning of the word sensible and a, supposed, Scottish international who believes he was born in Fiji and cannot kick, and nor could any other Glasgow player. He decided to play an expansive game plan yet dropped the club's top try scorer and the week before sent the best outside-centre on a jolly to South Africa.

It really doesn't help that Rhys Patchell is the best fly-half in Britain by a mile.

Patchell isn't even first choice FH for the Blues?   

He is.

What is it that Gatland sees in Preistland that means he is picked ahead of the best fly-half in the UK?

Patchell looks like an excellent talent, but I wouldn't be so quick to say he's the best in the UK when he is completely unproven at international level.  In fact as many Welsh fans have pointed out, if it was based on Leinster form Sexton was easily the best European 10, at international level however it hasn't all gone his way.

Why no locks on the bench? What's the point to have Fusaro there when you have a guy like Jedi who can really give you go forward?

Poor selections and poor tactics.

On a positive note Ryan Wilson was pretty good.

Edit: i know Kellock played only 40 min but he was totally anonymous, i would have had Ryder and Nakarawa in the row, Kellock on the bench.