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

First topic message reminder :

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)

Yellow card for the Italian no8.

Blues kicking for goal!

They should be going for a BP!

Sails over though

20 - 3

Not everything working for the Blues, there are a lot of unforced errors - but they are still trying things which makes me happy.

Another length of the field run by Tom James takes the Blues from defending a scrum in their 22 to a possession and a 5M scrum on Treviso's 5M line against 7 men.

Blues forwards drive through Treviso, but it's reset.

Could we be about to see a Blues penalty try from a scrum?

Penalty no1

Scrum again.

Blues destroy the scrum but don't get a penalty???!!!

Copeland tries to power over but is turned over.

Poor decision ref.

Woah! That would've been a superb intercept try if the Trev player hadn't run out of gas and avoided the tackle. Good on Patchell for catching up.

Great try saving tackle by Patchell

Intercept for Treviso from Roberts pass (second intercept off Roberts this half :/)

I thought he would go all the way then, but its Patchell who somehow manages to catch him and James smashes him into touch. Patchell outpaced the Treviso fullback!

Great defense from Patchell.
Could become a very tidy player

Blues should be really p*ssed off if they don't get a TBP. Partly their own small errors, but partly some bizarre refereeing decisions.

Can I hear "caaardiff caardiff" being chanted?

Blues scrum is dominate.

Defense in the 22 is pretty solid

Broken play attack is very good

Breakdown is strong

Lineout is ok

Set play attacks are good with Patchell showing some class.

Just need some more clinical finishing and a more aggressive defence for when they play better attacking teams.

Lloyd Williams holds up the Treviso 9 over the line.

And the Treviso scrum is in all kinds of trouble

Discipline still a problem

Cuthbert off. Doesn't look happy.

Tovey on, Fish to wing I guess.

Cuthbert injured?

Lloyd Williams holds up another Treviso player over the line.

sheephead wrote:Cuthbert injured?

He didn't look happy, but he walked off. Shouldn't be major if he is injured.

10 minutes of Treviso possession gives them a try.

20 - 10

A 10pt gap is not a good representation of this game.

Scott Andrews on, Bourrust off. There goes the scrum...

Gatland impressed by Patchell, Navidi and Fish

I was wrong, penalty from the Blues scrum

Blues really gone off in this second half and Treviso have tightened up.

Not good at the moment.

Another Treviso lineout in the Blues 22.

Treviso rolling maul over the line, but I think it's held up.

At this rate Blues will struggle to hold on to this game.
Defense is shoite

Im happy with the Blues intent in this game, but they have to improve their execution and discipline.

Another penalty for Treviso

yellow coming?

20 - 13

Bit of a kicking game favours the Blues with Patchell and Fish.

Well that try sort of just happened.

What was it

He got the ball
ran
and scored

how

Almost intercept for Treviso lead to Tovey running in from halfway!

Tovey shows what he can do in his first appearance from the bench for the Blues.

25 - 13

I've never seen a Welsh 10 with gas like that!

Looseheaded wrote:Well that try sort of just happened.

What was it

He got the ball
ran
and scored

how

Blues deserve a bit of luck, they have been trying enough things - its bound to come eventually.

Sam Warburton off

So the coaches think they have one.

27 - 13

Another penalty given away though, and this one will be a yellow card for repeated penalties.

YC for captain Brad.

And here I was thinking Patchell was cementing his place at 10, then Tovey comes off the bench.

Finally the Blues have some decent players at 10, after being cursed for years with Parks, Sweeney and Norton Knight.

wales606 wrote:

Looseheaded wrote:Well that try sort of just happened.

What was it

He got the ball
ran
and scored

how

Blues deserve a bit of luck, they have been trying enough things - its bound to come eventually.

Oh I agree, and Tovey showed great pace, I was just taken aback by how easy it looked.

We should win this one now

And as I type that Bradley gets binned and we concede

This is just getting silly now....

27 - 18

Try for the Treviso 7.

At least the conversion misess.

IronMike wrote:And here I was thinking Patchell was cementing his place at 10, then Tovey comes off the bench.

Finally the Blues have some decent players at 10, after being cursed for years with Parks, Sweeney and Norton Knight.

Tovey was playing at FB though

Blues missing Cuthberts penetration on the wing.

I was about to question moving patchel for Tobey. I Didn't think he was that quick

7 man Blues scrum still dominant! Even with Scott Andrews! Phil Davies is a miracle workers.

Blues scrum in the Treviso 22, here's the chance for a BP.

Patchell is fb

This is a poor quality game, rubbish shame we don't have the dragons on tv.

Jamie Roberts has been anonymous or poor this second half.

Rhys Patchell is now packing down at blindside!!! Is there nothing he can't do?

sheephead wrote:Patchell is fb

Patchell is at 12 and Gavin Evans is on the wing I think - based on how they lined up then.

Blues lineout in the Treviso 22, 2 minutes to go.

Josh Navidi MOTM.

Patchell kicking for the corner though.

5M lineout, 1minute to go.

Treviso knock it on going for an intercept, not given as deliberate.

Blues scrum

Time up on the clock.

Ma'ufu Campese powers over after a strong run from Rob Lewis. Both making their Pro12 debuts off the bench.

32 - 18

BP win!!

Im happy with that, we could have won by more but they managed the BP is the end.