Sale Sharks vs Cardiff Blues

Match thread for anyone watching.

Leigh Halfpenny from behind halfway

0 - 3

Warburton off the pitch for treatment, holding his hand which kept him out last week.

Dislocated finger for Warburton apparently, should be back on unless its back.

Rob Miller throws the ball over the line, clumsiness costs Sale a try.

Warburton is off for good. Copeland on, Navidi to 7

Sale take a lineout from a kickable penalty, but the Blues hold up the maul and get a turnover scrum.

Really sloppy defence in the broken field by the Blues, lucky that Sale are making unforced errors.

Poor kick from Tom James ruins a good attack from a turnover.

Some really shocking defence from the Blues, Sale with all the territory and possession so far.

Blues lead though.

3 - 3

Jamie Roberts finally delivers.

Sweeney at the line to Roberts who throws a beautiful ball to Cuthbert for a try.

3 - 8

SUPERB!!

Brillaint interlinking and offloading.

ITS LIKE THE BLUES OF 07/08!

Cuthbert has 2 tries!

3 - 15

Blues try of the season, including last season in fact.

6 - 17

Another bit of clever hands almost gives the Blues an overlap on the line but 2 men manage to bundle Cuthbert into touch on the line.

9 - 17

Cuthbert has a hattrick within 38 minutes.

Mark Breeze running in open space and Cuthbert quick in support.

9 - 22

Leigh keeps it at 100%

9 - 24

Tom James high tackle

12 - 24

How did Sale get into the Heineken this season? They're shockingly poor.

Referee communication is bad.

So the Blues kick for a restart in the 41st minute ?

Pretorious boots it out though

Halftime.

Wow, 3 tries up already. Sale are having a bad season. Anyone got a working link? The ones I've tried all seem to be dead...

Cuthbert is becoming some finisher, though there is questionable defence from Sale at times, actually both teams.

Still a few aimless kicks from the Blues with poor chasing, we're lucky that we're finishing off chances in our attack

Nevermind I got it.

They are showing the replays during halftime.

Sweeney is playing pretty well, set up the first try with the short ball to Roberts and gave a well timed offload to Cuthbert for the second try.

IronMike wrote:Cuthbert is becoming some finisher, though there is questionable defence from Sale at times, actually both teams.

Still a few aimless kicks from the Blues with poor chasing, we're lucky that we're finishing off chances in our attack

Worryingly, the Blues defence is looking worse than Sales. Luckily Cuthbert is a lethal finisher and Sweeney and Roberts are fronting up in midfield. Roberts tackle count on Richie Gray must be pretty high by now.

Blues still going for the post from behind halfway. I thought they would be looking for the TBP now.

Brilliant kick, 100% from anywhere today and his fullback play has been excellent.

12 - 27

Blues tightened up the defence a bit, but they need a 4th try or they will struggle with any hope of a 1/4 final with Toulon to play.

Danny Cipriani on.

Brilliant kick pass from Sweeney gives Cuthbert a run in space.

Cipriani sets up and scores Sale's first try.

17 - 27

Oh dear, the Blues need a try.

Poor miss of the conversion. Sale's best kicker off won't help them.

Blues still going for goal, oh dear. Just get the vital fourth try, especially vital in this group!

Josh Navidi really playing well, doing a openside and blindsides role with Warburton off.

Halfpenny from behind halfway again - they need a try though!

Halfpenny is amazing

17 - 30

100% kicking with 3 from behind halfway.

Pot Hale wrote:How did Sale get into the Heineken this season? They're shockingly poor.

I know, if it wasn't for London Welsh we could wave them and the ridiculously over-rated Redpath goodbye. Shame. It may sound harsh, but I hope he gets pushed and gets nowhere near coaching a Prem team again.

Navidi is everywhere, doing what Warburton was doing a year or two ago for the Blues.

Cheers for the constant updates w606!

Brilliant hands between Halfpenny and Gavin Evans almost gives the Blues a fourth.

Oh s*hit

22 - 30

Simple conversion to come.

Cipriani is a menace.

Sale score after Blues looked like scoring. That is poor. Now Blues will keep going for 3 pointers.

24 - 30

Gulp

Hopefully Blues get something from here, Powell just gave them a chance. Sale look dangerous when they got some momentum.

Arggg another chance wasted and another Sale penalty.

This is getting silly now.

Blues really need to control this game!

Sale lineout on Blues 5m

:/

Poor driving lineout, Blues penalty.

Blues are terrible, it has to be said. Sale are a bit worse though.

Sale throw the ball to Tom James, but Lloyd Williams makes up for it by booting it out on the full.

BLUES NEED A TRY IN THIS GROUP!!!

Lewis Jones yellow carded

Sale penalty with 6mins to go.

Oh dear.

Sale go for the scrum 5m out.

Gone to TMO, but its a try.