Cardiff Blues Season Thread (Toulon fall in Cardiff)

[wales606]

First topic message reminder :

Keeping organised the ins and outs at the Blues leading into next season.

New Signing
Paetru Tamba (during the season)
Filo Paulo - North Harbour (confirmed)
Matthew Rees (confirmed)
Liam Davies (confirmed - until end of season)
Gethin Jenkins (confirmed)
Miles Normandale (confirmed)
Rhys Gill - Saracens (rumoured) Unlikely
Craig Mitchell - Exeter (rumoured) Unlikely
Adam Warren - Scarlets (rumoured)
Dan Lydiate - Dragons (mentioned) (rumoured)
Scott Williams - Scarlets (rumoured)
James Hook (rumoured - again)
Rodney So’oialo - Honda Heat (rumoured)
Aled Summerhill - Blues Academy
Ben Roach - Blues Academy
Ellis Jenkins - Blues Academy
Tom Pascoe - Blues Academy
Will Thomas - Blues Academy

Departures (all confirmed)
Jamie Roberts - Racing Metro
Ceri Sweeney - Exeter Chiefs
Tom James - Exeter Chiefs
Michael Paterson - Sale Sharks
Jason Tovey - Newport Gwent Dragons
Campese Ma'afu - Nottingham
Ryan Harford - Cardiff RFC
Nathan Trevett - London Welsh
Matthew Screech - Newport Gwent Dragons
Darren Harries - Scarlets
Jake Cooper Wooley - London Wasps
Cory Hill - Cornish Pirates
Petru Tamba - Unattached
Andi Kyriacou - Retired
Xavier Rush


Re-Signings
Alex Cuthbert (3 years)
Scott Andrews (2 years)
Josh Navidi (3 year)
James Down (unknown)
Andreus Pretorious (can't find the article...)
Marc Breeze (unknown)
Lewis Jones (unknown)
Lloyd Williams (3 years)
Tom Williams (3 years)
Rhys Patchell (3 years)
Sam Hobbs (?3 years?)
Rhys Williams (?3 years?)
Tom Davies (?3 years?)
Richard Smith (2 years)

[wales606]

Excellent choice for captain. Proven leader and likely to be first choice

Pretorious will have to watch his back.

[XR]

 BIG SUMMER SIGNING

[XR]

side has been named for tomorrow, totally forgot we have bourrust at THP  

[Coleman]

Looking good for tomorrow! Excited, first away game!

[mrzimmerman]

He's available throughout the season for a reason! He's not very good!

Smiler as captain?! Sorry but rather you than me!

[The Saint]

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/6479.php

Might Cardiff Blues actually go back to being a good side one day?

[Coleman]

We've always had one of the better age grade teams in the regional set up From U-16's through to the U18's. It's the step up from there to the senior team which has been missing really. We've only just produced our first regional level Flyhalf after many years of trying. Next stop a TH Prop. Please.

[wales606]

Still looking at recruitment apparently

"We do need a couple more bodies in the group," Davies told Wales Online. "We've 43 players, but we're looking to try and bring players in between the ages of 26 and 29. That's the age profile we've identified. We're looking at back-three and half-back is another."

[XR]

I would like to see us recruit well but it's getting a little too late now. The timing suggests we're looking at ITM/Currie Cup players and not S15 guys, which isn't necessarily a bad thing it just strikes me as a bit absurd it's taken this long.

[wales606]

It will be difficult to find anyone currently playing in S15 who is willing to come to Wales to play second fiddle to Patchell or any of the back 3. A good ITM player could provide a decent back up to Patchell at least.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Do other clubs / regions target players based on their 'age profile'? That sounds like a strange approach for me. Maturity of character isn't linked to age, nor is ability, and an experienced but mediocre player is no less mediocre for being experienced.

[wales606]

Do other clubs / regions target players based on their 'age profile'? That sounds like a strange approach for me. Maturity of character isn't linked to age, nor is ability, and an experienced but mediocre player is no less mediocre for being experienced.

Seems to be a Phil Davies special, like his whole 25 under 25 thing from last season.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I'm just wondering if it's a common method of recruitment. Age on its own doesn't guarantee anything.

[The Saint]

What's the method of recruitment when it comes to coaching policy then?

[wales606]

What's the method of recruitment when it comes to coaching policy then?

"Who's cheapest?"

[XR]

I'm just wondering if it's a common method of recruitment. Age on its own doesn't guarantee anything.

I think it's more an 'experience' angle they're going for, we have got Rees & Jenkins in and we do still have Filise on the books but the squad on a whole is still quite young. A few late 20's players would add that extra experience, i guess.

It's unlikely but i hope we bring in someone completely random, like Paul Tito was, who goes on to have a major influence.

[wales606]

Good time at the Arms Park tonight

Nice to see 7000+ show up for a pre-season game - no doubt a lot came to see the new pitch!

Didn't start well, Blues were down 3 - 17 within 20 minutes

Even a yellow card for Sale didn't help much and it was 9 - 17 at halftime

Teams was mostly all changed at halftime - including the introduction of Rhys Patchell

Within 5 minutes Patchell had put in several excellent kicks and the Blues were only trailing by 2

Two more Blues tries followed as Patchell put the Blues forwards in the Sale half consistently and the forwards started to take advantage at last

The Blues took a 3 score lead from an outrageous drop goal from Patchell with sloppy ball being hacked back towards halfway, Patchell picked it up and decided to 'have a go' - 3 score lead

Final score ; 45 - 24

Patchell was clear MOTM, but there were other good performances from Owen Williams (2 second half tries), Robin Copeland and Big Brad. Lloyd Williams had a good 40 minutes too and got a try to take away.

Scrum went well under the new laws, lineout not so great under Captain Rees.

[maestegmafia]

Blues bosses are hoping there will be many special moments on their new £400,000 state-of-the-art Arms Park artificial pitch, writes Gareth Griffiths.

And the 7,000 fans who turned up to watch the historic opening match against Sale will have witnessed the first of those on Friday night.

Blues outside-half Rhys Patchell produced a second-half masterclass to help the hosts turn around a 17-3 deficit to win 45-24.

And the highlight was an audacious snap 50-metre drop goal that left the crowd gasping.

“It was hit and hope,” said Patchell, who won his first Welsh cap in Japan last summer.

“They rarely come off and it is one of those things you practise in the schoolyard or down the club when you are a kid.

“Fortunately it went over and everyone was saying it was a great kick. But if it had missed everyone would have been saying what is he doing?”

Two tries from centre Owen Williams and a score each from Wales scrum-half Lloyd Williams, Tom Williams and Dafydd Hewitt, with Patchell adding 11 points secured the victory.

The majority of the tries stemmed from clever Patchell kicks but the 20-year-old tries to play down his contribution.

“Some weeks the kicks come off and others they don’t,” said Patchell.

“Against Sale they came off and we scored a couple of nice tries from it. We spoke at half-time about needing to get some territory and hold onto the ball in crucial areas.

“The forwards worked really hard and they were outstanding.

“As a 10 you just have to reward your forwards for their hard work and need to point them in the right direction.”

Patchell was content with the new Arms Park playing surface which has replaced the mud baths of last season.

“It was awesome,” he said.

“The main difference was that it was not muddy and everyone has come off with clean kit!

“It is good to know that come December or January we will be playing on the same kind of surface all year round.

“That is no reflection on the ground staff because they did a wonderful job last season in trying to get it into playable conditions.

“It was nice and firm under foot and you can wear a stud or a mould.

“The rain in the afternoon may have made the pitch even more beneficial to the bounce of the ball because it skidded a bit more.

“It is a fast pitch which everyone enjoyed and nobody has come off with bad burns or anything like that.

“We had a presentation before the game about how the pitch might stand up.

“We were told we must trust the pitch and it will reward you.

“We are hoping potentially it will be an advantage because we play here every other week and train on it consistently.”

Patchell believes a second pre-season victory following the Worcester win is the perfect preparation for the league opener against Glasgow on September 6.

“The Sale victory was a big win against a big club who have a lot of quality players,” added Patchell.

“Hopefully we will take that forward to Glasgow who are a good team and could have won the league last year.

“It is my second season and I am really looking forward to it.

“We have had a great block in pre-season and we have worked hard.

“There is a good vibe around the place and hopefully we will go into the season ready to rock and roll.

“We are hoping potentially it will be an advantage because we play here every other week and train on it consistently.”

[maestegmafia]

Here is the ten that played in the sale sharks win

Cardiff Blues:
15 Chris Czekaj/ Tom Williams
14 Harry Robinson
13 Richard Smith/ Owen Williams
12 Gavin Evans/ Dafydd Hewitt
11 Dan Fish
10 Gareth Davies/ Rhys Patchell
9 Lewis Jones/ Lloyd Williams

8 Robin Copeland/ Luke Hamilton
7 Thomas Young/ Josh Navidi
6 Andries Pretorious/ Macauley Cook
5 James Down/ Filo Paulo
4 Bradley Davies
3 Scott Andrews/ Benoit Bourroust
2 Matthew Rees (c) / Kristian Dacey/ Marc Breeze
1 Tom Davies/ Sam Hobbs/ Taufa'ao Filise

[wales606]

Back in pink for the HC

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/6517.php

[XR]

i like it.

[wales606]

More advertising tricks to launch this shirt too

Following on from Copeland's dancing ability, now it's Josh Navidi taking a shower?!

I guess the pink kit is aimed at bringing in female supporters, im sure this video will help...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3A9TBLCjhk

[LordDowlais]

The Blues should be a decent outfit this comming season with all the right noises comming from the Arms park and getting the business done pretty early on in the summer, I would be very dissapointed if they did not make the playoffs in the league and do not get out of their group in Europe. How is the new pitch looking ?

[Coleman]

I still think that it is a season too early for the playoffs and it'll be touch and go getting out of our groups as The Chiefs are no mugs and Glas were a very good side last season. As good as the squad looks we're still one injury at 10 or two in the front row from being half the team we could be. But i am optimistic.

Also, Josh is gonna take loads of stick for this!

[XR]

i don't think you should be 'very disappointed', we don't exactly have an easy ride to the QF's of the HEC with our group. And this is just the second season for some players so while a QF spot would be great, i don't see how anyone can be very disappointed if we don't. We still lack depth at fly half and on the wings and with injuries we could be exposed.

[The Saint]

I think Ospreys and Scarlets will fly the flag this year, and they'd be extremely lucky to progress in Europe. So you can only imagine how the Blues feel. There's a pretty strong first team there but as mentioned when some of the top players get a few knocks the team looks extremely average. Blues still have a decent record against English Premiership teams which could carry them against Exeter and Glaws though. We'll have to wait and see.

Anyone reckon you'll gamble with a midfield of Allen at 12 and Williams at 13? That would be interesting.

[Coleman]

From talking to people, a lot of us would like to see Allen and Williams in the center but i don't think Phil will let it happen in big games. Also with the winger shortage Williams could well see more of his rugby on wing then in the middle.

[The Saint]

Has Allen ever featured at 12? I don't doubt he could play well there. Williams, Patchell, Robinson, Allen, O.Williams, Cuthbert, Halfpenny would surely be the paciest backline in Europe.

[Coleman]

I think he came through the system as a 13 but he has shown that he has the ball skill with the 7's team to play at 12/13. Williams is pure 13 though (in my eyes). So them two in the middle with Patch pulling the strings would be good for us. We could really have done with Sweeny this season as moving Patch to 12 in some games might have given us more width.

[The Saint]

Yeah it's kind of a big ask for Patchell to be doing everything so soon. He looks capable though. I'd love to see that backline play,you'd probably need Warbs and Navidi on the pitch to keep up with them though. The front 5 is a no brainer IMO but how do you see the back-row taking shape? The less Pretorious the better I say.

[Coleman]

I like Copeland at 8 regardless who is on the flank. He gives a lot for the team. In the HC, Warbs, Copeland, Navidi are our 7,8,6. Not the most brutal ball carrying backrow but Filo is a big ball carrier and so is Rees in our pack. With Lloyd, Patchell, Robinson, Allen, Williams, Cuthbert, Halfpenny in the back row we'd be very quick but lacking in physicality. Still a good team though.

[XR]

With the backline, pitch and the pace of the game we want to play it makes sense to have two 7's in the backrow. Quicker securing of posession & turnovers suit that kind of game, if we wanted to grind teams down (lol) then we'd need a proper 6 in there but we'll see.

[The Saint]

I agree Copeland is the best 8. Also Warbs is out for a while so you need to consider a back row without him.

[Coleman]

Hamilton is looking good at 6, also the young #7 who captained Wales U20's will get game time which could see him feature at 6.

[wales606]

Has Allen ever featured at 12? I don't doubt he could play well there. Williams, Patchell, Robinson, Allen, O.Williams, Cuthbert, Halfpenny would surely be the paciest backline in Europe.

He played mainly at 12 until a year and a half ago where he was moved to 13

He is excellent leading the blitz defence from 13, but can probably do the same job from 12 (in the same way Roberts does), he is the best defensive back I have seen come through the U20s, so that should see him start well at regional level.

Really hope we see Patchell - Allen - Williams at some point this season. Might be hampered by Allen being out injured at the moment though.

[wales606]

I agree Copeland is the best 8. Also Warbs is out for a while so you need to consider a back row without him.

1st choice

6. Navidi
7. Warburton
8. Copeland

20. Pretorious


When Warbs is away

6. Pretorious
7. Navidi
8. Copeland

Back up options

6. Watts-Jones / McCauley Cook / Ellis Jenkins
7. Tom Young / Roach
8. Luke Hamilton

[XR]

As there's only a few blues fans on this board, i thought maybe we could use this thread for matches and all that.

I see Jamie Roberts is out 'for several weeks' at Racing Metro, i bet they're cursing themselves now

[wales606]

Sounds good,

Team for Connacht

Cardiff Blues: 15 Tom Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Owen Williams, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 Harry Robinson, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lloyd Williams;

1 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Matthew Rees (c), 3 Scott Andrews, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Filo Paulo, 6 Andries Pretorius, 7 Josh Navidi, 8 Robin Copeland.

Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Benoit Bourrust, 19 Lou Reed, 20 Macauley Cook, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Gavin Evans.

[Coleman]

Nice to see Williams at 13 again. Glad that Alex is back, the pitch is made for him! Looking forward to this, first home game of the season. Fingers crossed for some nice weather.

[maestegmafia]

Thats a good Blues team... Connacht looked pretty handy last weekend so the Blues will have to watch themselves.

[wales606]

Strong team

Add in Halfpenny (next week), Warburton (next month), Cory Allen (soonish) and Gethin (god knows) to make our best XV

[Jhamer25]

Is Cory Aleen injured then?
They said Gethin should be back within a 2 weeks maybe 3. they said they don't want to rush him and rather have him have an extra week off to make sure. They said Gethin and Warburtons rehab is going well though.

[wales606]

Allen was supposed to be fit around now. I guess they are giving him another week.

Wouldn't be surprised if he starts against Zebre

[maestegmafia]

Really looking forward to Allen and Williams in the centre with Cuthbert Halfpenny and Robinson out wide... What with Lloyd and Patches doing a great job marshalling and creating stuff this could be a great team to watch...

I wonder whether Warburton and Nalvidi will play left and right with Copeland at eight or whether Nalvidi will bench??

[Liam]

I think Blues have the right side with the wrong coaching set up. I see our back line and can't help but think excitement and tries. Unfortunately, I just can't see it under Phil Davies i'm afraid.

Really hope when Allen builds up his fitness he finally plays Williams and him together rather than one with Hewitt/Evans.

[maestegmafia]

I think Blues have the right side with the wrong coaching set up. I see our back line and can't help but think excitement and tries. Unfortunately, I just can't see it under Phil Davies i'm afraid.

Really hope when Allen builds up his fitness he finally plays Williams and him together rather than one with Hewitt/Evans.

The lads put nearly fifty points on one of their warm up games...

They can score tries no problem...

[Cari]

Anyone watching tonight's game? Dreadful weather. Thank the proverbial for the plastic pitch

Sadly the Blues first chance of points bounces off the post...

[Cari]

3-7 at 19 minutes. Healy scored for Connacht. Patchell under pressure tonight due to the conditions. Looks like they're relying on him.

[wales606]

That should settle Patchell down and the Blues seem to be getting all the breakdown penalties.

Connacht are pressuring Patchell though, but he is calm so far.

[wales606]

Patchell doing a Phil Bennett now...

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