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)

[bedfordwelsh]

Steffan,

Who do you follow now then, its obvious you loathe the Region and all they stand for so what rugby do you watch now?

[TJ]

Ref refuses the TMO when asked

This is just awful - that is what the TMO powers were introduced for!

Shocker

He had already blown before the touchdown. Maybe he shouldn't have done but he did

[The Saint]

A few of us have been saying that for 3 years. Hope for their sake PD still goes in October, or was it Novemeber?

[The Saint]

He's having a laugh giving a penalty for that.
 

[GLove39]

Home advantage really counts at the RDS...

[wales606]

Ref refuses the TMO when asked

This is just awful - that is what the TMO powers were introduced for!

Shocker

He had already blown before the touchdown.  Maybe he shouldn't have done but he did

Happened loads of times in the last few months

Ref blows, but the captain requests a TMO review and the ref goes upstairs.

Ref shouldn't have blown

[The Saint]

Blues dream-team partnership is now on.

[GLove39]

What a massive swing in the game. Should have been 20 all. Instead a few blows of the whistle later and Leinster are 14 ahead

[tecphobe]

Blues dream-team partnership is now on.

Which is?

[Steffan]

Steffan,

Who do you follow now then, its obvious you loathe the Region and all they stand for so what rugby do you watch now?

Because when rugby first went 'regional' I was all for proper regions but all the Kaiiiaaardiff fans I know said that Cardiff were too superior to be a region and should be a standalone club and that they couldnt care less about the passion of clubs like Pontypridd, Neath and Ebbw Vale etc it wasnt about passion it was about money and because the pieman was backing their great club they were so much better than anyone else bla bla (even though they were ranked really low European wise) so its nice to watch them fail and see all the arrogant knobs with egg on their face

REAL REGIONS PLEASE FOR EVERYONE. NOT JUST CARDIFF, NEWPORT, LLANELLI AND SWANSEA

[The Saint]

Blues dream-team partnership is now on.

Which is?

Allen and O.Williams.

[wales606]

Awful support

[tecphobe]

The reffing of the breakdown is a total lottery tonight

[The Saint]

Steffan,

Who do you follow now then, its obvious you loathe the Region and all they stand for so what rugby do you watch now?

Because when rugby first went 'regional' I was all for proper regions but all the Kaiiiaaardiff fans I know said that Cardiff were too superior to be a region and should be a standalone club and that they couldnt care less about the passion of clubs like Pontypridd, Neath and Ebbw Vale etc it wasnt about passion it was about money and because the pieman was backing their great club they were so much better than anyone else bla bla (even though they were ranked really low European wise) so its nice to watch them fail and see all the arrogant knobs with egg on their face

REAL REGIONS PLEASE FOR EVERYONE. NOT JUST CARDIFF, NEWPORT, LLANELLI AND SWANSEA

I think they've had their fair share of egg on face over the years. They've also got some silverware and have provided a lot of players for Wales in the process. Besides, that Valleys Rugby regional idea was a daft one and you were all for that. So I don't see what you would complain about the other regions.

[wales606]

Lucky it's Kristian Dacey on the bench

He'll be returning to the backrow position he played once upon a time with Copeland into the second row I guess

[wales606]

Poor

[TJ]

Ref refuses the TMO when asked

This is just awful - that is what the TMO powers were introduced for!

Shocker

He had already blown before the touchdown.  Maybe he shouldn't have done but he did

Happened loads of times in the last few months

Ref blows, but the captain requests a TMO review and the ref goes upstairs.

Ref shouldn't have blown

Terh difference is he blew BEFORE the player was over the line. therefore he cannot give the try no matter what. could be wrong decison toblow but right decision not to TMO

[bedfordwelsh]

Steffan,

Who do you follow now then, its obvious you loathe the Region and all they stand for so what rugby do you watch now?

Because when rugby first went 'regional' I was all for proper regions but all the Kaiiiaaardiff fans I know said that Cardiff were too superior to be a region and should be a standalone club and that they couldnt care less about the passion of clubs like Pontypridd, Neath and Ebbw Vale etc it wasnt about passion it was about money and because the pieman was backing their great club they were so much better than anyone else bla bla (even though they were ranked really low European wise) so its nice to watch them fail and see all the arrogant knobs with egg on their face

REAL REGIONS PLEASE FOR EVERYONE. NOT JUST CARDIFF, NEWPORT, LLANELLI AND SWANSEA

I agree in part we all know the concept was set up all wrong was just asking who you support/watch now if you resent the Regions that much.

[Steffan]

So I don't see what you would complain about the other regions

The home attendances speak for themselves

Wales are doing better than ever yet the attendances compared to Irish provinces and English clubs are a JOKE

Thats what happens when you have selfish stand alone clubs who like to alienate the rest of Wales

[wales606]

Ref refuses the TMO when asked

This is just awful - that is what the TMO powers were introduced for!

Shocker

He had already blown before the touchdown.  Maybe he shouldn't have done but he did

Happened loads of times in the last few months

Ref blows, but the captain requests a TMO review and the ref goes upstairs.

Ref shouldn't have blown

Terh difference is he blew BEFORE the player was over the line.  therefore he cannot give the try no matter what.  could be wrong decison toblow but right decision not to TMO

Even if he couldn't give a try - he can still go to the TMO, admit he cocked up and give the Blues a 5m scrum

[Steffan]

I agree in part we all know the concept was set up all wrong was just asking who you support/watch now if you resent the Regions that much

Just watch my local club back home now normally at senior level and the minis as both my nephews are in the under 11s team

[wales606]

Warburton is really on fire tonight

Haven't seen him this fit and firing for the Blues for a few years

First Blues try for Cory Allen!

Still a chance of a bonus point I guess

[The Saint]

At least that's a more respectable scoreline now.

[TJ]

No he can't go to the tmo. Its not foul play or a try. Nothing to go to the tmo for.

[tecphobe]

Is Patchell ready for the Welsh setup in the Autumn

[The Saint]

Ref refuses the TMO when asked

This is just awful - that is what the TMO powers were introduced for!

Shocker

He had already blown before the touchdown.  Maybe he shouldn't have done but he did

Happened loads of times in the last few months

Ref blows, but the captain requests a TMO review and the ref goes upstairs.

Ref shouldn't have blown

Terh difference is he blew BEFORE the player was over the line.  therefore he cannot give the try no matter what.  could be wrong decison toblow but right decision not to TMO

Even if he couldn't give a try - he can still go to the TMO, admit he cocked up and give the Blues a 5m scrum

TJ it happened last year in the Ulster/Scarlets play-off.

[bedfordwelsh]

Well despite a 14pt deficit after last weeks game I think the most ardent of Blues fans would be happy with that.

[wales606]

Interesting end, impatient from Copeland

Disappointed, we deserved a LBP from that

[Steffan]

Another defeat for mighty Cardiff rugby  

Thankyou all and goodnight

[The Saint]

Is Patchell ready for the Welsh setup in the Autumn

Tovey is ahead of him. Patchell makes too many mistakes. Many believe that Patchell needs a full season with the Blues before he can be in Wales contetion.

[George Carlin]

Shame for the Blues. They deserved something more out of that game.

[DeludedOptimistorjustDave]

Shocking ref display, Leinster will struggle in the HC this year

[Golden]

With a couple of players in the front 5 and some decent coaches Cardiff could do really well

[bedfordwelsh]

Is Patchell ready for the Welsh setup in the Autumn

I think he will be involved in the squad but Priestland and Biggar will be main two battling it out.

[tecphobe]

Is Patchell ready for the Welsh setup in the Autumn

I think he will be involved in the squad but Priestland and Biggar will be main two battling it out.

That's what i had in mind get him into a positive winning environment, spend some times with the ginger genius. I think Patchell has potentially the good parts of Priestland and Biggars game, he needs to be developed carefully.

[The Saint]

Priestland was playing tonight, I heard the commentator mention his name a couple times...

[asoreleftshoulder]

Not a great performance but a good result with some help from the ref.I'm pretty happy with how Martin Moore played at TH,he in the scrum improved as the game went on and did well in the loose.Toner also showed more good form and Madigan was excellent.

A lot to work on but if we can avoid any more back 3 injuries we can go on with confidence.

[bedfordwelsh]

Is Patchell ready for the Welsh setup in the Autumn

I think he will be involved in the squad but Priestland and Biggar will be main two battling it out.

That's what i had in mind get him into a positive winning environment, spend some times with the ginger genius. I think Patchell has potentially the good parts of Priestland and Biggars game, he needs to be developed carefully.

If he does play I guess he will get some game time against Tonga but if this does happen then I hope it isn't in a must changed 'weaker' side like they have done with Biggar in the past.

[tecphobe]

Is Patchell ready for the Welsh setup in the Autumn

I think he will be involved in the squad but Priestland and Biggar will be main two battling it out.

That's what i had in mind get him into a positive winning environment, spend some times with the ginger genius. I think Patchell has potentially the good parts of Priestland and Biggars game, he needs to be developed carefully.

If he does play I guess he will get some game time against Tonga but if this does happen then I hope it isn't in a must changed 'weaker' side like they have done with Biggar in the past.

I agree it did Biggar no favours and arguably knocked his development back

[bedfordwelsh]

Just listening to the after match discussions about coaches wasn't Ringo linked with the Blues, if not should he be maybe?

[Jhamer25]

Absolutely pathetic officiating. Haven't seen a ref that bad in quite a while.
Penalty try = Bullsh!t
It' not like the scrum had been bad all game, the blues one had a stable scrum before that then a penalty try straight after. Yea good one, Tw@T
Then the clear knock forward from Cronin and he wouldn't even go to TMO.
It's just bad officiating and shouldn't take place at this level.

Would Leinster have won anyway without the ref? yea probably but is just ruins the game. Well done Cardiff but you couldn't have tried nay harder.
I'm not even a Blues fan but it just really ruined the game. No way should that have been the final score.

[wales606]

Just listening to the after match discussions about coaches wasn't Ringo linked with the Blues, if not should he be maybe?

Mark Ring is coaching CRFC and has some involvement with the Blues

No doubt Mark will take over at least temporarily when Baber leaves if there aren't any ITM coaches about

[bedfordwelsh]

Cheers 606 thought I had heard he had been linked or was there in some capacity. Seem a good type to have if they looking for some attack minded though the Stephen jones suggestions would always be very good.

[Guest]

Another defeat for mighty Cardiff rugby  

Thankyou all and goodnight

I'm a Cardiff man but you're right to be sarcastic as Cardiff Blues has never been mighty.  But the old Cardiff RFC definitely was. From the mid-50s, when I started watching the club, until about the mid-80s, Cardiff usually had the beating of British and Irish clubs and sometimes international teams. What other British or Irish club had a perfect 6 wins out of 6 against Australia, including their great 1984 touring side?

[Jhamer25]

who is ringo?

[Guest]

Is Patchell ready for the Welsh setup in the Autumn

Tovey is ahead of him. Patchell makes too many mistakes. Many believe that Patchell needs a full season with the Blues before he can be in Wales contetion.

No way, Tovey returned to the Dragons because Patchell kept him out of the 10 shirt. I rate Tovey but I still maintain he is too brittle for test rugby.

[The Saint]

No he didn't and it was last season anyway, not this one. Tovey spent most of the season injured, and due to that struggled to get a consistent run of games. I think Patchell could be the next best thing to come out of Wales, but I'm not buying into all the hype just yet. He has a long way to go and right now Tovey looks the more calm, composed and all around better fly-half. Tovey and Dragons will probably still be playing better that Patchell and Blues by the time of the autumn series but I bet they still don't get picked because we know how the WRU is anti-gwent.

[Guest]

Anti gwent even though they selected Lydiate, Charteris and Faletau on a regular basis?

[The Saint]

And ignored all the rest. That's another discussion.

[TJ]

You can have no argument with the penalty try. You were being marched backwards and turned and collapsed the scrum. Would a try have been scored if the blues had not infringed? yes. Ref made other mistakes that did not favour the blues and struggled with the scrum but that as fine. I wouldn't complain if it was agaisnt my team

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