Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Blues, 6 September

by **George Carlin** Sun 01 Sep 2013, 7:23 pm

Welcome to the new season. A cracking opening game presents itself.

Friday 6th September 2013
Kick off:19:35
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Live on TG4 and BBC Teuchter

Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 35th competition game)
Assistant Referees: David Changleng, Graeme Marshall (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Iain Goodall (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)

A. Form - Head to head:

Glasgow v Blues

20 Played 20
10 Wins 10
10 Losses 10
0 Draws 0
38 Tries 42
26 Conversions 28
47 Penalties 34
2 Drop Goals 1
389 Points 371
25 Avg. Age 25

B. Last season:

Saturday 6 October 18:30, Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Blues 3 - 18 Glasgow Warriors

Friday 1 March 19:35, Scotstoun
Glasgow Warriors 29 - 13 Cardiff Blues

C. Teams:

1. Glasgow monkey

15. Peter Murchie
14. Sean Lamont
13. Mark Bennett
12. Alex Dunbar
11. Byron McGuigan
10. Scott Wight
9. Henry Pyrgos

1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
2. Pat MacArthur
3. Ed Kalman
4. Tim Swinson
5. Al Kellock (Captain)
6. Rob Harley
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Richie Vernon

Substitutes:
16. Fraser Brown
17. Gordon Reid
18. Moray Low
19. Tyrone Holmes
20. Jonny Gray
21. Chris Cusiter
22. Ruaridh Jackson
23. Tommy Seymour

2. Cardiff Wales

15.Tom Williams
14.Harry Robinson
13.Owen Williams
12.Gavin Evans
11.Chris Czekaj
10.Rhys Patchell
9.Lloyd Williams

8.Robin Copeland
7.Josh Navidi
6.Macauley Cook
5.Filo Paulo
4.Bradley Davies
3.Scott Andrews
2.Matthew Rees (C)
1.Taufa’ao Filise

Substitutes:
16.Marc Breeze
17.Sam Hobbs
18.Benoit Bourrust
19.James Down
20.Luke Hamilton
21.Lewis Jones
22.Gareth Davies
23.Dafydd Hewitt

D. Glasgow fans lexicon:

Time on these boards has demonstrated that Glasgow fans use an uncommonly broad selection of nicknames and slang to describe the various members of their team.

For those unfamiliar with this gibberish, the following may assist:

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/ angel

- 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)

by Jhamer25 Sun 01 Sep 2013, 7:37 pm

I haven't been keeping track of Glasgow, have they been putting out strong teams in their friendlies.
Blues have been doing good. I'm not sure their big names in Gethin, Leigh and Cuthbert will be playing so if Glasgow put a strong team out, home advantage, play like they did last season then it should be a clear win for Glasgow.
But Blues wont be easy like they were last season. If Gethin plays and has a descent front 5 with him then maybe the Blues backs may have a strong platform to make something off of it.

by **George Carlin** Sun 01 Sep 2013, 7:40 pm

Thanks JHamer. From a Weegie perspective, I think that Glasgow will go for something like this:

15 Peter Murchie
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Mark Bennett
12 Alex Dunbar
11 Sean Lamont
10 Scott Wight
09 Chris Cusiter

01 Moray Low
02 Pat MacArthur
03 Jon Welsh
04 Tim Swinson
05 Al Kellock
06 Robert Harley
07 Chris Fusaro
08 Josh Strauss (c)

Substitutes
16 Fraser Brown
17 Ed Kalman
18 Jerry Yanuyanutawa
19 Jonny Gray
20 Henry Pyrgos
21 Finn Russell
22 Gabriel Ascarate
23 Richie Vernon,

which would be a very strong 15 to start the season with.

My understanding is that DTH is recovering from helping Canada qualify for the RWC, the three Lions will still be sidelined, Jackson remains tentative, McGuigan will drop back despite his recent try-fest, Cusack remains a mystery, Bordill and Holmes will only find their way onto the pitch once we've got a couple of wins under our belt.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Sun 01 Sep 2013, 9:16 pm

Glasgow looked sharp at Sandy Park and if they can cut out their handling errors, their off-loading game is fast-paced and will be difficult to live with for many. Haven't caught much of Cardiff's pre-season, but they can't be as poor as last season, so I'm expecting them to be dangerous as teams under-estimate them. Narrow home win for me, edgy performances all round

by **RDW** Mon 02 Sep 2013, 9:15 am

GC, you make very good threads – if you’re bored feel free to do a Munster V Edinburgh one! Hug

by Captain_Sensible Mon 02 Sep 2013, 10:12 am

The Cardiff selection depends on how highly Toonie rates pre-season form. If he's placing a lot of emphasis on it, we'll probably see something like -

Murchie
McGuigan
Bennett
Dunbar
S Lamont
Wight
Pyrgos
Vernon
Fusaro
Harley
Swinson
J Gray
Welsh
MacArthur
Reid

If he's placing more emphasis on seniority within the squad, then Kellock will come in for Gray, Seymour for McGuigan, and S Lamont might move to 13. Bench is anyone's guess.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 02 Sep 2013, 10:16 am

I'd agree that McGuigan should drop back, but I wonder whether he will given his recent exploits. No question for me that S Lamont is better at 11 than at 13, where Mark of Nazareth will surely want some gametime at long last.

Should be a strong Glasgow side, and should be enough to beat Cardiff quite comfortably I would suspect. Watch out for Rhys Patchell though. Edinburgh would have beaten Cardiff at Murrayfield last season were it not for that lad. Runs things nicely, and I'd wager he's a better 10 than Scott Wight.

by Manky-Flanker Mon 02 Sep 2013, 10:23 am

Broadly agree with you there George.
However, there are two things that I have noticed about the recent friendlies that may affect selection:
1) Kellock hasn't been involved in any of the friendlies, whereas Gray has started them all (and Swinson, Ryder, Nakarawa have all featured at some point). Kellock therefore may not be an automatic pick for the starting 15 against Cardiff (I'm assuming he has been fit).
2)Each time Seymour and McGuigan were on the wings, it was Seymour who was replaced each match and McGuigan who was notching up the tries. Perhaps Byron's earned his place against Cardiff in the eyes of the selectors?

Anyway, only a few more days until kick off. Can't.Wait. Very Happy

by **RDW** Mon 02 Sep 2013, 10:38 am

I'd be surprised and disappointed if Toony brought in all the International players at once – he should have a core team that played in the two warm ups, supplemented by maybe one or two internationalists at best.

Did I see it rightly that Strauss was meant to start at 8 at the weekend, but Vernon played instead? What happened there?

by Captain_Sensible Mon 02 Sep 2013, 10:39 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:I'd be surprised and disappointed if Toony brought in all the International players at once – he should have a core team that played in the two warm ups, supplemented by maybe one or two internationalists at best.

Did I see it rightly that Strauss was meant to start at 8 at the weekend, but Vernon played instead? What happened there?

Picked up a slight knock in training before the game, apparently.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 02 Sep 2013, 10:44 am

Captain_Sensible wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:I'd be surprised and disappointed if Toony brought in all the International players at once – he should have a core team that played in the two warm ups, supplemented by maybe one or two internationalists at best.

Did I see it rightly that Strauss was meant to start at 8 at the weekend, but Vernon played instead? What happened there?
Picked up a slight knock in training before the game, apparently.

How did Vernon get on in the end? I can't help but feel he's going to quite handy for Glasgow this season. Not in the same class as Strauss, but with those Matawalu inspired tap and goes and the pace at which Glasgow like to play the game in attack, having someone in the back row (or two players if you play Fusaro as well) who can keep up and track breaks will really help to convert half breaks into tries.

by Dorothy_Mantooth Mon 02 Sep 2013, 10:57 am

Do we know for certain that the players who have been away with the Lions won't feature? I think DTH will play on Friday, he got back from Canada last Tuesday. Apart from injury issues, see no reason why he should not play on Friday.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 02 Sep 2013, 10:59 am

Well if DTH is fit and available I see no reason to start McGuigan ahead of him....

Big question is do you go with S Lamont or Bennett at 13?

by **George Carlin** Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:03 am

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:Do we know for certain that the players who have been away with the Lions won't feature? I think DTH will play on Friday, he got back from Canada last Tuesday. Apart from injury issues, see no reason why he should not play on Friday.

No, I haven't seen anything from Toonie in interviews where he was definitive about who was available and who wasn't. Tis all conjecture. Would feel sorry for Byron if he's dropped - You can't really do more than he's done in the past couple of games.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:10 am

George Carlin wrote:
Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:Do we know for certain that the players who have been away with the Lions won't feature? I think DTH will play on Friday, he got back from Canada last Tuesday. Apart from injury issues, see no reason why he should not play on Friday.
No, I haven't seen anything from Toonie in interviews where he was definitive about who was available and who wasn't. Tis all conjecture. Would feel sorry for Byron if he's dropped - You can't really do more than he's done in the past couple of games.

I'm not sure "pity" is a particularly valid criterion for selection..... Wink

by IanBru Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:14 am

It is in Edinburgh

by Dorothy_Mantooth Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:15 am

George Carlin wrote:
Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:Do we know for certain that the players who have been away with the Lions won't feature? I think DTH will play on Friday, he got back from Canada last Tuesday. Apart from injury issues, see no reason why he should not play on Friday.
No, I haven't seen anything from Toonie in interviews where he was definitive about who was available and who wasn't. Tis all conjecture. Would feel sorry for Byron if he's dropped - You can't really do more than he's done in the past couple of games.

Its hardly like they got over worked in the last few weeks of the Tour Sad

All three have been back in training for a while and the fact that they never played in Pre-Season does not really affect their chances of playing.

by **George Carlin** Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:25 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:GC, you make very good threads – if you’re bored feel free to do a Munster V Edinburgh one!

Waiting for a client to get back to me, so: https://www.606v2.com/t47626-munster-v-edinburgh-7-september

by tigertattie Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:32 am

I'll miss the banter of the combined Glasburgh threads Crying or Very sad

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:32 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:
Captain_Sensible wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:I'd be surprised and disappointed if Toony brought in all the International players at once – he should have a core team that played in the two warm ups, supplemented by maybe one or two internationalists at best.

Did I see it rightly that Strauss was meant to start at 8 at the weekend, but Vernon played instead? What happened there?
Picked up a slight knock in training before the game, apparently.
How did Vernon get on in the end? I can't help but feel he's going to quite handy for Glasgow this season. Not in the same class as Strauss, but with those Matawalu inspired tap and goes and the pace at which Glasgow like to play the game in attack, having someone in the back row (or two players if you play Fusaro as well) who can keep up and track breaks will really help to convert half breaks into tries.

Your new fave went v well, fES - on tracking back cover tackle on Ian Whitten was particularly impressive as Whitts clearly thought that'd he burn off the poor man's messiah by turning on the gas, but Vernon hunted him down

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:33 am

IanBru wrote:It is in Edinburgh

by **George Carlin** Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:39 am

I have no idea what Cardiff fans will make of the banter on this thread. Apologies in advance.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:44 am

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
Captain_Sensible wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:I'd be surprised and disappointed if Toony brought in all the International players at once – he should have a core team that played in the two warm ups, supplemented by maybe one or two internationalists at best.

Did I see it rightly that Strauss was meant to start at 8 at the weekend, but Vernon played instead? What happened there?
Picked up a slight knock in training before the game, apparently.
How did Vernon get on in the end? I can't help but feel he's going to quite handy for Glasgow this season. Not in the same class as Strauss, but with those Matawalu inspired tap and goes and the pace at which Glasgow like to play the game in attack, having someone in the back row (or two players if you play Fusaro as well) who can keep up and track breaks will really help to convert half breaks into tries.
Your new fave went v well, fES - on tracking back cover tackle on Ian Whitten was particularly impressive as Whitts clearly thought that'd he burn off the poor man's messiah by turning on the gas, but Vernon hunted him down

You mean Richie "the Baptist" Vernon.....

Oh dear, I just made a biblical joke. picard

by madmaccas Mon 02 Sep 2013, 11:54 am

In case anyone's expecting any more Glasgow signings it's worth repeatingwhat Gregor Townsend said in the Herald yesterday:

"I'm very happy with the five players we've brought in. That will be it. I think our last signing was announced last week and I can't see any more players coming in."

I'm greedy so was hoping for one or two more, but all in all it's a good, well rounded squad.

by EWT Spoons Mon 02 Sep 2013, 12:49 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote: Mark of Nazareth.

I genuinely laughed out loud at that. Good times.

by Captain_Sensible Mon 02 Sep 2013, 12:58 pm

From the highlights reel, Bennett looks to have bulked up a wee bit during the pre-season. Apparently he put in a huge hit just before scoring the try.

by **George Carlin** Mon 02 Sep 2013, 1:18 pm

Have added long overdue consolidated 606v2 Glasgow Fans' Lexicon to the OP in order to assist those fans of other teams who habitually have absolutely no idea what or whom we are talking about.

Please post any ommissions below.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 02 Sep 2013, 1:49 pm

Captain_Sensible wrote:From the highlights reel, Bennett looks to have bulked up a wee bit during the pre-season.

Probably just his growth spurt kicking in. Has he broken the 12st barrier yet?

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Mon 02 Sep 2013, 1:54 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
Captain_Sensible wrote:From the highlights reel, Bennett looks to have bulked up a wee bit during the pre-season.
Probably just his growth spurt kicking in. Has he broken the 12st barrier yet?

Just prior to his own score, he absolutely clattered Jason Shoemark, who was still undergoing treatment when Jedi found the gap and angel

skipped off down the park (bucket and spade in his back pocket for the later trip to Exmouth beach)

by ScarletSpiderman Mon 02 Sep 2013, 1:56 pm

George Carlin wrote:Have added long overdue consolidated 606v2 Glasgow Fans' Lexicon to the OP in order to assist those fans of other teams who habitually have absolutely no idea what or whom we are talking about.

Please post any ommissions below.

I think I'll be using that for referencing what the flip you lot are on about in the future

by funnyExiledScot Mon 02 Sep 2013, 2:21 pm

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
Captain_Sensible wrote:From the highlights reel, Bennett looks to have bulked up a wee bit during the pre-season.
Probably just his growth spurt kicking in. Has he broken the 12st barrier yet?
Just prior to his own score, he absolutely clattered Jason Shoemark, who was still undergoing treatment when Jedi found the gap and :angel:skipped off down the park (bucket and spade in his back pocket for the later trip to Exmouth beach)

Can you treat shame?? If I so much as allowed myself to be knocked off balance by the Messiah I'd move country and change my name!

by **George Carlin** Mon 02 Sep 2013, 2:27 pm

Did you hear about the Edinburgh fan that died wearing his home strip?

When police arrived at the scene, they changed him into a tutu, stockings and suspenders.
Just to avoid the embarrassment it would have caused his family.

by The Saint Mon 02 Sep 2013, 2:38 pm

I would guess that the team to travel up will be along the lines of the team that played against Sale in a pre-season friendly.

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

Blues fans have some reasons to be cheerful and optimistic this year. The fans preferred lineup for the season will likely be: Jenkins, Rees, Andrews/Bourroust, Davies, Paulo, Warburton, Navidi, Copeland, Williams, Patchell, Robinson, Allen, O.Williams, Cuthbert, Halfpenny. It's a strong front 5 and a fast back-row who will need to keep up with the pace in the backline. The things holding them back are an inept Phil Davies with other inept coaches, and squad depth. Behind this 15 they don't have much quality cover, though there has a been a lot of promotion of some promising players come from the academies.

by jimbopip Mon 02 Sep 2013, 5:21 pm

[quote="Captain_Sensible"]The Cardiff selection depends on how highly Toonie rates pre-season form. If he's placing a lot of emphasis on it, we'll probably see something like -

Murchie
McGuigan
Bennett
Dunbar
S Lamont
Wight
Pyrgos
Vernon
Fusaro
Harley
Swinson
J Gray
Welsh
MacArthur
Reid

If he's placing more emphasis on seniority within the squad, then Kellock will come in for Gray, Seymour for McGuigan, and S Lamont might move to 13. Bench is anyone's guess.
[/quote
I think this is pretty close to Toonie's starting XV. The interesting part will be the bench. Cooseater, Seymour (or Angel if Seymour can't cover full back), possibly Finn Russel for the backs. Front row ? perm any three. Then Bluto, Jedi or Naka for the back row. Which leaves Ruck Inspector or Ryder in the engine room. It is already looking very competitive and we are still short of Our Lions, Niko and Furra Linee. I would love to see Fozzie, Vernon and Naka as an attacking trio. Mind you Jedi did himself no harm on Saturday. I think the Blues will be lucky to get a losing bonus point.

by Guest Mon 02 Sep 2013, 5:26 pm

15 Leigh Halfpenny
14 Alex Cuthbert
13 Owen Williams
12 Corey Allen
11 Harry Robinson
10 Rhys Patchell
9 Lloyd Williams

8 Robin Copeland
7 Sam Warburton
6 Andries Pretorious / Josh Navidi
5 James Down
4 Bradley Davies
3 Scott Andrews
2 Matthew Rees (c)
1 Gethin Jenkins

Thats the team I'd pick

by Totalflanker Mon 02 Sep 2013, 5:28 pm

Captain_Sensible wrote:From the highlights reel, Bennett looks to have bulked up a wee bit during the pre-season. Apparently he put in a huge hit just before scoring the try.

Would appear he has indeed bulked up over the summer........

http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/glasgow-warriors/player/mark-bennett

by bsando Mon 02 Sep 2013, 5:30 pm

jimbopip wrote: I think the Blues will be lucky to get a losing bonus point.

[/quote]I don't know about that, they could be a lot stronger this season. Glasgow should hopefully push on from where they left off last season but I think the Blues will be more competitive this year.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Mon 02 Sep 2013, 5:41 pm

Totalflanker wrote:
Captain_Sensible wrote:From the highlights reel, Bennett looks to have bulked up a wee bit during the pre-season. Apparently he put in a huge hit just before scoring the try.
Would appear he has indeed bulked up over the summer........

http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/glasgow-warriors/player/mark-bennett

Jeebus, fat bar-steward Laugh

by funnyExiledScot Mon 02 Sep 2013, 6:31 pm

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
Totalflanker wrote:
Captain_Sensible wrote:From the highlights reel, Bennett looks to have bulked up a wee bit during the pre-season. Apparently he put in a huge hit just before scoring the try.
Would appear he has indeed bulked up over the summer........

http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/glasgow-warriors/player/mark-bennett
Jeebus, fat bar-steward

Must be all that bread, wine and fish.....

by Totalflanker Mon 02 Sep 2013, 6:58 pm

Still no news on Cusack - Bennett's probably bulking up as front row cover......

by Manky-Flanker Tue 03 Sep 2013, 10:53 am

Gotta admit, Cusack's injury is a bit of a concern. It's dragging out a bit. Although the club listed him as amongst players they hoped to be fit for the "early part" of the new season.

On a brighter note, sounds like there are not many tickets left for the game against Cardiff.

by Dorothy_Mantooth Tue 03 Sep 2013, 11:08 am

Manky-Flanker wrote:Gotta admit, Cusack's injury is a bit of a concern. It's dragging out a bit. Although the club listed him as amongst players they hoped to be fit for the "early part" of the new season.

On a brighter note, sounds like there are not many tickets left for the game against Cardiff.

Agree, its been 9 months now that he has been out. Scrum did ok without him, but Welsh and Kalman are not in the same league when it comes to scrummaging.

by **George Carlin** Tue 03 Sep 2013, 11:12 am

Didn't RDW or Radge Tweety Big Mike and ask him how the injury was?

by Manky-Flanker Tue 03 Sep 2013, 11:32 am

Doesn't look like Coo has tweeted anything since April.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Tue 03 Sep 2013, 1:24 pm

George Carlin wrote:Didn't RDW or Radge Tweety Big Mike and ask him how the injury was?

'Twas me, but got no reply whatsoever - as happens with most of my tw@tts

by poddy89 Tue 03 Sep 2013, 6:09 pm

does anyone else feel that glasgow have looked weak in defence in there two warm ups, they have done some right but some of the trys they conceded were by very weak tackle attempts,

i know it might not have been first choice team but is it something that needs to be looked at?

by funnyExiledScot Tue 03 Sep 2013, 6:45 pm

I'm afraid I can't comment as I haven't seen highlights of the warm-up games, but Glasgow are usually very solid defensively, and other than the odd display of over-enthusiasm from Matawalu (which comes with the territory), Glasgow rarely gave much away.

by jimbopip Tue 03 Sep 2013, 10:36 pm

Well boys, last training session before the opening match on Saturday has come and gone and it was shoite. Hardly anyone there and no meaningful work done at all. I was at the gym with BigSon on Sunday and he worked me like a dog. He had me doing weights until when I couldn't do them he asked for 10 press-ups. I then proceeded to collapse on my face. At this point he said, "Yeah, that's you finished you can go home now." Tonight I was in the mood for a focussed, serious session and we did nothing and now I feel we are underprepared and will get tonked on Saturday. We began with touch and I made sure to be on Bigson's side. At one pointI made an outside break and held my line so he was on my shoulder. I put him away just before the tackle and got on his shoulder but with the over-exuberance of youth he went for the line and ended up tackled. I came in at SH and moved the ball quickly. When he got up the look on his face was a picture, "Me and my dad playing rugby together!" That was the highlight of the session. Can we do it on Saturday or will I embarrass him by being the old self-deluding eejit who doesn't know when his time's up?
The rugby gods are having their laugh because after coining the phrase MFL I find my mantra at the moment is Solomon's "First earn their respect." So that's what I need to do on Saturday, if I don't then I've nowhere to hide and no more packing down with Bigson.

by wales606 Wed 04 Sep 2013, 7:13 am

Based on the preseason, the likely Blues team will be

1.Sam Hobbs
2. Matthew Rees (c)
3. Scott Andrews
4. Bradley Davies
5. Filo Paulo
6. Andrieus Pretorious
7. Josh Navidi
8. Robin Copeland
9. Lloyd Williams
10. Rhys Patchell
11. Harry Robinson
12. Gavin Evans
13. Owen Williams
14. Tom Williams
15. Dan Fish/Chris Czekaj

16. Marc Breeze
17. Tau Filise
18. Benoit Bourrust
19. James Down
20. McCauley Cook
21. Lewis Jones
22. Gareth Davies
23. Daffydd Hewitt

by **George Carlin** Wed 04 Sep 2013, 9:44 am

wales606 wrote:Based on the preseason, the likely Blues team will be

1.Sam Hobbs
2. Matthew Rees (c)
3. Scott Andrews
4. Bradley Davies
5. Filo Paulo
6. Andrieus Pretorious
7. Josh Navidi
8. Robin Copeland
9. Lloyd Williams
10. Rhys Patchell
11. Harry Robinson
12. Gavin Evans
13. Owen Williams
14. Tom Williams
15. Dan Fish/Chris Czekaj

16. Marc Breeze
17. Tau Filise
18. Benoit Bourrust
19. James Down
20. McCauley Cook
21. Lewis Jones
22. Gareth Davies
23. Daffydd Hewitt

Forwards look strong Wales606. What can you tell the uninitiated (i.e. me) about your No 8 and your centres?

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