HC, Pool 2, Round 1: Exeter Chiefs vs Cardiff Blues

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I'm no George Carlin when it comes to setting up a new thread, but I thought I'd get one going for the other pool 2 match. It seems to me that both teams have had an indifferent start to the season, yet both seemed to hit their straps in their final game pre round 1, Cardiff Blues with a comfortable home win over Embra, and Exe putting Glaws to the sword at Kingsholm. Now admittedly Edinburgh have been pretty poor oppo this season, but equally Glaws were not on song yesterday, so perhaps we shouldn't read too much into either of these most recent encounters. Cardiff have now welcomed back their B&I Lions group, with strong displays from Jenkins, Warburton, Cuthbert and Halfpenny yesterday. For the Chiefs, DR Rob Baxter was delighted that at last his players delivered a full 80 minute performance, which has sadly been lacking season-to-date. All-in-all, this should lead to a pretty exciting encounter, both teams are an interesting blend of seasoned pros and promising youth (looking forward to the battle in the centres between Corey Allen and Sam Hill, two very exciting prospects) - can't wait to get back down to Sandy Park and soak up the atmosphere for this one

Can we not play the second half

I mean seriously, no team is going to benefit from it, the chiefs get a tougher game in training runs

Defensive coach would be going ape Poopie at half time

IronMike wrote:Defensive coach would be going ape Poopie at half time

If Shaun Edwards was about, then the team would all be in an ambulance after the half time talk.

Does Pies watch the games anymore? You can't watch this and say that these players are playing to the best of their ability. If you're a coach your job is to get the best out of your players ability and improve it. Our last two coaching set ups have set this team back so far. Why can't we just get a proper coaching set up. No more jobs for the boys, no more "met him down the pub he's a good guy!" We need a coach who has won at the highest level with a proven track record.

Exeter playing some great rugby, they not going to lose this, if they take 5 players off to rest them.

As for the Blues, with the players they have, you have to seriously question why they can't perform as a team.

If Halfpenny stays at the Blues now, he will be mad... He needs to market himself now before his Lions performance is forgot, because staying at the shambles the Blues are becoming will slash his value more than a Michael Ball CD in a pound shop bargain bucket.

The Saint wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Strange that Copeland is not starting.

Quite strange when you consider that Copeland is a great player and Pretorious is garbage. Maybe a monkey makes the decisions...

Only Toulon to come after this.... I feel sorry for Blues! Be funny if bluesman was here right now...

I forgot about Toulon  

What is the worst scoreline in HC history?

I guess we could make European history this season then...

Robbie Deans.

But on a serious note now, that half was laughable, probably the worst I've seen from the Blues in a long time. It's actually very tempting to switch it off now as the shame is just too much.

Wow, almost the perfect half for Exe, only the injury to Johnson a cause for concern. As for the pinks... They look as if they have never played together before. Great rugby from Exe though.

You have to give credit to Exeter. Its the speed with which they have attacked and the willingness to run from anywhere that has reaped rewards. No cagey kick tennis / sussing out the opposition - no just run the ball from everywhere and isolate Pinks players with the speed of the attack - get enough one on ones and someone will miss.

TJ wrote:You have to give credit to Exeter.  Its the speed with which they have attacked and the willingness to run from anywhere that has reaped rewards.  No cagey kick tennis / sussing out the opposition - no just run the ball from everywhere and isolate Pinks players with the speed of the attack - get enough one on ones and everyone will miss.

Fixed that for you

Chiefs have been great, some seriously good phase play and the backs have looked very good. Ewers is a big bloke!

No sympathy for the Blues, what else do you expect from a team coached by Phil Davies?
Same old forwards who couldn't defend two years ago, this has been on the cards for while now, shame it has happened on the opening weekend of the HC with a bigger audience to watch the wheels fall off.

Peters pies and his fellow decision makers are proven useless, if i was a Cardiff fan i would demand a change at the top vote with your feet.

Yes well played Exeter they can only play whats in front of them but to be fair with the lack of competing for the ball at the ruck and optional tackling any team would be making it look this easy.

The Chiefs have certainly been great. Their rise from ND1 to heineken cup rugby has been phenominal. They must have very good coaches and backers.

The Saint wrote:The Chiefs have certainly been great. Their rise from ND1 to heineken cup rugby has been phenominal. They must have very good coaches and backers.

I wish the Blues had very good coaches and backers  

I would just like the blues to play their hearts out now, show some form of pride

I would just like the blues to play their hearts out now, show some form of pride

*sings* Are you Edinburgh in disguise?

How has Pretorius got a Wales cap? Wish Pies would sod off and take Davies with him.

Can't attack, can't defend, can't scrummage, can't win a lineout

Seriously, how are there 13 internationals on the pitch for the Blues?

     

Cuthbert is the only player on the pitch for the Blues

Harry is everywhere to be fair. He's not big but he's got huge desire. You can see why coaches like him.

IronMike wrote:I would just like the blues to play their hearts out now, show some form of pride

Agree.... But the fact is any professional player who doesn't do this every time they pull on their jersey should be ashamed of themselves...

Looking at this performance, and others by the Blues this season, you wonder how they manage to keep their Blues shirt, never mind the amount of international honours they have collectively.

Coleman wrote:Harry is everywhere to be fair. He's not big but he's got huge desire. You can see why coaches like him.

But he messes up pretty much everything

He runs around like a headless chicken but has no wingers instinct

Cheer up boys. There's a whole management team putting the final coat of paint on at CAP as we speak.

wales606 wrote:

Coleman wrote:Harry is everywhere to be fair. He's not big but he's got huge desire. You can see why coaches like him.

But he messes up pretty much everything

He runs around like a headless chicken but has no wingers instinct

He's not an awful player. I think he's got a lot more to come.

I think I might start supporting the Scarlets....

P Davies must go after this, the players he has but they do not perform. Pratchell is an open gate again.

The Blues will be at the HC final in the MS.

They'll be selling burgers to the fans at this rate :-(

Was that Patch's man or Hewitts? Do they even know? Do we have a defensive system? Do they play Xbox all week before a game?

Coleman wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Coleman wrote:Harry is everywhere to be fair. He's not big but he's got huge desire. You can see why coaches like him.

But he messes up pretty much everything

He runs around like a headless chicken but has no wingers instinct

He's not an awful player. I think he's got a lot more to come.

I'd rather we still have Tom James

He won't get a sniff of a Wales jersey now that Walker is fit and Jordan Williams has come through

Coleman wrote:Was that Patch's man or Hewitts? Do they even know? Do we have a defensive system? Do they play Xbox all week before a game?

Defensive system    

Consolation try from Williams

The amusing thing is nothing will be done! Phil will give his usual lines in his interview later whilst sucking the spit from either side of his tongue,
Pies man will still have that clueless stare of "i don't know where we went wrong?".
The sooner the Union own and control the regions the better for all of us.

Very clever, well worked try there  

On a side note, can't see Warburton or Halfpenny staying with the Blues much longer

I'd rather still have Tom James as well. But unfortunately it would appear that the Brain Trust thought selling out top all time try scorer before he was past his best was a good idea. Maybe he asked for too much money I don't know. But he wasn’t in the Wales squad so we had him all year around.

COME BACK TIME ^_^

DeludedOptimistorjustDave wrote:The amusing thing is nothing will be done! Phil will give his usual lines in his interview later whilst sucking the spit from either side of his tongue,
Pies man will still have that clueless stare of "i don't know where we went wrong?".
The sooner the Union own and control the regions the better for all of us.

Hopefully Richard Holland will get involved

There is already rumours Davies was given until November

Looks like it was all a bluff by the Blues... They where only giving the Chiefs a head start....

They'll come back now and win by a Halfpenny 50m kick ...

:-)

Why does Copeland not start? He is much better than Pretorius??

James couldn't defend to save his life. No big loss when you have those guys in the backline. You just need a decent coach to instruct them.

Copeland already done more since coming on than Pretorious

I rest my case

hahaha and Copeland isn't starting, this is a farce.

Would be nice if this was going to be another embra-racing type of come back

Another fantastically well worked try

Why on earth was Copeland and Andrews on the bench?

Swperb wrote:Why does Copeland not start? He is much better than Pretorius??

Because Pretorius is an international No.8.

whocares wrote:Would be nice if this was going to be another embra-racing type of come back

That was more of a continuing chance of lead, not a comeback from 40 points down!

Coleman wrote:

Swperb wrote:Why does Copeland not start? He is much better than Pretorius??

Because Pretorius is an international No.8.

 

 

wales606 wrote:

Coleman wrote:

Swperb wrote:Why does Copeland not start? He is much better than Pretorius??

Because Pretorius is an international No.8.