Cardiff Blues Season Thread 2 - Rey Lee-Lo signs long term at centre

[wales606]

First topic message reminder :

Prop
Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Taufa'ao Filise, Craig Mitchell, Sam Hobbs, Scott Andrews, Thomas Davies, Dillon Lewis

Hooker
Matthew Rees, Kristian Dacey, Marc Breeze, Rhys Williams, Ethan Lewis

2nd Row
Jarrad Hoeata, Filo Paulo, Lou Reed, Chris Dicomidis, Miles Normadale

Flanker
Sam Warburton, Josh Turnbull, Macauley Cook, Ellis Jenkins, Josh Navidi, Rory Watts-Jones, Jevon Groves, Ben Roach

Eight
Manoa Vosawai, Ieaun Jones

Scrum half
Tavis Knoyle, Lloyd Williams, Lewis Jones, Tomos Williams

Fly half
Rhys Patchell, Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies, Simon Humberstone, Jarrod Evans, Will Thomas

Centre
Cory Allen, Dafydd Hewitt, Gavin Evans, Richard Smith, Tom Pascoe, Adam Thomas, Garyn Smith (Ray Lee-Lo)

Wing
Alex Cuthbert, George Watkins, Lucas Amorisino, Harry Davies, Owen Jenkins, Chris Knight, Tom Williams (Tom James)

Full back
Joaquin Tuculet, Dan Fish, Geraint Walsh, Aled Summerhill

[The Saint]

Tavis Knoyle on the Scarlets http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26932400

What happened here? Was he just dropped?

He isn't a good No.9 and it took them that long to notice. All he did was get in the way of G.Davies. Gloucester also realised this, hence limited game time and no fight to keep him at the shed. Anyone who disagrees is delusional in my view.

[The Saint]

Easterby's reply: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26942356

[wales606]

Hoeta signing confirmed after the BP win over Edinburgh tonight.

Back to back wins.....i'm so confused.

[Artful_Dodger]

Hoeata is a very tidy signing by the Blues.

[The Saint]

We all knew that was going ahead though right? Like I said last week, great signing. Any news on coaches?

[Bluedragon]

When we needed assistant coaches Richard Holland claimed that they would scour the world - and then appointed 2 excellent coaches from Ponty 12 miles away.

Maybe the will scour the world an appoint someone from Bridgend or something.

I think we will hear when Super Rugby finishes in July, just ready for our pre season.

[Bluedragon]

Now its Mark Hammett, from the 'Canes.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/cardiff-blues-new-coach-latest-6989441

Any Kiwi coach NOT interested or linked to the job ? Thats Umaga, Hammett and Joseph linked now.

John Kirwan and Todd Blackadder will be linked next I reckon. The Chiefs coach Dave Rennie seems the best to recruit but bet he's not linked with the job !

[wales606]

Umaga is out apparently, it's between Josephs. Hammett and Wayne Pivac

While Hammett record as coach is a bit dodgy, he has apparently created a very good culture/atmosphere at the Canes - Conrad Smith spoke very highly of him,

Think he is probably the best of the 3 for delivering what he Blues need - the right side mentally

[XR]

When we needed assistant coaches Richard Holland claimed that they would scour the world

That was for the DOR, not coaches

[Bluedragon]

When we needed assistant coaches Richard Holland claimed that they would scour the world

That was for the DOR, not coaches

.............and they found Phil Davies.

I seem to remember that when they originally interviewed for assistant coaches they turned down Ringo, Iestyn Harris and 2 NPC coaches ( only identified as Southern Hemiphshere ) Maybe I just dreamed it !

[Coleman]

Three wins in a row. Nice to see the current coaches getting the most out of the players.

[Guest]

Its all positive but I think what Jenkins said yesterday has a part to play, they have no real pressure on them at the moment, but one thing I'll say about the Blues, they can grind out wins.

[Welly]

Gareth Anscombe -------> Cardiff Blues has a welsh mother and Gatland wants to have him in the welsh squad for the WC, excellent player plays  10 and 15 both to a really high standard, got great pace and has a great kick first choice kicker for the chiefs.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9277783,00.html

[Bluedragon]

Revised next season squad :
Next seasons squad is taking shape :
15 Fish/ ? ( Anscombe is rumoured )
14 Cuthbert / Owen Jenkins
13 Cory Allen / Owen Williams / Richard Smith
12 Ice / Daf Hewitt / Evans
11 George Watkins
10 Rhys Patchell / Humberstone
9 Tavis Knoyle / lloyd Williams / lewis Jones
8 Ieuan Jones / Manoa Vosawai
6 Turnbull / Watts Jones / Cook
7 Warbs / Navidi / Ellis Jenkins
5 Filo Paulo / Jarrod Hotea / James Down
4 Reed / Dicomodis
3 Mitchell / Bourrust / scott Andrews
2 Dacey / Matthew Rees
1 Jenkins / Hobbs

Still looks a bit light on back 3 players - Gareth Anscombe is a very obvious target at 15 and cover for 10 as goal kicker. Presumably some of the many centres we have will cover wing. I might have a few players in the wrong shirt number but you get the idea ! 5 NWQ not including Anscombe....

[Guest]

How much do we know about Watkins? Wingers do look a bit thread bare, what about Tom Williams?

[wales606]

How much do we know about Watkins? Wingers do look a bit thread bare, what about Tom Williams?

Record breaking try scorer with Bristol in the championship, still young and Welsh qualified.

Hoping he will be as good as our last championship signing - Robin Copeland

[Guest]

Sounds fine to me!

Just remembered we've signed that NZ unit Hoeata, should give us some grunt.

[wales606]

Connacht 15 - 22 Cardiff Blues

Another win! If only the season had started like this

8 wins in total, with 3 from our last 3

[Guest]

Isnt that 4 from 4?

[wales606]

Isnt that 4 from 4?

Yep, by bad.

Half our wins from the last 5 games,

perhaps more than half....bring it on Scarlets

[bedfordwelsh]

You see it in a lot of team sports that when a new manager/coach comes in the fortunes on the club tend to take an upward turn but in this case its even more of an upturn given how unbelievably bad the Blues were under Davies.

Did he really have that liitle clue or respect of the players is it as simple as the Chief just getting them motivated more?

[Guest]

I think its a combination of things:

Phil Davies is too much of a nice guy, hes like someones dad cheering on his son at a school match - his track record with professional teams is abysmal and quite frankly its a "job for the boys" if I have ever seen one. I also noticed how easy the media have been on his failures due to him being Jiffy's brother in law and he wont say a bad word.

The Blues have had little preassure on them, this season was a write off from about December and the only thing they can possibly play for now is a spot in the European Cup next year? Which didn't look likely before this unprecedented series of wins.

New management as you mentioned, possibly a culture shift is getting the most out of the players, but more importantly the winning streak is instilling confidence.

My hopes are higher for the Blues next season, even though not all our results have been fantastic (Zebre doing the double over us for instance..., away to Exeter etc) we still managed to beat Toulon and the double over Glasgow in the HC.

But we do need to get our combinations and pack sorted. The midfield of Patchell/Williams and Allen need to play together, they are the future of the Blues. I'm hoping Knoyle can find his form where he showed potential a couple of seasons ago, I was a bit hesistent about Turnbull but hes in fine form for the Scarlets at the moment and of course we have this unit from NZ Hoeata coming in along with Mitchell in the front row.

[Jhamer25]

Very well done Cardiff. I honestly believe with the like of Gethin,Corey, Bradley and Matthew back it has re energized your team. I do believe on there day with the players they have they can beat any team in the league. I hope you put up a good fight next week, i for one want my team to finish on a high. We haven't played much good rugby of late and the Blues have, i hope they make us fight for every point because the blues are on a good role. With a few good signings and a new experienced to work with the chiefs, the Blues are one to look out for next season.

[Seagultaf]

I feel a little sorry for Phil Davies, if he had had Gethin, Smiler (both Lions), Bradley and Lou Reed available I am sure the Blues would have won a lot more games.

With the Kiwi lock coming in next season to replace Bradley, the Blues should have a very competitive team.

[George Carlin]

Robin Copeland made the Rabo dream team this year (announced today) so well done to him as there's some serious competition for that 8 shirt.

[The Saint]

But we do need to get our combinations and pack sorted. The midfield of Patchell/Williams and Allen need to play together, they are the future of the Blues. I'm hoping Knoyle can find his form where he showed potential a couple of seasons ago, I was a bit hesistent about Turnbull but hes in fine form for the Scarlets at the moment and of course we have this unit from NZ Hoeata coming in along with Mitchell in the front row.

It's that type of thinking by the Blues board that put them up sh*t creek for the past few seasons. The young No.9 from the academy looks good though, already been keeping L.Williams out of the team (which isn't difficult).

[Guest]

But we do need to get our combinations and pack sorted. The midfield of Patchell/Williams and Allen need to play together, they are the future of the Blues. I'm hoping Knoyle can find his form where he showed potential a couple of seasons ago, I was a bit hesistent about Turnbull but hes in fine form for the Scarlets at the moment and of course we have this unit from NZ Hoeata coming in along with Mitchell in the front row.

It's that type of thinking by the Blues board that put them up sh*t creek for the past few seasons. The young No.9 from the academy looks good though, already been keeping L.Williams out of the team (which isn't difficult).

Well in that case I hope whoevers in charge of selection has the balls to drop a player if hes playing crap.

[bedfordwelsh]

I don't think the chief (if still in charge) will worry about dropping anyone regardless of their rep.

[XR]

Chief and John are there next season. If we bring in Hammett we'll have a pretty formidable, no nonsense coaching team.

Good win at Connacht too, hopefully turn over the scarlets on saturday and end the season on a high

[Coleman]

Anyone fancy our chances of signing Charts? Or will be be heading back to the Dragons? Be interesting to see where he lands, if it's in Wales at all.

[Guest]

I've been wondering about James Hook if Anscombe is a no go

[XR]

Signing Hook wouldn't be good for the blues. We already have Patchell who gets called up for tackle bag duty, signing Hook as our other 10 option would be a nightmare as he will get called up to sit on the bench.

Charteris, maybe. Only because he could fill the void left by Bradley but then we have Hoeata coming from NZ to fill that void.

[Seagultaf]

If Hook gets signed by anyone its unlikely to be as a 10. He has demonstrated at Ospreys (behind Biggar) , Perpignan (behind Lopez and Allan) and Wales (behind everyone) that he is no more than a bench option at 10. He is, though a competent 15, and useful distributor at 13. Whist his defence makes him a big risk at 12, he is an excellent goal kicker, so a very useful squad player.

Charteris would be a great signing for any of the Welsh Regions. Of his former clubs, the Dragons probably need him most as the Scarlets have 3 very good locks already. Both the Blues and the now depleted Ospreys could really use a player of his talents.
to bolster their thin engine room resources.

[Coleman]

I like Vosawai, he's a head down arse up No.8. Very different from Copeland. Pretty sure someone on here said a couple of months ago that we were signing him.

[XR]

The new Rushy!

[Coleman]

Really looking forward to seeing our full strength pack next season.

Gethin, Dacey, Mitchell
Hotea, Filo
Josh, Vosawia, Turnbull

It'll be a very strong pack by Rabo standards. I'm not saying we'll get top 4. But we have a platform for qualify for the RCC the season after next.

[VinceWLB]

Being a fan of Vosawai myself, i'm glad he is staying in the rabo.

When he is in form he is an absolute beast but generally 80 min is too long for him, he also doesn't have the best hands so expect a few knock ons from him!
He has rarely been used at 8 at Treviso the last few seasons so he may need to get used to the position again.

He should form a great back row with Turnbull and Navidi who have a huge work rate.

[Coleman]

In some ways it may be good that he isn't an 80 mins player as that will secure game time for Ieuan Jones.

[dragon4life]

Vosawai was a very strong carrier tonight good signing for you but only lasts about 60 mins

[The Saint]

Really looking forward to seeing our full strength pack next season.

Gethin, Dacey, Mitchell
Hotea, Filo
Josh, Vosawia, Turnbull

It'll be a very strong pack by Rabo standards. I'm not saying we'll get top 4. But we have a platform for qualify for the RCC the season after next.

You already have a bit of a pedigree in Europe, you should be looking to win next years 2nd tier RCC imo. You'll have the personnel to do so (if they aren't injured).

[Seagultaf]

Really looking forward to seeing our full strength pack next season.

Gethin, Dacey, Mitchell
Hotea, Filo
Josh, Vosawia, Turnbull

It'll be a very strong pack by Rabo standards. I'm not saying we'll get top 4. But we have a platform for qualify for the RCC the season after next.

I agree a very strong pack, the reintroduction of Smiler, Jenkins, Filise and Bradley have really raised the Blues game. But don't you think the Blues will play Warburton? Is this due to his breaking ranks and signing a central contract or is it on form?

[Guest]

Really looking forward to seeing our full strength pack next season.

Gethin, Dacey, Mitchell
Hotea, Filo
Josh, Vosawia, Turnbull

It'll be a very strong pack by Rabo standards. I'm not saying we'll get top 4. But we have a platform for qualify for the RCC the season after next.

I agree a very strong pack, the reintroduction of Smiler, Jenkins, Filise and Bradley have really raised the Blues game.  But don't you think the Blues will play Warburton? Is this due to his breaking ranks and signing a central contract or is it on form?

I'm sure they'll play Warburton from time to time when hes not injured or playing for Wales

[wales606]

Cardiff Blues are expected to announce former All Blacks hooker Mark Hammett as their new head coach on a three-year deal this summer.

Hammett will leave his position as Hurricanes head coach at the end of the season and Cardiff chairman Peter Thomas has revealed the Blues are "very close" to bringing him to the region
.
Thomas told the Rugby Paper: "Mark Hammett is top of our list and we are very hopeful that our discussions will come to a positive conclusion soon. We are very close to finalising matters.

Thomas also revealed that current acting coaches Dale McIntosh and Paul John will be part of the coaching set up next season as the Blues look to rebuild after Phil Davies' departure 10 weeks ago.

Hammett, who has 29 All Blacks caps, announced last month that he would be leaving the Hurricanes, a decision he made "before a ball was even kicked this year".

He will be tasked with turning the Blues into title-contenders after Thomas branded it an "embarrassment" that the region is not featuring in the knockout phases of any competition.

"It's an embarrassment that none of the Welsh teams are featuring in the business-end of the season," Thomas said. "None of us made the knock-out stages of any competition and that is unacceptable."

Read more at http://www.espnscrum.com/rabodirect-pro12-2013-14/rugby/story/225013.html#1ZT1zwO2W6tAVvFK.99

[wales606]

Quote from Conrad Smith on Mark Hammett

"He's been brilliant ... he'll leave us in better shape than when he turned up. He's made some massive calls in the time and in terms of the work he's done on the culture of the place," the veteran centre said.
"I love the team, but I've particularly loved the last few years and he changes he's brought about. He wears his heart on his sleeve and guys love that. He's very passionate, he's committed to the team and he wants all the players and management to feel that way."

Though results hadn't been ideal, Smith said the fact so many players had re-signed with the franchise was evidence it was heading in the right direction.

"You've seen in the last two or three years we've probably had the lowest player turnover in that time and I know in management there has only been a couple who have moved on.

"If anything that surely reflects more than anything how he runs the team and the wider management group and how well he's done."

[Guest]

Sounds good, the Hurricanes have been playing pretty good rugby this season, some lovely tries scored.

[nganboy]

Some pretty crappy rugby tonight by the hurricanes though. I'm not convinced by Hammett and am not unhappy that he is leaving.

[wales606]

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/6987.php#.U3kw3PldWYI

Hammett confirmed

[wales606]

"We've made strong signings with New Zealand international Jarrad Hoeata, Italian back row Manoa Vosawai, Craig Mitchell, Josh Turnbull, Tavis Knoyle, George Watkins and Ieuan Jones joining us. We're working hard on more signings and are positive about the way they will work with our talented existing squad under the guidance of Mark Hammett.

[Coleman]

Still think that we need another 10 and maybe a fullback aswell. Fish is getting better, but that means he'll be holding tacklebags at Wales camps more often now.

[George Carlin]

Hammett is a class act - this is a very good move. He's a no nonsense hard barsteward.

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