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

[Coleman]

Couldn't agree more 606. Putting my Wales hat on for a moment. I cannot remember the last time Sam went in to an international window injury free, with a good string of games under his belt and in good form.

[Coleman]

Team for the A Team tonight.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Tom Williams, 14 Harry Davies, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Tom Pascoe, 11 Lewis Morgan, 10 Will Thomas, 9 Mike Hale; 1 Thomas Davies, 2 Ethan Lewis, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Miles Normandale, 5 Lou Reed, 6 Jevon Groves, 7 Rory Watts-Jones (c), 8 Ben Roach

Replacements: 16 Gerwyn Coleman, 17 Callum Lewis, 18 Joe Jones, 19 Seb Davies, 20 James Sheekey, 21 Will Baird, 22 James Whittingham, 23 Ellis Wyn Benham, 24 Jack Phillips

Hmmm. I guess a lot of the other players played on the weeekend. A lot of young players in there. Interested to see the O's team.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Not being disrespectful, but that isn't really the Blues A team is it? Most of those will be lucky to get into the LV= team surely.

[wales606]

A lot of players also played for Cardiff RFC yesterday to,

Will be interesting to see how Will Thomas does at 10, and whether Lou Reed can pick up some form.

[ScarletSpiderman]

You have to feel sorry for Lou Reed, his career took a real nose dive didn't it. One minute he is starting to become a regular team wales squad member, then he moves region and disappears into obscurity.

[Coleman]

Quite a few of the names escape me, apart from being in the U-18's and such over the past few years. It isnt really an A team apart from Davie, Reed, Normandale and Watts-Jones. Expected to see Watkins, Ellis, Mitchell, Breeze et all. Wonder what kind of squad the O's will put out compared to this.

[wayne]

Couldn't agree more 606. Putting my Wales hat on for a moment. I cannot remember the last time Sam went in to an international window injury free, with a good string of games under his belt and in good form.

Therein lies the difference Coleman, your putting on your Wales hat, and the majority of Os fans myself included and also our players actually WANT to play for us, AWJ was rested for our first game and there was uproar on these boards and he has since said he wants to play every game if fit, I can say with a certain amount of certainty that the vast majority of our players will be available for the Connaught game on the same weekend.
I've obviously put the question on the wrong board, to a genuine question I've had responses from 2 Blues supporters, I should have put it on the actual Blues board.

[wales606]

Couldn't agree more 606. Putting my Wales hat on for a moment. I cannot remember the last time Sam went in to an international window injury free, with a good string of games under his belt and in good form.

Therein lies the difference Coleman, your putting on your Wales hat, and the majority of Os fans myself included and also our players actually WANT to play for us, AWJ was rested for our first game and there was uproar on these boards and he has since said he wants to play every game if fit, I can say with a certain amount of certainty that the vast majority of our players will be available for the Connaught game on the same weekend.
I've obviously put the question on the wrong board, to a genuine question I've had responses from 2 Blues supporters, I should have put it on the actual Blues board.  

None of the O's players have 60% of their wages paid by the WRU,

I don't think Blues fans would agree to pay an extra £150,000 for Warburton to play a couple of games more for us (in fact, his average number of games played is lower than the number he is now allowed to play)

We have Navidi and Ellis Jenkins who are both fantastic no7s and perfectly capable of filling Warburtons shoes.

This is a non-issue, and is more baiting over a central contract issue that was sorted out months ago and has been pretty much universally accepted by fans, players and the regions.

[Coleman]

I understand your point Wayne. But as 606 said. Most of Warbs salary is paid by the WRU. Honestly I much prefer Navidi. But that's just my opinion. Also, all of our players but one are available for the Munster game injury permiting.

[VinceWLB]

So Lou Reed is back at the Blues?

Believe it or not but i was quite impressed by the Blues' pack at the end of last season when he paired with Paulo (and the props were Hobbs and Filise!).

[The Saint]

Is Mitchell injured?

[wales606]

Elliot Kear made an unannounced debut at 11 for Blues A today,

Wales league player originally from Cardiff who has been fairly highly rated,

He was rumoured to be joining a while back but ended up touring with Wales league team, guess now he has shown up,

He is supposedly a brave defended and pretty rapid, be interesting to see what happens to Cuthbert with Kear, Anscombe and Amorisino

[ScarletSpiderman]

Well I guess Cuthbert will need to take tackling lessons to keep his spot now.

[Coleman]

Is Mitchell injured?

He can't be. He was in the stadium watching again. He is walking around fine and seems to be in good spirits. Maybe he has an internal conditon? Maybe the Hammer hates him?

[Guest]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H09rYJ_H_cY

Kear looks to hve a good step on him as well, hope he adapts to Union, we are lacking quality wings right now

[Coleman]

With the squad for the AI's being released it looks like we will have near to a full squad for our five games in this window.

1st Nov: Munster (H)
7th Nov: Newcastle (A) LV
14th Nov: Scarlets (H) LV
23rd Nov: Edinburgh (A)
28th Nov: Treviso (A)

We have lost Gethin, Sam, Allen and Cuthbert but i'd like to focus on who we do have. Anscombe is enroute and will be available for all of these games. Amorosino is here and should start to play. Couple that with us keeping Cook, Dacey, Adam, Navidi and Lloyd Williams I really think we should be targeting all of these games (starting by beating Rovigo) as wins.

Without injuries we could see a starting 15 of:

Hobbs, Dacey, Jones, Filo, Hoeata, Cook, Navidi, Vos, Williams, Patch, Evans, Smith, Amorosino, Fish and Anscombe.

Yes we're more likely to see Patch at 15 and Anscombe at 10. Jones won't last a full game, but we have Mitchell to come back. We can really target these next few games as wins and reboot the season.

[The Saint]

Won't Amorosino be with Arg?

[XR]

What i like about Hammer is he is not afraid to drop the 'superstars' if they're not doing the business. If Cuthbert carries on his attitude and form he'll be dropped as soon as we have a back up.

Kear player rugby in high school so won't have to re-learn as much as if he had never played before (like other league converts)

[Coleman]

Won't Amorosino be with Arg?

I never even thought about this. Looks like Vos will be away with Italy and Filo will be with Samoa. Jumped the gun a bit. I still believe though.

[LordDowlais]

What i like about Hammer is he is not afraid to drop the 'superstars' if they're not doing the business. If Cuthbert carries on his attitude and form he'll be dropped as soon as we have a back up.

Kear player rugby in high school so won't have to re-learn as much as if he had never played before (like other league converts)

You already have back up for Cuthbert, what was wrong with George Watkins ? He is scoring tries for fun in the Prem.

[XR]

Huge difference between welsh prem and pro level, he was shown up to be a poor defender against leinster and Hammett has already made his decision on him.

He sees him every day, i trust his judgement

[Cardiff Dave]

Huge difference between welsh prem and pro level, he was shown up to be a poor defender against leinster and Hammett has already made his decision on him.

He sees him every day, i trust his judgement

Measured in parsecs, so i'm told.

[Coleman]

Cook playing at second row. . . Hope this isnt the start of him playing there often.

[The Saint]

Cook playing at second row. . . Hope this isnt the start of him playing there often.

Yeah, looks like he's been a good No.6 for you guys. You have some riches in the back-row down in the capital, but I'm not sure what the right balance is.

[XR]

I'd say the right balance for the Blues would be:

6. Cook
7. Navidi/Warburton
8. Vosawai

[The Saint]

Interesting that you left out Turnbull, but I don't think he's playing that well either. He certainly isn't replicating his SA tour form.

[Guest]

Good bonus point win today

[XR]

Interesting that you left out Turnbull, but I don't think he's playing that well either. He certainly isn't replicating his SA tour form.

Left out for the reasons you've stated, that and Cook has stepped up big time this season

[The Saint]

Might he be one of the ones getting the cut, as Hammer put it?

[XR]

probably not, i would say it's players lower down the pecking order.

[Coleman]

Not blown away by the score when you look at the side we put out. But 5 points is 5 points. London Irish are looking good. Will be a good double header in Dec.

[maestegmafia]

Josh Turnbull is unimpressed with the backs at the blues


http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/29868434

[Guest]

Josh Turnbull is unimpressed with the backs at the blues


http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/29868434

That's some pretty damning stuff, hope it doesn't cause an "us vs them" scenario at the Blues. But mostly I agree that the backs have let the side down this season.

[wales606]

Josh Turnbull is unimpressed with the backs at the blues


http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/29868434

That's some pretty damning stuff, hope it doesn't cause an "us vs them" scenario at the Blues. But mostly I agree that the backs have let the side down this season.

Considering how Turnball has been performing most of the season...glass houses and throwing stone.


Under pressure for his place from Cook, Navidi and Ellis Jenkins when we are a full strength - slagging off your team-mates at a club you have just arrived at is not the cleverest decision.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Hasn't Turnbull scored more than ties for you this season than the majority of the backs??

[Comfort]

Its probably not the smartest thing to do, but hes hardly wrong.

[wales606]

George Watkins has left to return to Bristol

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/29896342

[Guest]

Wow. That's brutal

[Guest]

Really dont get what happened with Watkins

[Cardiff Dave]

Really dont get what happened with Watkins

Signed by somebody else rather than the coach maybe? How very Cardiff.

[Coleman]

Guess he just wasn't Hammers type of player. Same with Ieuan Jones. Real shame for two young lads who didn't really get a shot. One away game in Dublin was not enough time to see how Watkins would do in the Blues team. I really hope he does well on his return to Bristol. I guess we just need to move on. Amorosino looks sharp and Anscombe has arrived now. I guess we'll see Hammet's team after Xmas when he's got all the players he wants, playing where he wants them.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Wasn't Watkins signed before Hammet was named coach? I guess it does make sense that he just doesn't fit in with Hammet's plans. However it does seem like a bit of a loss for the Blues, as from what I have seen of him he was a very tidy player, although obviously not tidy enough for any of the other regions to take a punt on him either.

[Coleman]

He was signed before Hammet, as was I.Jones. Will be interesting to see who he signs in between next season.

I didn't realise that Bruce Douglas was playing for Cardiff RFC. Would much rather have him playing then Andrews as our third choice TH.

[Guest]

Is the match against the Scarlets tonight aired?

[Guest]

We've signed another Argie international Joaquín Tuculet as a centre

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/cardiff-blues-sign-argentina-international-8117070

[Coleman]

Hope he does well. Looking forward to having everyone ready to go for the december fixtures.

[wales606]

We've signed another Argie international Joaquín Tuculet as a centre

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/cardiff-blues-sign-argentina-international-8117070

Heard that rumoured,

Seen him play FB for Argentina a lot, will have to see how he goes at centre - I imagine he has a decent kicking game,

Backline is starting to look tasty,

9. Lloyd Williams
10. Rhys Patchell/Gareth Anscombe
11. Lucas Amorisino
12. Joaquin Tuculet
13. Cory Allen
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Rhys Patchell/Gareth Anscombe

[wales606]

Confirmed the signing of Tuculet

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/7332.php#.VGoJQfmsVKI

[Coleman]

Be interesting to see where he plays. Could be that he plays at fullback and Patch comes in at 12, or even Anscombe at 12?

[wales606]

Be interesting to see where he plays. Could be that he plays at fullback and Patch comes in at 12, or even Anscombe at 12?

He has been signed as a centre, but can apparently play anywhere in the backline short of SH

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