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

[wales606]

Just read Tom Isaacs has joined from the Ospreys

Good signing

Interesting to see Hammett bringing up attitude again "He is a strong ball carrying centre who can make things happen and I've been impressed by his tremendous attitude towards both training and games," Hammett said.

I imagine he will play 13, but didn't he used to be a SH?

I'm certain he started life out as a SH, but Ospreys had plenty and lacked centres at the time

Wonder if he still has the skills to play there,

SH is one of our weakest positions and the one area we haven't recruited in. I guess Knoyle will be sent packing at the end of the season and we will bring someone in. Would love to get one of the 3 Scarlets SHs.

[wales606]

I was also wondering if he had played on the wing before, and it looks like I was right

Hammett “We see Tom predominantly as a centre and is a strong ball-carrier who can make things happen, but he also offers an option out wide if needed.”

[Coleman]

We've got more utilities then a monopoly board. Everyone can play everywhere, that's our new philosophy.

[wales606]

We've got more utilities then a monopoly board. Everyone can play everywhere, that's our new philosophy.

In fairness, that can work quite well,

Just look at the All Blacks

[ScarletSpiderman]

606, hads off you've had your fair share of ex Turk scrum halves since regionalism (well ex Turks full stop).

Any reason Tav isn't settling in?

[wales606]

606, hads off you've had your fair share of ex Turk scrum halves since regionalism (well ex Turks full stop).

Any reason Tav isn't settling in?

He's just not very good,

Hence why the Scarlets let him go and he barely played for Gloucester

[The Saint]

606, hads off you've had your fair share of ex Turk scrum halves since regionalism (well ex Turks full stop).

Any reason Tav isn't settling in?

He's just not very good,

Hence why the Scarlets let him go and he barely played for Gloucester

Notice a theme here SS? People have realised what I realised years ago.

[Guest]

To be fair, I haven't seen Knoyle play at all this season, I think he played in the Challenge cup which wasn't televised

[wales606]

Team for Friday

Cardiff Blues: J Tuculet, R Smith, A Thomas, G Evans, G Walsh; G Anscombe, L Williams; S Hobbs, K Dacey, A Jones (capt), F Paulo, J Turnbull, M Cook, E Jenkins, J Navidi. Reps: R Williams, T Davies, C Mitchell, M Normandale, R Watts-Jones, T Knoyle, G Davies, T Isaacs.


Interesting to see Dan Fish being kept out of the team at all costs.

Cook and Turnball have swapped between 5 and 6

No Vosawai or Hoeta

I assume Amorisino is injured

Craig Mitchell is back!

[The Saint]

Hammer seems to be making a lot of changes. This seems a bit of un-settling approach. I also would have persisted with using lock forwards in the 2nd row, not flankers...

As for backs.... Is Hammer looking to field a backline of utilities in the near future? He seems to be moving towards that.

[wales606]

Hammer seems to be making a lot of changes. This seems a bit of un-settling approach. I also would have persisted with using lock forwards in the 2nd row, not flankers...

As for backs.... Is Hammer looking to field a backline of utilities in the near future? He seems to be moving towards that.

Well, there are only 4 changes from the absymal team last week.

I would have made more. Especially in the centres and probably at SH

[Coleman]

Great to see Mitchell available. Our second row is in disaray at the moment. Hoeata isnt the player we had hoped. Lou Reed is god knows where. Looks like Dico is injured as well. So we have Normandale who is unproven on the bench and Filo walking around the pitch with his floppy arms dreaming about clattering Biggar. Glad that Cook is at 6. He's much more valuable around the field then Turnbull. Will be good to see how Anscombe gets on at 10.

[LordDowlais]

Coleman, do you know what, I know he looked a little rusty last Sunday, but when he took the ball in hand, and decided to run, he looked as though he possessed a bit of quality, almost Jiffy or Shane like with how he had a quick natural bursts of acceleration. If he has an accurate boot as well, he could become quite the player at 10.

[Seagultaf]

Coleman, do you know what, I know he looked a little rusty last Sunday, but when he took the ball in hand, and decided to run, he looked as though he possessed a bit of quality, almost Jiffy or Shane like with how he had a quick natural bursts of acceleration. If he has an accurate boot as well, he could become quite the player at 10.

Anscombe looked very ordinary, made lots of mistakes and yes he did occasionally look good on the burst, but certainly did not look a player who deserves a Wales central contract. Hopefully he will improve!

[LordDowlais]

Coleman, do you know what, I know he looked a little rusty last Sunday, but when he took the ball in hand, and decided to run, he looked as though he possessed a bit of quality, almost Jiffy or Shane like with how he had a quick natural bursts of acceleration. If he has an accurate boot as well, he could become quite the player at 10.

Anscombe looked very ordinary, made lots of mistakes and yes he did occasionally look good on the burst, but certainly did not look a player who deserves a Wales central contract. Hopefully he will improve!

I agree, he should be made to earn his DC, I would rather see Patchell given one before him.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Coleman, do you know what, I know he looked a little rusty last Sunday, but when he took the ball in hand, and decided to run, he looked as though he possessed a bit of quality, almost Jiffy or Shane like with how he had a quick natural bursts of acceleration. If he has an accurate boot as well, he could become quite the player at 10.

Anscombe looked very ordinary, made lots of mistakes and yes he did occasionally look good on the burst, but certainly did not look a player who deserves a Wales central contract. Hopefully he will improve!

I agree, he should be made to earn his DC, I would rather see Patchell given one before him.

What like Tyler Morgan and Hallam Amos earnt theirs with their repeat MoM performances for the national side

[Coleman]

Amorosino has flown home for an unspecified period of time.

[wales606]

Yeah. Was looking forward to seeing him play but he has had to go home for family reasons, I hope everything is okay and we see him back in blue soon.

[wales606]

Our backrow forwards are doing the job of our centres tonight,

Anscombes passing is spot on, but the rest of his game....

And discipline once again, another yellow card already - at least this one was a try saver, but still...

[wales606]

Good attacking intent from the Blues, Treviso are scrambling well - but Lloyd Williams finally snipes over.

Some good effort being shown this week, no doubt they were given a harsh warning after the shambles last week.

Not a bad phase with 14 men

[Guest]

Our centres are not great

[wales606]

Our centres are not great awful

[wales606]

Oh dear, horrible bounce

[wales606]

We look better when the ball is with our backrow in the midfield than our centres. The centres are killing all the backplay, so far back when Anscombe and Williams are looking to bring players on flat

[Guest]

Dacey is having a good game

[wales606]

Fantastic finish from the new man Tuculet!

[Guest]

If only Tuculet had a Welsh mother

[wales606]

Clearly they have been practising attacking all week, the defence is not good...

[wales606]

Not entirely sure how we are down at HT

[wales606]

Anscombe out injured......

We are cursed with Gareth Davies for ever.

Hope he is fit soon, or we are in trouble with Patchell out.

[wales606]

...I think Tuculet can play 10

please...please...please...

[wales606]

Just a precaution, dead leg apparently

[wales606]

...and Gareth Davies first touch is a hospital pass which gives away a penalty

[wales606]

How on earth is than not a deliberate knock on!?

[Guest]

Not sure, should be a yellow card if the ref wants to be consistent.

Gavin Evans did perhaps the most useful thing I've seen him do at the Blues by setting up that try

[The Saint]

If Tuculet is always this good from 15, might Patchell go to 12?

Your wingers Walsh, smith, etc. have been playing well in recent weeks.

[wales606]

Dacey keeping up his try scoring record for the TBP

[wales606]

If Tuculet is always this good from 15, might Patchell go to 12?

Your wingers Walsh, smith, etc. have been playing well in recent weeks.

Tuculet has been signed as a centre primarily

[wales606]

And again we fall asleep after scoring

[wales606]

Jesus, we are awful

[The Saint]

If Tuculet is always this good from 15, might Patchell go to 12?

Your wingers Walsh, smith, etc. have been playing well in recent weeks.

Tuculet has been signed as a centre primarily

True, but I'm just wondering where all your players, when available, will fit in. As I alluded to a couple of days ago Hammer seems to be moving the guys around quite a bit, not just as in terms of starting players but combinations.

[wales606]

If Tuculet is always this good from 15, might Patchell go to 12?

Your wingers Walsh, smith, etc. have been playing well in recent weeks.

Tuculet has been signed as a centre primarily

True, but I'm just wondering where all your players, when available, will fit in. As I alluded to a couple of days ago Hammer seems to be moving the guys around quite a bit, not just as in terms of starting players but combinations.

9. Lloyd Williams
10. Anscombe
11. Amorisino
12. Tuculet
13. Allen
14. Cuthbert
15. Patchell

[Coleman]

Not a great performance. Navidi and Dacey looked a cut above the rest of the team. Shame about Anscombe.

[Seagultaf]

Not a great performance. Navidi and Dacey looked a cut above the rest of the team. Shame about Anscombe.

I actually thought Gareth Davies played well when he came on, better than Anscombe to be true! Hopefully Anscombe will come good but at present he does not look an international no10 in the making or 15 even!

If I was the Blues coach I would be picking Patchell and Tuculett at 10 and 15.

[Coleman]

Yesterday morning i read that Sam is good to play in our upcoming Euro fixtures. Today i read that he has picked up a knock and cannot play. . .

[wales606]

Yesterday morning i read that Sam is good to play in our upcoming Euro fixtures. Today i read that he has picked up a knock and cannot play. . .

He was touch and go, but they have decided to save him for next week

[LordDowlais]

Whats he done ? He didn't look injured after the Boks game. Perhaps they are keeping him for the home game instead. Just resting him like.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Whats he done ? He didn't look injured after the Boks game. Perhaps they are keeping him for the home game instead. Just resting him like.

There are a few who seem to have been injured during that game, who didn't spear injured during the game.

[wales606]

our home game is this week

Sam has some knocks from the weekend, he wanted to play but they have decided not to risk him this weekend with navidi and Ellis Jenkins available

[The Saint]

I think Sam would be more important to have in the away fixture. Is it London Irish you're playing?

[Sponsored content]