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]

yep

[Coleman]

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.

Could be he hurt his shoulder lifting that Vase after the SA game.

[Guest]

Said in an interview he had a stinger at the end of the game

[wales606]

So that's 2 chargedowns in 48 minutes as flyhalf for Anscombe, and this one leads to a try for the tighthead prop.

Oh dear,

Now where is Patchell

[wales606]

Good chip from Anscombe for the Blues try, but a lot of credit needs to go so Smith for finishing that!

[The Saint]

Doesn't sound good. Why was Rees sinbinned?

[wales606]

Doesn't sound good. Why was Rees sinbinned?

Having been told there were too many penalties, he immediately failed to roll away, in fairness he couldn't roll away and the warning was for 4 penalties in completely different areas of the games.

He did the come back on and knock-on at the back of a good maul.

I have been saying for ages that he should be second fiddle to Dacey, and this is only reinforcing my view

[mckay1402]

Interesting that dayglo noticed when Rees stood up in the scrum but didn't notice the first scrum when paice did the same thing. This commentry team are not great. Yellow was harsh as he was pinned by two London irish players.

[bedfordwelsh]

Mmmmmmm did he ground that?

[mckay1402]

Hmm maybe it's because the London irish is driving straight across.

[mckay1402]

Is that flatman? What a load of utter nonsense he just spouted about the scrum

[bedfordwelsh]

Yeah not totally agree with the commentator but have never rated Mitchell. Poor pass by Williams to Cuthbert but should have taken it.

[mckay1402]

It annoys me that he's blaming the Cardiff front row for the London irish front row not driving straight. A couple if the Cardiff players have been really impressive. Navidi and Allen for me have been the best players on the pitch.

[bedfordwelsh]

Have always been an Allen fan not so much a Navidi fan but he's having a good game, Fenby looks threatening for Irish.

[Guest]

Only saw the first half, Allen did look good as did Dacey when he was on temporarily.

[Coleman]

Just read that we only had 5,400 for the LI game. There was a fair few away fans there as well. At £19 a ticket it's no wonder people arent coming. We need to look at our pricing strategy. A 15:15 KO on a saturday afternoon should not be attracting this few people. Alarm bells!

[wales606]

Cardiff Blues are delighted to confirm the appointment of Billy Millard as the new Head of Elite Performance at the region.

Millard will leave his role as National High Performance Manager at USA Rugby to make a return to Blues in the new position next month and work alongside Director of Rugby Mark Hammett.

Cardiff Blues have also announced that Richard Hodges has been promoted from his position as Academy Manager to take on the role of Elite Performance Pathway Manager.

New Head of Elite Performance Millard previously enjoyed a spell as Backs Coach at Blues between 2008 and 2010, helping the region reach the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup and win both the EDF Energy Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup.

He has a vast experience of coaching having also worked in Australia and Ireland with roles at Melbourne Rebels, Connacht Rugby, Sydney University and the Australia Sevens team.

The newly created Head of Elite Performance role will see Millard take the lead on contract renewals, player recruitment, release and retention, help control the budgets within the rugby department and attend all relevant WRU meetings on behalf of the region.

Richard Holland, Chief Executive at Cardiff Blues, said: "We're delighted to welcome Billy back to Cardiff Blues and I know he is very excited to return to Wales and take on this key role at the region.

"This is a new position which Mark Hammett identified and was very keen to see put in place. The role will involve pulling together all the elements of the rugby pathways and recruitment strategy.

"We conducted an extensive worldwide search to fill this position and had a very high calibre of applications. However, Billy was the outstanding candidate given his knowledge of professional rugby, vast experience and understanding of Welsh rugby and our region."

Billy Millard said: "I'm very excited to be returning to Cardiff Blues at such an exciting time for the region with ambitious and extensive plans for the future.

"Blues have identified how the region needs to move forward over the coming years to be a success and I'm relishing my new position within that environment.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at USA Rugby for their understanding and support and wish them every success for the future."

[wales606]

Neither new roles appear to be involved in coaching, but I wonder if Hammett will get Millard involved in helping out Paul John - After all we had some of the best backs in Europe during his reign.

I also won't be surprised to see more backroom changes at the end of this season

[Coleman]

Do you think the Cheif will go? I'd really like to see a more professional training environment at the region. Every Autumn/Six Nations campaign we hear that the regional players are not up to scratch. If they can work hard at Wales camps they can work hard for us. I think there is a lot to do at the Blues. A lot of things need an overhaul. The playing squad, marketing need to get their selfs sorted out.

[wales606]

Sounds like Tom James is on his way back to Cardiff,

Meanwhile the rumours are coming thick and fast over on the Blues board, NZ centre and SH focussed at the moment. Although they were saying we could have been getting Lydiate earlier, so...

[bedfordwelsh]

606,

Think James would be good to have back for you he always seemed to perform at that level but never really kicked on at International level. He seemed to have all the attributes that Cuthbert/North have and they have now both become integral to Gatlands plans.

[Coleman]

Didn't James shoot himself in the foot by walking out of a Wales training camp because Prydie got selected? Would like to have him back, isn't he our top all time try scorer? Wonder who the NZ centre is, are they saying Fruean again?

[LordDowlais]

Whoopie doo, another NWQ player signing for the Blues.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Is Dodger using DC money to tempt James back

Realistically he would be a good signing, he will be available during the 4N, and AIs when the Argentine boys are away and can play when Cuthberts being rest because of his DC.

[bedfordwelsh]

Didn't James shoot himself in the foot by walking out of a Wales training camp because Prydie got selected? Would like to have him back, isn't he our top all time try scorer? Wonder who the NZ centre is, are they saying Fruean again?

Coleman,

He did yeah or mouthed off about going on for lasr 2 minutes, something like that but he wasn't really first choice then either. Gatland seems to forgive others for what they have done but then some like Popham got publicly criticised for poor discipline and never featured again.

[Coleman]

Well he was always a decent player for us. He always seemed to lack that rugby brain though. A bit of a Cuthbert in some ways. Being at Exeter will have done him a world of good i imagen. They have a good ethos down there. Would be nice if he could bring some of that back with him.

[GavinDragon]

I think that would be an astute signing for you guys

[Guest]

Tom James can go from doing something amazing to something incredibly stupid in the space of 3 seconds.

Still though, he can score tries so why not have him back?

[The Saint]

Whoopie doo, another NWQ player signing for the Blues.

A. The more internationals they have, the more NWQs they will require.
B. He'd be MUCH better than Gavin Evans.

Until the point between grass roots and professional level is sorted, we will be heavily reliant on NWQ.

[The Saint]

Well he was always a decent player for us. He always seemed to lack that rugby brain though. A bit of a Cuthbert in some ways. Being at Exeter will have done him a world of good i imagen. They have a good ethos down there. Would be nice if he could bring some of that back with him.

How has his progress at Exeter been? I know in his first season he started really well, but then he just seemed to vanish.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Whoopie doo, another NWQ player signing for the Blues.

A. The more internationals they have, the more NWQs they will require.
B. He'd be MUCH better than Gavin Evans.

Until the point between grass roots and professional level is sorted, we will be heavily reliant on NWQ.

Not to sure you can say B until you have a clue who the centre is., just beig from the SH doesnt make a player any good. After all he could be the third choice outside centre from Manawatu of 55s team.

[wales606]

Bigger name than Freuan apparently

[George Carlin]

It won't be Freuan - he's just signed a new deal with the Crusaders.

A 'bigger' name than him would indicate he's a current squad All Black.

If that's true, Blues fans should be punching the air and doing rude things to their better halves, rather than complaining about another NWQ signing. It's only Edinburgh that sign crocked SH journeymen.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Bigger name than Freuan apparently

So that means he will be an islander with an 10+ letter name

Realistically, is there any indication of who in particular, or is it a case of three r four names lined up?

[The Saint]

Whoopie doo, another NWQ player signing for the Blues.

A. The more internationals they have, the more NWQs they will require.
B. He'd be MUCH better than Gavin Evans.

Until the point between grass roots and professional level is sorted, we will be heavily reliant on NWQ.

Not to sure you can say B until you have a clue who the centre is., just beig from the SH doesnt make a player any good.  After all he could be the third choice outside centre from Manawatu of 55s team.  

True, but I have faith they, the Blues, have learned to no longer recruit rubbish. Manawatu's centre probably is better than Gavin Evans. Let's hope its Nonu .

[wales606]

Calm down guys, we have had a big name nz centre rumoured for years

[wales606]

London Irish 34-23 Cardiff Blues

"Geraghty charged down Gareth Anscombe's kick to score under the posts."

So that is 3 charge-downs from 3 games at FH for Anscombe, with a resulting 2 tries under the post for the opposition.

[Cardiff Dave]

Irish 34-23 Cardiff

"Geraghty charged down Gareth Anscombe's kick to score under the posts."

So that is 3 charge-downs from 3 games at FH for Anscombe, with a resulting 2 tries under the post for the opposition.

Fixed!

[bedfordwelsh]

Yet another (future) Wales No10 by all accounts, who gets charged down and didn't he throw and intercept pass the other week? Yippee just whats needed

[The Saint]

Better fast track Owen Williams instead then I reckon. ATM we need a Wales 10 coming on who isn't capable of losing us the game. Williams is in the Biggar mould and will be what's needed right now. Can't see him coming back unless Gatland has a word with him.

[bedfordwelsh]

I just wonder why after being named in the original summer tour squad he didn't then get included or eben called up instead of Hook for the AIs.

Was it further punishemnet for his ban, sort of get your house in order this is what you are missing type of thing fron Gatland?

[Blueschief]

It's been confirmed, Tom James has signed for 2 years according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30561219

[Coleman]

This is good news. Be good to see the Merthyr Express back at the Arms Park. Really hope we can some how keep both of the Argies. Tuculet's kicking was great on friday. Roll on Boxing Day!

[ScarletSpiderman]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30574764

Paulo and Snyman both cited for their pushing contest. Neither had a closed hand, what a joke.

[wales606]

Latest from the Blues forum is that Cuthbert won't be here next year, but that Roberts will.

[The Saint]

Seems like a good gain given the contrasting form of both players. If Cuthbert is going to play for someone outside of Wales then I hope he gets dropped from team Wales.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Roberts on a Dual Contract would be good, he never played more than 16 Blues games a season anyway, so it isn't going to reduce his game time.

Any news on Patchell?

[dragon4life]

Warburton out of boxing day game

[wales606]

Roberts on a Dual Contract would be good, he never played more than 16 Blues games a season anyway, so it isn't going to reduce his game time.

Any news on Patchell?

Patchell is apparently staying. He is still under contract anyway

[wales606]

Warburton out of boxing day game

Pity, although I guess we will just see Navidi shift to 7 and Vos start.

Like Hammett said, he would have been rested for one of the christmas games anyway.

[Sponsored content]