Cardiff Blues V Ulster

First topic message reminder :

Tonight Cardiff Blues take on Ulster at the Arms Park in Cardiff with the home team having beaten Zebre but then lost to Glasgow in their opening 2 games. Ulster arrive with 8 points after a bonus point Draw with Scarlets in the first week and then beating Zebre with the bonus last week.
Ulster have looked like they are creating lots in attack but mistakes and poor defending so far has cost them.
The match is live on BBC 2 NI and Wales and kicks off at 19:35

Cardiff Blues: Rhys Patchell; Alex Cuthbert, Adam Thomas, Gavin Evans, Richard Smith; Gareth Davies, Lewis Jones; Sam Hobbs, Matthew Rees (c), Adam Jones, Jarrad Hoeata, Filo Paulo, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi, Manoa Vosawai

Replacements: Rhys Williams, Taufa'ao Filise, Scott Andrews, Macauley Cook, Ellis Jenkins, Lloyd Williams, Cory Allen, Geraint Walsh

Ulster: Louis Ludik; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Stuart Olding, Tommy Bowe; Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best (capt), Wiehahn Herbst; Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe; Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, Bronson Ross, Neil McComb, Roger Wilson, Michael Heaney, Ian Humphreys, Criag Gilroy.

Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)

So whats our predictions for this one with both sides somewhat stuttering into the new season?

Thanks, Stand. Spotted it in Times just after I posted. Hopefully he can recover in time for the Scarlets double header in December. Pienaar will be back before then, but will miss the the first Tigers and Toulon games. I'm not very confident about the Tigers away game, even though they were hammered by Bath today, but quietly confident we can get a result against Toulon at home. If we can manage that then we are still in with a chance of making the quarters, barring any further injuries....

We have three games now before Leicester and I think we need to rotate our pack a little. Certainly Backrow anyway, which is taking a chance. PJ, Marshall (he is the best of a bad bunch) and our backs need continuity at this point

One thing I will add on the game was Herbst fitness was impressive as on his first outing (albeit a friendly) I thought he wouldn't run the length of himself

What about Butterworth or Reidy? I don't know the story with Reidy since the Leinster game, but we need cover for Henry during AIs/6Ns, and even a decent squad player would be a bonus at this point. With both Henderson, and Tuohy out, Diack might have to provide cover in their absence unless they bring McComb in, or bring A.N. Other in the short term.

Yep, Herbst has proved to be a fantastic signing for us. He was blowing a bit in the friendly, but so was Healy. Maybe they both exhausted each other I was more concerned when Herbst was taken off early v Scarlets, but all concerns have now been well and truly put to bed.
Have to say I'm delighted with all three of Herbst, VDM, and Ludik. Credit goes to Muller for VDM, and Humphs for the other two. Early days I know, but I'm thinking we have a stronger squad this season than last, with the exception of not yet finding an able replacement for Doyle...

Sean Reidy is meant to have been really impressive, Butterworth less so. I also liked the look of Clive Ross. Reidy did get injured against Leinster so not sure if he's back or not. I say give them a chance. Would be happy to see either of them at 7 against Zebre.

Would also be happy enough to see Neil McComb. He's pretty good in an open, mobile style.

As for Herbst, he was desperately under-cooked in terms of game time coming in but he's very quickly turned that around. No real mystery- he's been playing games! He needs to be playing regularly to keep his fitness up and thats just what he's doing.

There's a few whispers on t'other forum about a temporary replacement coming in for Tuohy for his 12 week lay off.
At the very least the guy in the know on there has said not to worry and just to enjoy the surprises the Ryder Cup will bring by way of some kind of cryptic clue (perhaps people reading too much into him even mentioning the golf).

Anyone on here know anything? I do miss Geoff's input on these matters.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:

TJ wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:Have to say I think it's an atrocious game of rugby. Conditions do look tricky but by God it's rubbish.

Very disappointed in ulster

Agreed - It was pish

Not sure what you expect StandU but I was not at all disappointed. Ulster had the upperhand in almost every facet of play. Warwick looks to be a real find and Herbst is settling in well. Ulster's maul would have led to more points if anyone but Paterson had been on the whistle. Ulster's defence was as organised as I've ever seen it, and it had to be to cope with Patchell's scything runs.

Cardiff deserve a lot of credit for their defence too and Navidi showed that the absence of Warburton was unnoticed.

We look light on carriers but that's nothing new.

Back row was the big negative last night.  Not enough physicality from Diack at 6, Henry not sharp enough at 7 and Williams not smart enough at 8.  Henry looks to be a bit off form thus far, Williams had been looking really good up until last night so thats a setback and as for Diack - I just don't think hes gratuitous and aggressive enough for a 6.  

But with Henderson out what other options at 6 are there....and on that note should Diack get injured we are really buggered at 6 and will have to play Wilson there.  Ideally I'd like to see a back row of Henderson, Henry and Williams with Wilson on the bench, or alternatively Wilson starting at 8 with Williams to come on and wreck the place.  But with Henderson injured we look very thin.

Diack was the top tackler in the match with 17, closely followed by Henry on 15 - Cardiff's best was 10. Diack got emptied by Hobbs once but still presented the ball - he's not Stephen Ferris but looking round the other provinces and P12 teams he's got plenty of physicality. In the set piece he is an important lineout option and stole at least one of their's, also he was concentrating on pushing in the scrum and that definitely helped Ulster's pressure there. Neither did Diack concede any penalties so if I couldn't have both I'd take smart over aggressive every time.

With the departures of Ferris and Doyle, I agree Ulster are really stretched this season. Henderson being out means Ulster are one injury away from drafting in from the likes of McComish, Reidy, Butterworth,Ross or Joyce.

The Great Aukster wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:

TJ wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:Have to say I think it's an atrocious game of rugby. Conditions do look tricky but by God it's rubbish.

Very disappointed in ulster

Agreed - It was pish

Not sure what you expect StandU but I was not at all disappointed. Ulster had the upperhand in almost every facet of play. Warwick looks to be a real find and Herbst is settling in well. Ulster's maul would have led to more points if anyone but Paterson had been on the whistle. Ulster's defence was as organised as I've ever seen it, and it had to be to cope with Patchell's scything runs.

Cardiff deserve a lot of credit for their defence too and Navidi showed that the absence of Warburton was unnoticed.

We look light on carriers but that's nothing new.

Back row was the big negative last night.  Not enough physicality from Diack at 6, Henry not sharp enough at 7 and Williams not smart enough at 8.  Henry looks to be a bit off form thus far, Williams had been looking really good up until last night so thats a setback and as for Diack - I just don't think hes gratuitous and aggressive enough for a 6.  

But with Henderson out what other options at 6 are there....and on that note should Diack get injured we are really buggered at 6 and will have to play Wilson there.  Ideally I'd like to see a back row of Henderson, Henry and Williams with Wilson on the bench, or alternatively Wilson starting at 8 with Williams to come on and wreck the place.  But with Henderson injured we look very thin.

Diack was the top tackler in the match with 17, closely followed by Henry on 15 - Cardiff's best was 10. Diack got emptied by Hobbs once but still presented the ball - he's not Stephen Ferris but looking round the other provinces and P12 teams he's got plenty of physicality. In the set piece he is an important lineout option and stole at least one of their's, also he was concentrating on pushing in the scrum and that definitely helped Ulster's pressure there. Neither did Diack concede any penalties so if I couldn't have both I'd take smart over aggressive every time.

With the departures of Ferris and Doyle, I agree Ulster are really stretched this season. Henderson being out means Ulster are one injury away from drafting in from the likes of McComish, Reidy, Butterworth,Ross or Joyce.

Fair comment on Diack's stats. I didn't realize they were that impressive, I suppose when you set the standard for physicality as Stephen Ferris you are always going to be a bit disappointed with anyone else. He's a great player for us, I just feel we could do with a 6 that gives us real bite with the carries and I'm not sure we get that from Diack.

I want to see Reidy play this week- if he's fit. People have been impressed with him. He's a proper 7.

What would be your match day squad then?

Well, I don't know if Sean Reidy is fit or not but of he is the team to play Zebre would be like;

1. Andrew Warwick
2. Rob Herring
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Franco van der Merwe
5. Neil McComb
6. Robbie Diack
7. Sean Reidy
8. Nick Williams
9. Paul Marshall
10. Paddy Jackson
11. Tommy Bowe
12. Stuart Olding
13. Darren Cave
14. Andrew Trimble
15. Louis Ludik

16. Rory Best 17. Callum Black 18. Bronson Ross 19. Lewis Stevenson 20. Roger Wilson 21. Michael Heaney 22. Luke Marshall 23. Ricky Andrew

Shame about the TV situation over there.

Is it going to be on the old wireless then?

According to BBC2 Ulster Rugby Live, it's showing BBC2 3PM Saturday

bbc

Not showing on the BBC NI TV Schedule though

Edit: It is showing on the televisions Programme Guide search as well.

Oi Oi Munchkin, I will be checking that on my escape from work. If it's on I'll be over the moon, I cancelled an important appointment because of this match even if it was just going to be on the radio.

Gotta say well done to Ulster;

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/gaa-match-to-be-played-at-ravenhill-1.1938747?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Co-operation with GAA definitely the way forward.

Hopefully the game is being broadcast, Pete. Have just checked 'Radio Times' online, and according to them the game is being shown live.
I'm going to assume so anyway, and if I find on Saturday that it isn't, I'm going to ... um .... sulk

I just remember them saying that about the Munster game; the key issue is whether the BBC are willing to send a team to Italy to do coverage. Given their investment in keeping the coverage they might be, whilst TG4- who hold the rights to Munsters games- were not able to send a TV crew to Treviso.

The Treviso v Scarlets game wasn't broadcast last week either, Notch. Not cheap for the BBC to send a camera crew over, but kudos to them if they have. In announcing their new deal with Ulster Rugby, they did state that they will broadcast all home and away games not covered by SKY, so hopefully they're going the extra mile in keeping to that.

Ulster Rugby live is a major ratings winner for them. It's very important.

True. BBC NI won't want to lose Ulster Rugby to SKY entirely. Especially now that local interest in the game is growing. Personally I prefer the BBC coverage, but I appreciate SKY's appeal to the wider audience.

Yeah, BBC did go to the mat as there was interest in the Ulster games from other quarters. I know that BBC Wales has sent crews to Italy before too. And previous games in Italy have been covered. So it should work out.

Zebre v Ulster
At Stadio XXV Aprile, 4pm local time (3pm Ireland & UK). Live on BBC NI
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 59th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Mateo Liperini, Stefano Penne (both FIR)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)

http://www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/15651.php

Zebre vs Ulster at Stadio at XXV Aprile
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Matteo Liperini (Italy), Stefano Pennè (Italy)
Television match official: Carlo Damasco (Italy)

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 12,00.html

I do hope planet rugby are right for once, I can't take another 80 mins of the funky Gibbon.........
At least this confirms the televisation

Notch wrote:Gotta say well done to Ulster;

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/gaa-match-to-be-played-at-ravenhill-1.1938747?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Co-operation with GAA definitely the way forward.

Good to see, I wonder will the redeveloped Casement Park, be open in return for big Ulster games?

Looks like Tiggers are outdoing us on the injury front. Tom Youngs out for 3 months. Did post a link, but it doesn't work for whatever reason.

Great to hear that Ulster rugby are actively breaking down barriers in NI. This is why they are my 2nd team after Leinster, and I really enjoy catching them when they are in England for the Heino. Great fans.

From a logistical point of view, how are they going to play GAA in Ravenhill? Surely the pitch is too small for a full 15s game. Would it be 11?

I'm not really sure goon. It is a charity match for motor-neurone disease so I imagine it will be more like a 'testimonial' style atmosphere than a full blooded game? And possibly therefore some adjustment of the rules?

I really know nothing about GAA, and I know the stadium has been designed in such a way that the crowd is right on top of the pitch, so no room for expansion, but people always used to say Ravenhill had a fairly wide pitch for a rugby ground. Chris Paterson was a big fan of playing here.

Well to be used as a GAA ground I believe the minimum it would need to be is 130 metres long by 80 metres wide, I doubt Ravenhill is that tbh maybe someone in the know could tell us?

Probably isn''t going to be full teams then.

I would guess you are right Notch but still a great cross community builder and good to see happening