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?

Patchell's mates in the backline showing their class yet again...

Arggg!

Butchered that!

That's what happens when you play a centre on the wing

wales606 wrote:

Notch wrote:For the third week in a row, Dan Tuohy scores!. I do believe Dan Tuohy is top scorer in the Pro12 the year?!

Well Zebo just got a hat-trick in Zebre

It's at Thomond I think

We need Cory Allen on at 12

Standulstermen wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Notch wrote:For the third week in a row, Dan Tuohy scores!. I do believe Dan Tuohy is top scorer in the Pro12 the year?!

Well Zebo just got a hat-trick in Zebre

It's at Thomond I think

Indeed

Silly backline play now, just throwing the ball so far behind the gainline

Why isn't Allen on!

Pretty poor first game back from Jackson, he'll get better though. If you thought it was fast and loose before now here comes Ian Humphreys.

Shoite! Tuohy injured.

Oh so close!!! Would have been a great try

Yep very close, just forward and still anything could happen here

Again errors and sloppy backline play is costing us badly,

If Leinster lose to Connacht I don't look forward to our trip their next week

Such a difficult pass to pull off that. But good play by Ulster. We really only need to score another try and Blues will be struggling to get back into it.

Cardiff lads, having the craic

Ulster U20s have just beaten Munster U20s to win their interprovincial championship! Three out of three. Good night so far this.

So frustrated by this Blues team again

Ah here, ref.

Oh dear,

Once again, competitive for long periods and hammered on the scoreboard

Have to say as former front rower those calls against the Ulster advancing scrum look very odd.

iHumph has been good since his return.

Now we get to face a Leinster team looking for revenge after losing to Connacht.....

Well there's the game. Hard luck Cardiff- don't worry too much about this. You are the start of the process. We are in a good place right now but thats been the result of hard work over a long old time.

Nice win in the end for us tight tough game

A good 4 points at a hard, hard place to go. I'm happy with that. And I thought it was a very entertaining game- the biggest worry is losing Tuohy. He was on fire.

Two trips to Wales in the opening 3 games and we've come away with 7 points - can't complain.

Pleased for Rory Best getting man of the match, but I probably would have given it to one of our locks.  Thought Van Der Merwe adn Tuohy were both fantastic.  Herbst really impressed in the scrum and lets not forget this Blues scrum took Glasgows scrum apart last week, and we had them on the back foot at the scrum all day long.  Thought a couple of the late penalties given against us in the scrum were pretty iffy.

By the way, how did Adam Jones not get yellowed?  Patterson warned him for collapsing the first maul saying "be very careful" ....then Adam Jones collapses another one and Patterson see's fit to give him another warning?  Bizarre.

The scrum penalties against Ulster at the end were indeed iffy, Patterson doing his usual 'hey I'm not in favour of an Ulster win' bit.
Not even close to playing well and getting that result on the road is a great bonus. The Tuohy injury is worrying but fingers crossed it's just a bad knock.

The sight of the Cardiff lads hiding from the camera will stay with me for a while, best comedy moment of the season, had me chuckling

Anyway, happy days for Ulster and congrats to Connacht taking the big scalp.

Poor Dan Tuohy!



Harum Scarum stuff again this week.

Connacht and Ulster leading the way for the Irish provinces, as per usual

This is all a big Provincial Plot to get Connacht into Europe!

Keep a close eye on the Top Hat all you Welsh, Scottish and Italian fans............. there'll be a rabbit coming out of it by the end of the season.

Gareth Anscombe having a fairly poor game so far for Auckland against North Harbour

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

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.

Yeah, our front row right now is going brilliantly. Andrew Warwick and Wiehahn Herbst have more than replaced Court and Afoa!

I think you've got to give credit to Allen Clarke. He's been looking after our scrum very well since he came back from the U20s. In fact the forwards had some brilliant moments in every facet of the game. Some great mauling, accurate lineout and a dominant scrum.

I think it was a bit of an arm wrestle, which looked fairly even for the most part. Ulster took advantage of a defensive lap and got an interception which made the difference, though had they not scored a try I still think they'd have edged it. Ulster had a clear advantage in the backs which further nullified any advantage Blues could get. Looks like Blues need more time together, and also some big name players to come back in (Gethin). Be even better if they manage to get Halfpenny back.

I thought Patchell a real standout amongst the backs both sides.

Class act.

Yeah, most definitely. He has been ever since he burst onto the scene at 19 years old. He was a class above the experienced Blues backs around him last night. He and Anscombe in the same backline should be pretty good. And if Owen Williams hadn't have got injured then surely a first choice backline would be one of the best in Europe. #staystrongforOws

So is this the year for Patchell getting a call up with Wales? He seems like the perfect sort of 10 Wales could want.

Patchell looks to be an outstanding player, a star about to hit the international scene no doubt. Will young Anscombe be a better option at 10 or 15 than him? He'll have to play out of his skin if he's to stand a chance.

The bad news for Ulster is that it seems that big Dan has indeed broken his arm again and in the same place. That's from t'other forum.

Tuohy is out for a long spell according to PlanetRugby,that's a blow for Ulster and Ireland.Will Stevenson be starting in Europe now?

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Tuohy is out for a long spell according to PlanetRugby,that's a blow for Ulster and Ireland.Will Stevenson be starting in Europe now?

It looks that way... EISH. Henderson and Tuohy at the same time!

Planet rugby can't know that, we'll have to wait and see. Remember last season how freakishly fast the recoveries from broken bones were. Didn't Muller bend a plate in his arm at one stage. Rory broke his and was back in no time. Ulster's GG Robinson has some kind of magic bone glue so it may not be very long at all.

That's my optimism speaking

Well, Henderson won't be out too long but let's be honest- they'll both be missing the Champions Cup games.

I'm not too worried about it, tbh. I don't think it will derail us from competing in the Pro12.

Our next two games are Zebre and Edinburgh. I think we can win those with more rotation.

Notch wrote:Well, Henderson won't be out too long but let's be honest- they'll both be missing the Champions Cup games.

I'm not too worried about it, tbh. I don't think it will derail us from competing in the Pro12.

Our next two games are Zebre and Edinburgh. I think we can win those with more rotation.

I think you will be competitive an its no easy points for Edinburgh for sure. You guys got a tough start to the season.

We've yet to face Glasgow or Leinster. Those are the two teams who can really do some damage.

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.

I expect our team to perform a lot better quite simply. We look light on carriers but that's nothing new. Bear in mind I wrote the comment at HT and I stand by it. We were atrocious. After the whole 80 I think out tight five gets a pass mark and our work rate is good, albeit it was against a fairly blunt attack. Our saffers look useful but going forward we look devoid of ideas even with Jackson just back. Against teams with bigger packs (like Toulon and Leicester) were we cant get scrum or maul dominance we will struggle. Hopefully the backs malaise is just a temporary thing until people get up to speed.

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.

As good as Ludik has been the decision not to strengthen the Backrow may bite us. Henderson I would leave in the row when he returns.
On the other forum someone said Butterworth hadn't impressed but Reidy has so hopefully we can see Joyce, Dow, Taggart, Ross or him going forward

To clear up my own genuine confusion: Injured Blues Owen Williams is a different player to the Owen Williams playing for Tigers last season right?

Someone on the other forum, and who tends to be good for the inside info, is basically saying that the reported loss of Tuohy may not be as bad for Ulster as we think. Might mean that Ulster are bringing in a suitable replacement? Has Tuohy's injury been confirmed as a break?

Edit: Tuohy's break is confirmed, so Ulster possibly bringing in a replacement?

Confirmed fracture and 12 week lay off (well it said 'up to' 12 weeks)

ChequeredJersey wrote:To clear up my own genuine confusion: Injured Blues Owen Williams is a different player to the Owen Williams playing for Tigers last season right?

Correct, and he still plays for them this season. There is also a third Owen Williams who has played for Wales 7s (in the same team as Ows) and Pontypridd.