Cardiff Blues vs Connacht

Anyone watching?

Leighton Hodges (as Assistant Referee) gave a pretty dodgy try with a perfect view of it, but the TMO prevailed.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Joaquin Tuculet, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Lou Reed, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Ellis Jenkins (c), 8 Josh Navidi

Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Filo Paulo, 20 Macauley Cook, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Tom Isaacs

Connacht:
15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Tiernan O'Halloran, 13 Danie Poolman, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Craig Ronaldson, 9 John Cooney; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Mick Kearney, 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 7 Jake Heenan, 8 George Naoupu

Replacements:16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Andrew Browne, 20 Eoghan Masterson, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Darragh Leader

Oh dear Ref!

or I mean assistant

Connacht end up getting the try anyway as they go back for penalty advantage and a catch and drive... no idea how Hodges didn't see the pull. Jiffy was indignant

7-0 Connacht

Luckily they changed their mind.

I dread to think what's going to be said when players from our immigrant population start inevitably showing in time. Will they keep asking about their 'Irish' names?

Hopefully be a few lads with Polish names and Irish accents in future national teams- couple of meaty props would be nice!

Yeah... some Polish Irish and some Nigerian Irish whizzes............. the future could be nice if these kinda kinda lads become interested.

The game....loose and 'exciting' in a way but very bloody naïve stuff at times

SecretFly wrote:Yeah... some Polish Irish and some Nigerian Irish whizzes.............  the future could be nice if these kinda kinda lads become interested.

The game....loose and 'exciting' in a way but very bloody naïve stuff at times

Steve Hansen must be loving it

Jiffy. I don't know why people don't like him.. He's a funny old guy enough when commenting on Pro12.

SecretFly wrote:Jiffy.  I don't know why people don't like him.. He's a funny old guy enough when commenting on Pro12.

He's so much more relaxed on scrum v. Him and his pals, chewing the fat, having a laugh, having some banter. I like it! Good Friday night stuff with a beer or a glass of wine, kids in bed, food on the stove. He usually takes the p*ss out of Phil Steele on the touch line and formerly Stuart Gallagher (now Dragons new CEO, bizarrely. From scrum v pitch side mic to Dragons boss. You couldn't make it up! But I digress).

On the game: I've been very impressed with the Connacht turnaround. Something the Dragons should look to emulate (I'd say all regions, but at least the others have held loftier positons in the league and europe in previous seasons, so they just need to rediscover that 'thing' they had). But for the Dragons, it's an example of what can be done when you're an unfancied team. And how to turn fortunes around. It helps that they got more equal funding recently. But a good coach and good signings has brought a real boost to the province. Kudos.

Connacht have the Blues drum on toast but haven't been able to capitalise on the scoreboard, which is frustrating for them.

Muliaina has been a big disappointment unfortunately!

Practically all Irish sides (that I've watched this season anyway) are suddenly all having difficulties in that zone just in front of the tryline.  I know it's something to do with opposition coaches doing their work and defences improving all the while.  
But getting so close to that tryline there has to be a much more concerted effort to put one of however many chances in.   There are too many half-hearted efforts rather than having coached ideas of making fewer attempts but being more honest about really forcing the dominance.

SecretFly wrote:Practically all Irish sides (that I've watched this season anyway) are suddenly all having difficulties in that zone just in front of the tryline.  I know it's something to do with opposition coaches doing their work and defences improving all the while.  
But getting so close to that tryline there has to be a much more concerted effort to put one of however many chances in.   There are too many half-hearted efforts rather than having coached ideas of making fewer attempts but being more honest about really forcing the dominance.

I have no idea why they pushed them off their own ball twice in a row then decided to tap and go from a free kick

Griff wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Jiffy.  I don't know why people don't like him.. He's a funny old guy enough when commenting on Pro12.

He's so much more relaxed on scrum v. Him and his pals, chewing the fat, having a laugh, having some banter. I like it! Good Friday night stuff with a beer or a glass of wine, kids in bed, food on the stove. He usually takes the p*ss out of Phil Steele on the touch line and formerly Stuart Gallagher (now Dragons new CEO, bizarrely. From scrum v pitch side mic to Dragons boss. You couldn't make it up! But I digress).

That's probably the exact feeling that I'm talking about.  Nice comfortable feel about it.

Notch wrote:
Muliaina has been a big disappointment unfortunately!

Fair to say he has been a poor signing considering he must cost quite a lot of money.

Is Shane fully retired now or is he still over in Japan?

Blues keep missing tackles L Reed keeps missing first up tackles and the back line defence is so passive. How the Blues are still in this game is down to mistakes by the opposition.

The Blues neeed a clear out and get players that do the basics well the two props would not get in the Dragons team two years ago.

Pratchell shows little commitment to tackle and for a full back it is worrying.

I hope the Blues improve in the second half for the Scarlets sake to get into the top 6.

Finally some genuine excitement.

SecretFly wrote:

Griff wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Jiffy.  I don't know why people don't like him.. He's a funny old guy enough when commenting on Pro12.

He's so much more relaxed on scrum v. Him and his pals, chewing the fat, having a laugh, having some banter. I like it! Good Friday night stuff with a beer or a glass of wine, kids in bed, food on the stove. He usually takes the p*ss out of Phil Steele on the touch line and formerly Stuart Gallagher (now Dragons new CEO, bizarrely. From scrum v pitch side mic to Dragons boss. You couldn't make it up! But I digress).

That's probably the exact feeling that I'm talking about.  Nice comfortable feel about it.

Yes. There's a time and place for the ultra professional, boys in suits, high tech jiggery pokery like we see on Sky Spors for the European games. Stuart Barnes with his well rehearsed lines and Greenwood with his touch screen analysis. I'm happy to get 'all serious' for those games. But on a Friday night, especially in winter, it's nice to settle I with some low key commentary, low tech analysis, Shane and Martyn in jeans, Phil Steele up the gantries bothering the coaches. Lovely stuff!

Is there some Dragons fans outhere? i can hear the "he knocked on" anthem.

Fantastic defence there by the Connacht guys...better at defending that area than attacking it

Fairly sure this wont be allowed

SecretFly wrote:Is Shane fully retired now or is he still over in Japan?

Fully retired. He was only meant to spend a season there. They made him an offer 'too good to turn down' so stayed another one (or two?) seasons. But now he's back and is quoted as saying he wants to go into coaching in the long term but in the short term is going to give punditry a go.

Years back he said that when he retired he'd straight away play 1 season for his old club Amman Utd, which I thought would have been great to see. But money spoke and Japan came calling!

Well Connacht got out of jail there and we'll see was that Cardiff's purple period chance over

Good try for the Blues

Thats a clearout, nothing wrong with that

Rodney Ah You leaving has really swung the scrums

That does not look like a smart move going for touch

How many penalties before a yellow in the so called red zone.

Notch wrote:Rodney Ah You leaving has really swung the scrums

Or Andrews coming on but i don't quite believe that lol

Blues back to their lack of tackling lucky it was knocked on again.

Blues watched the attacker no effort to tackle just a joke watching that so called defence.

dumb

by Muldoon that is

What a dumbo kicking with a clear overlap

Filo Brainfart. This would be quite the steal from Connacht if they can see it out... simple rugby, clear your lines, good chase...

Deserved win by the visitors they did the opposite to the Blues and tackled their heart out well done.

Tense finish here...

glamorganalun wrote:Deserved win by the visitors they did the opposite to the Blues and tackled their heart out well done.

Not over yet!!

Brain damage by Cuthbert

Blues will be on their own line if there are a another 20 phases

glamorganalun wrote:Blues will be on their  own line if there are a another 20 phases

I don't think so!

What a great try just got to finish it off

This is glorious

Dramatic finish

Unbelievable game, over 8 minutes of phase play at the end. Well done to the Blues, that was great composure

Good result for the Scarlets strange game I saw no way back for the Blues against a great defence.

I don't think i have ever seen something like that.

Blues should take a lot of pride in this.

Great efforts by both sides....

Really impressed with Connacht in defence - after their down period in the early part of the second half....they were heroic there at the end.

I only watched the last 10-15 minutes - what a finish that was. Cardiff deserve great credit for their composure and bravery - they didn't try to force it at any point!