Cardiff Blues 2016/2017

Surprised one of these isn’t up yet. If I’ve missed players just let me know and I’ll pop them in.

Squad

Hookers: Matthew Rees, Kirby Myhill, Kristian Dacey, Liam Belcher, Ethan Lewis
Props: Gethin Jenkins, Taufa'ao Filise, Rhys Gill, Scott Andrews, Dillon Lewis, Bradley Thyer, Anton Peikrishvili
Locks: Jarrad Hoeata, George Earle, James Down, Seb Davies
Back Row: Macauley Cook, Ellis Jenkins, Josh Navidi, James Sheekey, Josh Turnbull, Sam Warburton, Cam Dolan, Nick Williams
Scrum Half: Lloyd Williams, Lewis Jones, Tomos Williams
Fly Half: Gareth Anscombe, Jarrod Evans, Steven Shingler
Centre: Cory Allen, Garyn Smith, Rey Lee-Lo Willis Halaholo* (Joins after NPC)
Wing: Alex Cuthbert, Tom James, Blaine Scully
Fullback: Dan Fish, Matthew Morgan, Aled Summerhill, Rhun Williams

Pre-Season Results:
Dragons (L) 28-38
Bristol (W) 25-24

Hoping for a good season from the Blues. We’ve signed well in some areas, such as adding Nick Williams to our already well stocked back row. The addition of Shingler and Morgan should help our squad rotation in the backs but I can’t help but feel we’re lacking in the centre a bit. More so with Corey Allen’s potential for injury.

Pre-season has gone alright. Hammered by the Dragons for 50 mins, but we came back to score a few tries in the last 30. The Bristol game gave me worries about our scrum. Ma'afu looked more unfit against the Dragons then when he joined, it seems that he has a poor attitude and needs to buck his ideas up. Gill didn’t look great against Bristol and Thyer had a tidy game when he came on. Cam Dolan seems to have improved in the off season along with Down who had a good game against Bristol. Shingler and Morgan went well in the Bristol game as did Allen. Ray Lee-Lo will be our most important player this season I feel, he has a great attitude and really puts in a shift. Excited to see him and Halaholo link up later in the year.

Looking forward to the Edinburgh game on 3rd of September. C’mon the Bloooooooooos!

With all due respect that squad is weaker than I expected given the hype that the squad adjustments have been afforded (from most people not just Cardiff fans). TH and lock seem like issue areas even with the promising Lewis in there. Also there was rumour that Halaholo was reconsidering his move, does anybody have anything to add to that? I'd say his chances of gaining an AB cap in the near future are very realistic.

Steven Shingler is a good signing, he looked very tidy when he came on against the Dragons. He'll be important when Anscombe is away with Wales, because I haven't been impressed with Jarrod Evans whenever I've seen him play.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote: Steven Shingler is a good signing, he looked very tidy when he came on against the Dragons. He'll be important when Anscombe is away with Wales, because I haven't been impressed with Jarrod Evans whenever I've seen him play.

I see the 'thread wrecker' Mikey is at it again.

The Blues are my tip for top welsh region this year. I think you'll do very well.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote: Steven Shingler is a good signing, he looked very tidy when he came on against the Dragons. He'll be important when Anscombe is away with Wales, because I haven't been impressed with Jarrod Evans whenever I've seen him play.

What's funny about that? Did you watch the Blues game?

I think Shingler will be one of those slow burners. One of the players, that by the time he is 28/29yrs old, people will see him as a real club man of the game, somebody who has got better as he has matured. A bit like Nicky Robinson or Jason Forster.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote: Steven Shingler is a good signing, he looked very tidy when he came on against the Dragons. He'll be important when Anscombe is away with Wales, because I haven't been impressed with Jarrod Evans whenever I've seen him play.

What's funny about that? Did you watch the Blues game?

No, but I've watched him over his career and believe that he isn't a competent enough fly-half - that fact was also abundantly clear if you watch him last season for Scarlets. Now that Priestland plays at Bath, Shingler takes the title of worst 10 in Wales IMO. So with all that in mind I think fly-half might be a problem position for Blues as well, as Anscombe could spend a lot of time on the med table again. The only time Shingler has looked decent is against an oppositions LV cup team, and playing 12 outside another fly-half.

Some might not agree, especially Phil, but I would sooner have Morgan as 10 cover.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/83570793/willis-halaholo-committed-to-cardiff-blues-and-wales-despite-his-hurricanes-form

Well that's good news.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote: Steven Shingler is a good signing, he looked very tidy when he came on against the Dragons. He'll be important when Anscombe is away with Wales, because I haven't been impressed with Jarrod Evans whenever I've seen him play.

What's funny about that? Did you watch the Blues game?

No, but I've watched him over his career and believe that he isn't a competent enough fly-half... I would sooner have Morgan as 10 cover.

Fair enough. If I had to choose, I'd have Shingler over Morgan. I'd say Morgan is the incompetent fly half when it comes to controlling a game.

Coleman wrote:Surprised one of these isn’t up yet.

I'm not.

Blues other pre-season games?

mikey_dragon wrote:Blues other pre-season games?

Just the two this season. Hope that doesn't backfire as our scrum looked poor in both games.

yeah I believe Blues are lacking slightly at TH and lock, although the team will probably be playing more of open game so I suspect they'll still score tries. Who were starting front-row players in each game?

Oh well, where's Phil when you need him ? Looks as though Cardiff Blues are needing the help of the union in Wales. Yep, Phil, Cardiff Blues can use the Wern if they want to.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/cardiff-blues-ask-wru-temporary-11812406

LordDowlais wrote:Oh well, where's Phil when you need him ? Looks as though Cardiff Blues are needing the help of the union in Wales. Yep, Phil, Cardiff Blues can use the Wern if they want to.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/cardiff-blues-ask-wru-temporary-11812406

This is outrageous, clearly the greatest sports team in the history of sport should be given the Principality Stadium in honour of their achievements

LordDowlais wrote:Oh well, where's Phil when you need him ? Looks as though Cardiff Blues are needing the help of the union in Wales. Yep, Phil, Cardiff Blues can use the Wern if they want to.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/cardiff-blues-ask-wru-temporary-11812406

Cheers, mate. They will be this season anyway.

munkian wrote:

This is outrageous, clearly the greatest sports team in the history of sport should be given the Principality Stadium in honour of their achievements

Sadly, the agreement has only ever been for one game per season and now the WRU use the ground for Monster Trucks etc. so it's not a season long venue.

mikey_dragon wrote:yeah I believe Blues are lacking slightly at TH and lock, although the team will probably be playing more of open game so I suspect they'll still score tries. Who were starting front-row players in each game?

I know that they are looking at another lock and that Ma'afu knows what is expected of him.

PhilBB wrote:Cheers, mate. They will be this season anyway.

What the Wern ?

In a town you said did not have the infrastructure to have regional rugby ?

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Cheers, mate. They will be this season anyway.

What the Wern ?

In a town you said did not have the infrastructure to have regional rugby ?

Yes. It won't be hosting the first team, Andy, so keep your knickers on. The Wern will need a lot more of Uncle Stan's money before that can happen.

PhilBB wrote:The Wern will need a lot more of Uncle Stan's money before that can happen.

So you agree then ? If we upgraded the Wern sufficiently enough, we could hold regional rugby in Merthyr ?

LordDowlais wrote:

So you agree then ? If we upgraded the Wern sufficiently enough, we could hold regional rugby in Merthyr ?

Hold? What do you mean by 'hold'? If you're asking whether a 15,000 stadium at the Wern could host a game of professional rugby, the answer is of course: yes.

If you're asking whether Merthyr could sustain a professional rugby team, the answer is: not without somebody writing £3m+ cheques each season.

PhilBB wrote:Hold? What do you mean by 'hold'? If you're asking whether a 15,000 stadium at the Wern could host a game of professional rugby, the answer is of course: yes.

Good, so now we agree. So, when will Dragons and Blues have a 15,000 stadium ? If that is what is needed.

PhilBB wrote:If you're asking whether Merthyr could sustain a professional rugby team, the answer is: not without somebody writing £3m+ cheques each season.

Who is doing this for the regions now ?

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Hold? What do you mean by 'hold'? If you're asking whether a 15,000 stadium at the Wern could host a game of professional rugby, the answer is of course: yes.

Good, so now we agree. So, when will Dragons and Blues have a 15,000 stadium ? If that is what is needed.

PhilBB wrote:If you're asking whether Merthyr could sustain a professional rugby team, the answer is: not without somebody writing £3m+ cheques each season.

Who is doing this for the regions now ?

a) for us in a couple of years' time. It's not far off it now.
b) nobody, as they have assets that generate off field income.

PhilBB wrote:a) for us in a couple of years' time. It's not far off it now.

Ah, so you do not need a 15,000 capacity stadium to host regional rugby then ?

PhilBB wrote:b) nobody, as they have assets that generate off field income.

So why sat it then ?

a) if you were building a stadium today, that would be the minimum size you would build it for. Merthyr doesn't have such a facility, so would need to build one for modern day standards.

b) sat it then? Do you mean sell it? Nobody is selling anything.

I mean, say it.

LordDowlais wrote:I mean, say it.

Because there is no indication that The Wern or any replacement venue would have the capability of generating that kind of income, quite obviously.

Still, Cardiff Blues. What's your thoughts on them?

PhilBB wrote:Still, Cardiff Blues. What's your thoughts on them?

They should be getting into the top 6 of the league and at least semi finals of the second tier cup, anything less is under achievement.

PhilBB wrote:Because there is no indication that The Wern or any replacement venue would have the capability of generating that kind of income, quite obviously.

Nobody said there was, not without investment, which I am sure one of the richest people in the country could sort out. It was you was you who mentioned 15,000 capacity stadiums. Thats why I was asking where Cardiff's and Newport's 15,000 stadium was. So we agree it does not have to be that capacity ?

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Still, Cardiff Blues. What's your thoughts on them?

They should be getting into the top 6 of the league and at least semi finals of the second tier cup, anything less is under achievement.

PhilBB wrote:Because there is no indication that The Wern or any replacement venue would have the capability of generating that kind of income, quite obviously.

Nobody said there was, not without investment, which I am sure one of the richest people in the country could sort out. It was you was you who mentioned 15,000 capacity stadiums. Thats why I was asking where Cardiff's and Newport's 15,000 stadium was. So we agree it does not have to be that capacity ?

a) can you explain to me why not getting out of a group that includes Pau and Bath would be an underachievement? Thanks.

b) it has to be that capacity in the modern age. The point is that the venue has to generate income (as all four presently do) when there is no rugby being played. I don't see how such a venue can exist in Merthyr.

PhilBB wrote: The point is that the venue has to generate income (as all four presently do) when there is no rugby being played. I don't see how such a venue can exist in Merthyr.

Pop concerts, we just held Madness at Cyfarthfa Park in Merthyr, so we can draw events to the town.

PhilBB wrote:a) can you explain to me why not getting out of a group that includes Pau and Bath would be an underachievement? Thanks

Dragons have got to the semi's in consecutive years, if they can do it, so can Cardiff Blues.

a) a pop concert is a one off event. It isn't enough. It needs to be 340+ days of the year.

b) NGD didn't have Bath and Pau in their group. Please could you specifically state why not getting beyond Bath and Pau would be considered underachieving. You'll need to be relevant to the strengths of Cardiff, Bath and Pau (before Bristol) in order to make the claim.

We had Pau in our group.

PhilBB wrote:a) a pop concert is a one off event. It isn't enough. It needs to be 340+ days of the year.

And what do Cardiff Blues do for 340+ days of the year ?

PhilBB wrote:b) NGD didn't have Bath and Pau in their group. Please could you specifically state why not getting beyond Bath and Pau would be considered underachieving. You'll need to be relevant to the strengths of Cardiff, Bath and Pau (before Bristol) in order to make the claim.

See mikey's comment above.

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:a) a pop concert is a one off event. It isn't enough. It needs to be 340+ days of the year.

And what do Cardiff Blues do for 340+ days of the year ?

PhilBB wrote:b) NGD didn't have Bath and Pau in their group. Please could you specifically state why not getting beyond Bath and Pau would be considered underachieving. You'll need to be relevant to the strengths of Cardiff, Bath and Pau (before Bristol) in order to make the claim.

See mikey's comment above.

a) we went through this before where you comically told me that CAP clubhouse wasn't in CAP. Remember? CAP hosts events, daily meetings in the corporate boxes, frequent dinners etc. in the clubhouse, has a car park income that is significant and makes money from events next door.

b) http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2015-2016/top-14-section-paloise-pau-sans-stress-a-agen_sto5416001/story.shtml

The NGD played a joke Pau outfit, not their first team. As I wrote above, if Pau take it seriously (see the link above for how they have improved this season again) then there is little chance. If Pau do as they did against the NGD then its just Bath to overcome. How are they underachieving if they don't do that?

PhilBB wrote:a) we went through this before where you comically told me that CAP clubhouse wasn't in CAP. Remember?

Except I never said that.

I said that Cardiff Blues do not own the clubhouse. Which is correct.

You do know Merthyr RFC have a massive clubhouse as well don't you ?

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:a) we went through this before where you comically told me that CAP clubhouse wasn't in CAP. Remember?

Except I never said that.

I said that Cardiff Blues do not own the clubhouse. Which is correct.

You do know Merthyr RFC have a massive clubhouse as well don't you ?

Yes, you did tell me that it wasn't in CAP.

I know where the Merthyr RFC clubhouse is. In Merthyr. Opposite a night club. On a roundabout. That'll generate a tiny percentage of the income required.

Phil, may I ask why you think there is little chance against Pau? If both teams get their best XV out onto the field I still think Cardiff are better and should win. Just my view of course.

PhilBB wrote:I know where the Merthyr RFC clubhouse is. In Merthyr. Opposite a night club. On a roundabout. That'll generate a tiny percentage of the income required.

No, No, and NO.

It is not opposite a nightclub, it is not on a roundabout, and it makes a killing on the weekends as it is in the town center.

PhilBB wrote:Yes, you did tell me that it wasn't in CAP.

No I did not. I remember the debate, so I just went to check it on the Merthyr thread. Perhaps you need to go and remind yourself as well. Please feel free, without editing, show me where I said the clubhouse was not in Cardiff, why would I say that, I have been there more times than I can think. I did say that the clubhouse has nothing to do with Cardiff Blues though.

mikey_dragon wrote:Phil, may I ask why you think there is little chance against Pau? If both teams get their best XV out onto the field I still think Cardiff are better and should win. Just my view of course.

I think with Slade, Smith, Taylor, Armitage, Mowen and co, they have a far better XV. It was only Halfpenny's kicking that allowed Toulon to win there this weekend.

mikey_dragon wrote:Phil, may I ask why you think there is little chance against Pau? If both teams get their best XV out onto the field I still think Cardiff are better and should win. Just my view of course.

And the 'joke' side we beat home and away was probably still twice our playing budget.

You couldn't even beat us in the cup

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:I know where the Merthyr RFC clubhouse is. In Merthyr. Opposite a night club. On a roundabout. That'll generate a tiny percentage of the income required.

No, No, and NO.

It is not opposite a nightclub, it is not on a roundabout, and it makes a killing on the weekends as it is in the town center.

PhilBB wrote:Yes, you did tell me that it wasn't in CAP.

No I did not. I remember the debate, so I just went to check it on the Merthyr thread. Perhaps you need to go and remind yourself as well. Please feel free, without editing, show me where I said the clubhouse was not in Cardiff, why would I say that, I have been there more times than I can think. I did say that the clubhouse has nothing to do with Cardiff Blues though.

Penry St comes off that giant roundabout by the college. The Celtic Bar is a nightclub, or is the tip next door to it?

Nothing in Merthyr makes a killing, mate. Let's be sensible here.

I didn't claim that you wrote the clubhouse 'was not in Cardiff'. You claimed it wasn't in CAP.

All of the income from the Clubhouse goes to Cardiff Blues. All of it. So quite how you can claim it has nothing to do with Cardiff Blues is bizarre, or ignorant.

munkian wrote:

And the 'joke' side we beat home and away was probably still twice our playing budget.

You couldn't even bear us in the cup

Yeah, it might have been somewhere near that but it clearly didn't want to play the game.

You're right, Cardiff were poor in that Cup game. Thankfully most of those errors have been removed under Wilson, although you may note that needing to play Tavis Knoyle in the centre did rather negatively affect things for Cardiff. Yes?

We were pretty sure you'd play Josh Navidi's Mum rather than Knoyle, she's more protective of her little boy than Nipper's Mum.

PhilBB wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Phil, may I ask why you think there is little chance against Pau? If both teams get their best XV out onto the field I still think Cardiff are better and should win. Just my view of course.

I think with Slade, Smith, Taylor, Armitage, Mowen and co, they have a far better XV. It was only Halfpenny's kicking that allowed Toulon to win there this weekend.

Some good players, but I disagree - Cardiff have good XV and a great backline. I don't know why you see your team as vastly inferior to any French one... Unless it was Toulon, Racing or Montpellier.

mikey_dragon wrote:
Some good players, but I disagree - Cardiff have good XV and a great backline. I don't know why you see your team as vastly inferior to any French one... Unless it was Toulon, Racing or Montpellier.

Because of their strength in depth being worth millions of euros more and because the game is won up front.

PhilBB wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:
Some good players, but I disagree - Cardiff have good XV and a great backline. I don't know why you see your team as vastly inferior to any French one... Unless it was Toulon, Racing or Montpellier.

Because of their strength in depth being worth millions of euros more and because the game is won up front.

That's true about the French but the budget argument only stands up if we're looking at the entire season and dealing with injuries across that. If both teams have their best XV out on the match day like I said then I seen no reason to believe Pau are far superior. It was like a supporter telling me the other day that Scarlets' strongest team got smashed by Bath because they have a bigger budget - considering it was a one off game that just made no sense to me whatsoever.

mikey_dragon wrote:

PhilBB wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:
Some good players, but I disagree - Cardiff have good XV and a great backline. I don't know why you see your team as vastly inferior to any French one... Unless it was Toulon, Racing or Montpellier.

Because of their strength in depth being worth millions of euros more and because the game is won up front.

That's true about the French but the budget argument only stands up if we're looking at the entire season and dealing with injuries across that. If both teams have their best XV out on the match day like I said then I seen no reason to believe Pau are far superior. It was like a supporter telling me the other day that Scarlets' strongest team got smashed by Bath because they have a bigger budget - considering it was a one off game that just made no sense to me whatsoever.

Hang on, you wrote "Cardiff have good XV" but that, too, only stands up if you're ignoring the entire season and dealing with injuries. In rugby, you cannot do that.

Man for man on first XV then it comes down to interest levels, I'd say, but when rugby squads averagely carry a 25% injury rate, you can't think like that.