Cardiff Blues vs Edinburgh

Cardiff Blues vs Edinburgh
Saturday 5th Oct
KO: 1715
Location CARDIFF ARMS PARK
TV: Prem and S4C

Blues had a good away win against Kings last week, Edinburgh had a comprehensive win against Zebre. This game should be more of a test for both teams.

Sounds strange to say about the 2nd game of the season but if we win this is could really set us up well in the league. Will give us real confidence to have a good go away to Leinster who are missing a lot of players.

Lose this and next week and all the good work at home to Zebre will be forgoten!

This is a probably the strongest group of players we've had in an international window for many a year so we need to make the most of it.

Agree. Away games were a challenge for Edinburgh last season and we lost against the blues last time out. Winning this would show progress, lose and it's more of the same.

However as you say it's very early in the season, so plenty of points to be had.

Summer signing Mike Willemse is named in the starting line-up as Edinburgh Rugby make just one change for their trip to face Cardiff Blues at Cardiff Arms Park this Saturday (5 October, kick-off 5.15pm) – live on Premier Sports.

The inclusion of South African hooker, Willemse – who replaces the injured Dave Cherry to make his first start for the club – is the only alteration to the starting XV that defeated Zebre 50-15 last weekend as Head Coach Richard Cockerill names a settled side for tomorrow evening’s contest.

Ahead of the fixture, Cockerill said: “We were clearly motivated against Zebre. We have worked hard at our fitness and we are trying to play a bit differently this year. Hopefully people will start to see us being a bit more threatening with ball in hand.

“This weekend is about getting our preparations right. We started the 2017/18 season there and won. Our first year together as group we were very good away from home, but last year we had a habit of losing those matches by very close margins.


“Cardiff aren’t missing as many guys as we are and they will probably be thinking they can get off to a good start in the competition. We know their threats and they are a good team – but we’re a good team as well and we’re going there to win.

“If we get it right and play as well as I know we can, we’ll definitely give ourselves an opportunity to do that.”

An unchanged back-three sees Damien Hoyland named at fullback with wingers Jamie Farndale – who scored his first try for the club in Saturday’s win over Zebre – and Duhan van der Merwe selected on the flanks.

Mark Bennett once again gets the nod at outside centre following his impressive three-try performance last weekend, while Matt Scott – who also touched down against Zebre – continues alongside him in midfield.

South African duo Nic Groom – who once again skippers the side following Saturday’s try-scoring debut – and Jaco van der Walt continue their half-back partnership.

The inclusion of Willemse at hooker is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged front-row as the former Southern Kings man packs down alongside props Pierre Schoeman and Pietro Ceccarelli.

Murray Douglas and club centurion Fraser McKenzie continue in the second-row, while No.8 Nick Haining anchors a back-row trio that once again features flankers Lewis Carmichael and Luke Crosbie.




Edinburgh Rugby team to face Cardiff Blues at Cardiff Arms Park in the Guinness PRO14
Saturday 5 October (kick-off 5.15pm) – live on Premier Sports


15. Damien Hoyland (64)



14. Jamie Farndale (3)

13. Mark Bennett (21)

12. Matt Scott (84)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (42)



10. Jaco van der Walt (40)

9. Nic Groom (1) CAPTAIN



1. Pierre Schoeman (24)

2. Mike Willemse (1)

3. Pietro Ceccarelli (11)

4. Fraser McKenzie (114)

5. Murray Douglas (2)

6. Lewis Carmichael (34)

7. Luke Crosbie (27)

8. Nick Haining (1)



Replacements: 16. Cameron Fenton (12) 17. Jamie Bhatti (1) 18. Murray McCallum (50) 19. Mesu Kunavula (1) 20. Ally Miller (9) 21. Charlie Shiel (9) 22. Simon Hickey (20) 23. George Taylor (5)

Unavailable due to injury: Ruan Steenkamp, Jack Blain, Hamish Watson, Chris Dean, David Cherry, Darryl Marfo

Unavailable due to international selection: W.P Nel, Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Grant Gilchrist, Ben Toolis, Jamie Ritchie, Magnus Bradbury, John Barclay, Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Henry Pyrgos, Viliame Mata

SPREAD THE W

Strong Blue team - real good test for Edinburgh.

Cardiff Blues: M Morgan, O Lane, G Smith, W Halaholo, A Summerhill; J Evans, L Williams; B Thyer, L Belcher, D Arhip, S Davies, R Thornton, J Turnbull, O Robinson, N Williams (capt).

Replacements: K Dacey, C Domachowski, S Andrews, S Lewis-Hughes, W Boyde, L Jones, J Tovey, H Millard.

Fenton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FENTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FENTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blow for Edinburgh with Matt Scott pulling out failing a late fitness test.

That Nick Hainning certainly puts a strong carry in. He did the same last week, has been impressive in his first 2 games

Job done. Even stopped the blues getting a lbp

Sounds like Edinburgh showing Glasgow what a bit of grit and determination looks like.

Doesn't sound the most of exciting of games but looking forward to watching it tomorrow knowing we won!

We'll be going away to Leinster next week as confident as we've ever been going there, although it's still going to be a huge task.

That was a gutsy old win bg Edinbugh.

A few players really stepped up, Taylor genetslly had a good game, prior to making the winning break and putting Bennett away fof the try.

Hainning carried well and Crosbie did a power of work in the back row.

VdM looked dsngerous everytimd thd bsll came his way and Hoyland looks like FB may be his position, took the high balls very well.

A very decent all round performance really, the sort of game they would have lost narrowly over the past few years.

Really pleased with that. Hugely impressed with Taylor at 12 and agree that Hoyland is settling well at 15. Only quibble is his kicking, which lacks a bit of distance. That can be rectified.

Groom looks a terrific acquisition, as do Hainning at 8 and Willemse at hooker. Big effort from Crosbie as well.

VDM is a beast. We did well to hang onto him.

Blues' backline play was good last season, their defence was poor - they respond by letting go of their backs coach,

Blues' defence this season - shocking.

Agree on Duhan and said last year that he could play for SA. It's like having one of their flankers on the wing. Cheetahs also looked very good tonight.

Just watched the game - Cockers summed it up well as a real team performance where our performance was greater than the sum of our parts.

Last week was all about the backs but this week was all about the pack and our defence. Haining is a big carrier at 8 and Crosbie put in a big performance. Our back row depth is ridiculous given we've got Barclay, Bradbury, Mata, Watson and Ritchie missing!

George Taylor put in a really good performance that suggests 12 is his best position. Was pleasing to see us actually use VDM in attack and he certainly caused carnage when he did.

Was also nice to see Cockers actually use the bench - hopefully he's learned his lessons from last season.

A real good away day performance - if we keep that up we should pick up more wins on the road this season.

VDM's run down the right wing near the end of the game was utterly brutal. He just went through/over 3 blues players.

If he does opt to play for Scotland when he becomes qualified he's the perfect foil for Darcy. One absolute bruiser of a unit and one quick feet dancing elusive speedster.

Both playing for Edinburgh is great, playing for Scotland would be even better. Maitland (though currently playing well for scotland) and Seymour (not so much) are getting on a bit now and they may start to struggle to keep thier place.

I would say they have both lost a yard already, but make up for it with intelligent play, in Maitland's case in particular

BigGee wrote:I would say they have both lost a yard already, but make up for it with intelligent play, in Maitland's case in particular

I'd say Maitland is. Hes a very good reader of the game and has a good "rugby brain" as they say. I think this may be down to his ability to also cover fullback so he's always looking up at what is in front of him and tries to see where he needs to be to give him the best chance of getting there before anyone else.

Tennssee Tam on the other had just seems to be fading away. He is more of a stirke runner type of player and unfortuantely his striking is currnetly stinking!

https://twitter.com/EdinburghRugby/status/1181249285972779008?s=09

Beast mode from big Duhan.

RDW wrote:https://twitter.com/EdinburghRugby/status/1181249285972779008?s=09

Beast mode from big Duhan.

if he loses a yard of pace when he gets older, he'd slot in at 6!

I'd actually have him at 8 in the occasional attacking scrum when Big Bill is not in the team!