Edinburgh Rugby - Cardiff Blues (16/12/2011, 20:00)

[TRF_Olyy]

Murrayfield (16/12/2011, 20:00)

Live on S4/C​

 

[Seaton]

15 Chris Paterson

14 Lee Jones
13 Nick De Luca
12 James King
11 Tim Visser

10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN
9 Mike Blair

1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross
4 Grant Gilchrist
5 Sean Cox
6 David Denton
7 Roddy Grant
8 Netani Talei

Substitutes
16 Steven Lawrie
17 Kyle Traynor
18 Jack Gilding
19 Esteban Lozada
20 Ross Rennie
21 Phil Godman
22 Matt Scott
23 Tom Brown

Paterson lucky to be picked ahead of Tom Brown, surprised at Godman's inclusion and Leonard/ Hunter's exclusion. Anyhoo, mon the Gunners, you can win this one!

 

[dullonien]

Cardiff Blues: Leigh Halfpenny; Gavin Evans, Casey Laulala, Jamie Roberts, Chris Czekaj; Dan Parks, Lloyd Williams; Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Taufa'ao Filise, Bradley Davies, Paul ***o (capt), Michael Paterson, Sam Warburton, Xavier Rush.
Replacements: Ryan Tyrell, John Yapp, Scott Andrews, Josh Navidi, Maama Molitika, Richie Rees, Ceri Sweeney, Dafydd Hewitt.

I have no idea why Baber and Burnell have an obsession with Gavin Evans, he's really quite a poor player. In what universe is he a better option on the wing than Tom James or Richard Mustoe? I also don't quite get the reason for picking Paterson ahead of Pretorius. I'd personally consider picking Paterson at lock ahead of ***o, with Pretorius at 6.

I was hoping we'd see Henson involved in the matchday squad. We'll have to wait untill the Dragons game.

 

[Bluemoon]

Dullonien, even Cardiff supporters are fed up of this constant picking of Gavin Evans. He is extremely weak in defence and is usually all but invisible in your league game. I think that Tom James is equally as weak in his tackling and positioning but at least offers more in attack. Mustoe is a very under-rated player, whom I would play over Gavin Evans as he is a natural winger.

Paterson the cost Blues a lot of money and had his best couple of games at the Blues last season at lock - Bizarrely! Furthermore Pretorius is injured at the moment and the Blues have a lock shortage at the moment with Down being injured aswell so I can understand that move. Pretorius would be there otherwise he's one hell of a physical influence.

Can see Parks dictating again - if the back row do the same job as last Friday then the Blues will have a narrow win.

 

[Draggs]

Pretorius is injured, and I think both Mustoe and James are as well.
Shame Harry Robinson isn't in the ERC squad. One for the future, I think.

 

[dullonien]

Ah ok. I hadn't heard of the injuries.

 

[Draggs]

I couldn't find a statement from the Blues regarding injuries to Mustoe or James, but from what I have heard others say, that seems to be the case.
Paterson has been in good form lately, will be interesting to see if he stays on with the Blues and what will happen when he is Welsh qualified.

 

[Seaton]

Seen (yet) another interesting stat this week, this is a list of the top 5 try scorers in ML history.

Top 5 scorers are:

Bowe - 44 (8.5 seasons, 113 matches, strike rate 39%)
Horgan - 39 (10 seasons, 101 matches, strike rate 38%)
Walker - 36 (9 seasons, 117 matches, strike rate 31%)
Visser - 32 (2.5 seasons, 47 matches, strike rate 68%)
Watkins - 31 (8.5 seasons, 110 matches, strike rate 28%)

Other than Visser, only Bowe has had a 10 try season (once). Vissers has scored 09/10 - 10; 10/11 - 14; 11/12 - 8 so far. His strike rate this season is 89%.


I would still like to know how Walker is a 'decent' finisher at ML level, but is lucky not to trip over his boot laces for Scotland

 

[dullonien]

That is a hell of a strike-rate for Visser.

Edit. Pitty this match isn't available to watch anywhere. Wish they would allow S4C to show the games Sky don't want. They've allowed them to show the Dragons Amlin games.

 

[Seaton]

Tis on Sky via red button, see my PM

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

That is a hell of a strike-rate for Visser.

Edit. Pitty this match isn't available to watch anywhere. Wish they would allow S4C to show the games Sky don't want. They've allowed them to show the Dragons Amlin games.

Have you used the Sky sports events centre? Every heineken cup game can be watched online through it, without exception. However, you need to have sky tv and have linked that sky tv account to an online sky account. (it's free, the catch is just that you actually have to do it)

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

...Or just do what LordHope says - easier

 

[Seaton]

Have you used the Sky sports events centre? Every heineken cup game can be watched online through it, without exception. However, you need to have sky tv and have linked that sky tv account to an online sky account. (it's free, the catch is just that you actually have to do it)

I wish that were true.

Then I could have actually watched Edinburgh come back from 24 odd points down to beat Racing Metro, instead of 2 minutes worth of highlites, which weren't even shown or mentioned on Sky. :/

@"?! the Murdoch Foundation

 

[SelimNiai]

For example I can watch the Cardiff game on the tv and put the Sprays on the Laptop.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I wish that were true.

Then I could have actually watched Edinburgh come back from 24 odd points down to beat Racing Metro, instead of 2 minutes worth of highlites, which weren't even shown or mentioned on Sky. :/

@"?! the Murdoch Foundation

It's true...

 

[Seaton]

It's true...

Unfortunately not, the game was not broadcast anywhere, and there was only one camera at the ground, not even the TMO could have been used if needed.

Edinburgh doing very well so far, Visser was so close, and it was a pity Ford tried to offload.

Pretty sure the final pass was forward there, but some fantastic play fae the Gunners. Deserves a try