HEC: Cardiff Blues - Edinburgh (09-12-2011, 20:00)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff (09-12-2011, 20:00)

​

 

[Seaton]

Come on Edinburgh, win this won and you have then got three more chances to secure some points to seal qualification, with two of those games at home as well.

The travelling squad:

Mike Blair, Tom Brown, Sean Cox, Geoff Cross, Nick De Luca, David Denton, Ross Ford, Jack Gilding, Phil Godman, Roddy Grant, John Houston, Allan Jacobsen, Lee Jones, James King, Greig Laidlaw, Steve Lawrie, Harry Leonard, Esteban Lozada, Stuart McInally, Chris Paterson, Ross Rennie, Kyle Traynor, Steven Turnbull, Netani Talei, Tim Visser

Not available through injury: Ben Cairns (knee), Grant Gilchrist (shoulder), Andrew Kelly (knee), Alan MacDonald (shoulder), Matt Scott (hip), Jim Thompson (knee)

Hopefully we see Leonard at 10, or Laidlaw and Blair as the halfback combo. Just please don't play Godawfulman Mr Bradley, we beg of you. Especially if the Blues stick with Parks.

 

[Seaton]

I've just watched Sam Warburton being interviewed on the BBC website:
" We are looking for a bonus point win"
" We deserve to be playing knockout rugby in the Heineken Cup".

No, you deserve to play in the knock-out phase once you qualify for it, not a third of the way through qualification.

Edinburgh team:

15 Chris Paterson
14 Lee Jones
13 Nick De Luca
12 James King
11 Tim Visser
10 Harry Leonard
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN

1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross
4 Sean Cox
5 Esteban Lozada
6 David Denton
7 Roddy Grant
8 Stuart McInally

Substitutes
16 Steve Lawrie
17 Kyle Traynor
18 Jack Gilding
19 Steven Turnbull
20 Ross Rennie
21 Mike Blair
22 John Houston
23 Tom Brown

Blues team:

Halfpenny
Cuthbert
Laulala
Roberts
Czekaj
Parks
Williams

Jenkins
Thomas
Filise
Davies
***o (C)
Paterson
Rush
Warburton

Subs: Tyrell, Yapp, Andrews, Molitika, Navidi, Rees, Sweeney, Evans

 

[dullonien]

Blues team looking much healthier with the return of Halfpenny, Roberts, Jenkins, Davies and Warburton. Blues really should win this at home with that starting 15. A bonus point win is a big ask against a decent Edinburgh side, but certainly not out of the question. They've gotta make sure of the win first and foremost, and with Parks playing that's almost guaranteed, as he'd go for a drop goal even if they were 60 points up.

 

[SelimNiai]

Oh that really shows why I do not rate Parks. Cardiff making ground with each an every phase, get to the 22. Parks decides he wants the glory with an easy DG try and misses. What a pillock.

 

[dullonien]

God damn Parks and his bloody obsession with the drop goal, I really do hate him sometimes. I understand going for it when the ball is slow and there's nothing on, but the Blues just wroked their way up field with Roberts, Laulala and Warburton making half breaks, then at the first opportunity Parks goes for the drop and misses, despite a try looking likely.

Oh that really shows why I do not rate Parks. Cardiff making ground with each an every phase, get to the 22. Parks decides he wants the glory with an easy DG try and misses. What a pillock.

Haha, not just me then. Surely his co-players hate him sometimes? Why doesn't the management or ***o say something to him? If I was the captain I'd give him a bollocking.

 

[Seaton]

Been some decent phases of play, mistakes in decision making letting both sides down.

 

[Draggs]

God damn Parks and his bloody obsession with the drop goal, I really do hate him sometimes. I understand going for it when the ball is slow and there's nothing on, but the Blues just wroked their way up field with Roberts, Laulala and Warburton making half breaks, then at the first opportunity Parks goes for the drop and misses, despite a try looking likely.



Haha, not just me then. Surely his co-players hate him sometimes? Why doesn't the management or ***o say something to him? If I was the captain I'd give him a bollocking.

+1. Its not been as boring as some matches, just full of mistakes. I feel like Gavin with one arm would be able to get this backline moving better.
Lloyd has looked pretty good so far. He still has a way to go before he is an international, but he will be a very good scrum half. Cardiff need to bring Cuthbert or Czekaj into the backline more (if they even get the ball).
Thev've got two big wings who can break tackles and drive on, but they aren't getting enough ball.

 

[Thingimubob]

Been pretty impressed with Czekaj's contribution, seems to get past a defender or two every time he gets the ball

 

[Draggs]

Been pretty impressed with Czekaj's contribution, seems to get past a defender or two every time he gets the ball

He has always been good on his feet, its his passing that is the problem.
Parks with a penalty, 9-3 to Cardiff now.

 

[Seaton]

Why is Paterson so push nowadays?

He no longer can kick immaculately, and offers little in all other departments.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Gah - I know it's been said over and over, but Cardiff really need to sack off Dan Parks asap and bring in a decent flyhalf - Is he out of contract at the end of the season?

Watching this side by side with the Quins/Toulouse game, seeing Nick Evans and Luke McAlister, and then Dan Parks....sheesh!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Cuthbert is is the boy.

 

[dullonien]

The commentators are rubbish. They're getting the names of the Blues players wrong half the time, and they actually think Parks has had a good game. Only thing they've got right is the motm giving it to Warbs who's been awesome tonight.

 

[Draggs]

Nice interception from Andrews. If only he could scrummage as good as he waddles/runs.
Cuthbert did well with the poor pass, should seal the match. Henson should dance into this team, based on Parks performance, goalkicking aside.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Nice interception from Andrews. If only he could scrummage as good as he waddles/runs.
Cuthbert did well with the poor pass, should seal the match. Henson should dance into this team, based on Parks performance, goalkicking aside.

Last time I checked he could ... did it for Wales the other week also.

 

[Draggs]

In all fairness, Steyn (among others) is able to be part of a flowing backline.
I have yet to see Parks actually manage his kicking while trying to get his players moving.

Not really faith in Henson, more that Parks and Sweeney are poor players and some U20's outside halves could be more effective in that backline.

 

[Bluemoon]

Thought the forwards won that game for the blues in the second half this evening. Bradley Davies had a great game and must have had the most carries.

Parks is frustrating, especially when you have a world class centre partnership that rarely sees the ball. I hope Casey stays for another season.

In fairness though, when Cardiff signed Parks they knew what he would bring to the team so there shouldn't be so many complaints.

Cardiff have had a welsh fly half shortage for years now.

 

[Draggs]

Thought the forwards won that game for the blues in the second half this evening. Bradley Davies had a great game and must have had the most carries.

Parks is frustrating, especially when you have a world class centre partnership that rarely sees the ball. I hope Casey stays for another season.

In fairness though, when Cardiff signed Parks they knew what he would bring to the team so there shouldn't be so many complaints.

Cardiff have had a welsh fly half shortage for years now.

Agree with the above entirely. I thought that Cardiff should have gone after Steven Shingler before LI singed him. He seems like a player would would do well alongside Roberts and Laulala and will no doubt improve.
We will have to see how Patchell comes along at Cardiff RFC, he is another prospect. The Turks seem to have their own outside half factory running, perhaps Cardiff could take Jordan Williams off their hands.

Bradley was my SyG, he wasn't as noticeable as Sam but hit every ruck and was a total workhorse.

 

[Me 1]

Agree with the above entirely. I thought that Cardiff should have gone after Steven Shingler before LI singed him. He seems like a player would would do well alongside Roberts and Laulala and will no doubt improve.
We will have to see how Patchell comes along at Cardiff RFC, he is another prospect. The Turks seem to have their own outside half factory running, perhaps Cardiff could take Jordan Williams off their hands.

Bradley was my SyG, he wasn't as noticeable as Sam but hit every ruck and was a total workhorse.