Heineken Cup 2013/14 Pool 2, Round 5 (Exeter v Glasgow, Toulon v Cardiff)

[Draggs]

Pool Two, Round Five

 

[Draggs]

Gavin Evans starting and HCup match, Giteau should watch out!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Toulon will be out for revenge big time.

They could put a massive amount of points on Cardiff, but equally could lose. They're too unpredictable a side due to being a collection of players rather than an actual team.

 

[Big Ewis]

The teams:

Toulon: 15 Drew Mitchell, 14 Rudi Wulf, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 David Smith, 10 Jonny Wilkinson (capt), 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Steffon Armitage, 7 Joe van Niekerk, 6 Juan Smith, 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Florian Fresia, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Pierrick Gunther, 20 Delon Armitage, 21 Maxime Mermoz, 22 Frederic Michalak, 23 Konstantine Mikautadze.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Richard Smith, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Gareth Davies, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Robin Copeland, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Macauley Cook, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Chris Dicomidis, 3 Benoit Bourrust, 2 Marc Breeze, 1 Gethin Jenkins (capt).
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 James Down, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Dafydd Hewitt, 23 Dan Fish.

Date: Saturday, January 12
Kick-off: 16:40 local (15:40 GMT)
Venue: Allianz Riviera, Nice

"Meanwhile, Toulon have dropped Delon Armitage to the bench for their clash in Nice.

Drew Mitchell wears the full-back jersey while fellow Australian Matt Giteau returns at inside centre in place of Maxime Mermoz. He partners Mathieu Bastareaud in the midfield.

In the pack Joe van Niekerk and Craig Burden start at flank and hooker respectively."

(source: Planet Rugby)

Toulon will be out for revenge big time.

They could put a massive amount of points on Cardiff, but equally could lose. They're too unpredictable a side due to being a collection of players rather than an actual team.

Well that collection of players won this very H Cup last year, and certainly were consistent and more than that...no, this year there's just a lack of hunger every once in a while from them, Laporte got sick and tired of it and threatened to leave for good. A lot like Toulouse, they just need to focus hard and play this one the way they can, and in deed, a big "collection" of points could be dropped on Cardiff. They're not losing this, man. No way.

 

[Thingimubob]

Blues incredibly still in this game 15 - 13, although the ref is definitely against them! Bakkies Botha getting away with murder at the breakdown and helping win Toulon penalties...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hate toulon, they're just a joke of a side.
Garner refereeing of the scrum is a shambles as well - completely ignoring Sheridan infringing every single time.

 

[Bluemoon]

Haha. Referee is killing us completely. Even if we had a chance. Toulon have been average, but may well wake up now that they can relax.

 

[Big Ewis]

Just got here, "another penalty try" I hear, there was another....yay World XV !! I mean errr...yay Toulon !!!
15 against 13, they're going to keep putting points on that board from now til the end after a slow first half.

 

[Bluemoon]

2 yellow cards, Toulon take advantage.

 

[dullonien]

Blues will do well to keep this respectable now. Forwards not good enough, not even close in the set pieces.

 

[munstermuffin]

Must say despite score line I can't wait for Copeland to come to Munster.

 

[Bluemoon]

Gethin, Matthew Rees, Filise, Bradely Davies, Sam Warburton, Navidi, Patchell, Cory Allen, Owain Williams, Harry Robinson.

Cant win in Europe in Touon without those players on the field Dull and even then we would struggle. The blues front row has struggled all season and have needed a decent tight head for a while.

Didn't expect to win today at all, but feel the score is harsh on the Blues. Needed a bonus point today and a win against Exeter to go into the Amlin. Will need 5 next week!

 

[Bluemoon]

Must say despite score line I can't wait for Copeland to come to Munster.

He will be an absolute asset to you and the team. He is brilliant with the supporters and gives everything for the jersey.

 

[dullonien]

Watching the likes of Sam Hobbs and Scott Andrews getting mullered in the scrum, I was just thinking, have the Blues managed to develop a single decent scrummaging prop in their 10 years? They inherited Gethin Jenkins from the disbanded Warriors after all. Considering that their head coach for most of the time was a former Lions prop, that's not great!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Absolute BS call.
Armitage had his hands on the ball, but the Blues player DIDN'T. Armitage just put his hands on the ball and made no attempt to actually bring the ball back to his side of the ruck, kn0bhead with the whistle saw this and blew for a penalty.

Garner has been a disgrace today.

 

[munstermuffin]

He will be an absolute asset to you and the team. He is brilliant with the supporters and gives everything for the jersey.

Have only watched him closely since he signed and his ball carrying skills are superb. Add in his all round game is good too and he is a warrior that keeps going. Even here he's performing despite team struggling

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How many penalties and no card?

Blues seriously should make a formal complaint to the ERC about Garner, I've not seen such a biased refereeing performance in as long as I can remember.

 

[munstermuffin]

Good effort for try and despite Cardiff having problems over last few years they showing great heart

 

[dullonien]

Yeah, Copeland has been great today yet again. He'll be a big loss, a massive one considering they haven't got another 8 in their squad.

 

[munstermuffin]

Yeah, Copeland has been great today yet again. He'll be a big loss, a massive one considering they haven't got another 8 in their squad.

Have they anyone lined up to come in they'll need 2 as Petorious leaving too. They should've went all out for Delve