London Irish - Cardiff Blues (14/01/2012, 15:40)

[TRF_Olyy]

Madejski Stadium (14/01/2012, 15:40)

Live on Sky Sports​

 

[TRF_Olyy]

London Irish: Delon Armitage; Topsy Ojo, Jonathan Spratt, Shontayne Hape, Adam Thompstone; Adrian Jarvis, Darren Allinson; Clarke Dermody (capt), David Paice, Faan Rautenbach, Nick Kennedy, Matt Garvey, Bryn Evans, David Sisi, Alex Gray.
Replacements: James Buckland, Alex Corbisiero, Paulica Ion, Bob Casey, James Sandford, Tom Homer, Steven Shingler, Paul Hodgson.

Blues: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Casey Laulala, Gavin Henson, 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, Maama Molitika, Josh Navidi, Richie Rees, Ceri Sweeney, Richard Mustoe.


Referee: Mr Neil Paterson (Scotland)



Henson at inside centre for the Blues!

 

[dullonien]

Interested to see how Henson will go at 12. It's also interesting to see Spratt at 13 for LI, he always had a lot of potential, but injury seemed to ruin his time at the O's.

I think this is a much better Blues team. I'm still not happy with Parks starting mind. Hopefully Henson can drift into first reciever position in the opposition 22 so the Blues can start scoring try's.

 

[Draggs]

When I saw Henson at 12 I was .
Parks at 10 and it doesn't really matter.

 

[dullonien]

When I saw Henson at 12 I was .
Parks at 10 and it doesn't really matter.

Yeh I know. That's why I added the final sentance into my post. I think it would make sense to have Henson come in at first reciever on attack, hopefully getting rhe outside backs into the game a little more.

I really hope Parks buggers off next season, and the Blues bring in someone half decent. If they can do that, and find another tighthead prop, then they could really kick on as they threatened to do in 2009.

 

[Draggs]

Yeh I know. That's why I added the final sentance into my post. I think it would make sense to have Henson come in at first reciever on attack, hopefully getting rhe outside backs into the game a little more.

I really hope Parks buggers off next season, and the Blues bring in someone half decent. If they can do that, and find another tighthead prop, then they could really kick on as they threatened to do in 2009.

Perhaps they can lure Shingler in then. I'll trade them Matthew Jones for Macauley Cook if they want.

 

[dullonien]

I can't find a link to this game anywhere, anyone got one?

 

[Draggs]

I can't find a link to this game anywhere, anyone got one?

3-3 right now. Halfpenny with a 55m kick, no problem.

Halfpenny, again, unable to kick short range goals.

 

[dullonien]

Cuthbert showing that he has a couple of small things to work on. Is he ready for international rugby when he struggles to catch kicks?

Edit. Haha, just as I posted that, Cuthbert makes a good take and does well.

 

[SelimNiai]

Bit of a dull one apart from the Cardiff fans singing "Shingler is a Welshman, Shingler is a Welshman, la la la la" :lol:

 

[Draggs]

Both sides evenly matched, I suppose. Quite a bit of ping pong between Halfpenny and Armitage, interspersed with half breaks.

 

[dullonien]

Bit of a dull one apart from the Cardiff fans singing "Shingler is a Welshman, Shingler is a Welshman, la la la la" :lol:

Haha.

Henson looking good.

 

[Draggs]

Halfpenny looks good from fullback. Solid boot and hits the line well.

 

[j-dawg]

Being harsh on Jenkins in that scrum, although he needs to get lower. London Irish shoving before the put in.

 

[Draggs]

Laulala actually completes an offload!
Try Warburton, 9-13 to the Blues.

 

[dullonien]

Scott Andrews was absolutely destroyed in his first scrum. Let's see how he goes here.

 

[Draggs]

Scott Andrews was absolutely destroyed in his first scrum. Let's see how he goes here.

Ever since he has come on, their scrum has been shafted. Just don't really rate the lad.

 

[dullonien]

Ever since he has come on, their scrum has been shafted. Just don't really rate the lad.

Nor me. If he was awesome in the loose then I'd understand it a bit, but he doesn't do that much in the loose either!

 

[Draggs]

LI offsides but not being called for it. Not seen much of Henson, but Cardiff have hardly put the ball through the backline.
Allinson hasn't had a bad game, wish Darren would have had a word with him.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Armitage having a very good game, wonder if Lancaster is kicking himself.