Cardiff Blues Season Thread (Toulon fall in Cardiff)

by wales606 Wed 09 Jan 2013, 8:22 am

First topic message reminder :

Keeping organised the ins and outs at the Blues leading into next season.

New Signing
Paetru Tamba (during the season)
Filo Paulo - North Harbour (confirmed)
Matthew Rees (confirmed)
Liam Davies (confirmed - until end of season)
Gethin Jenkins (confirmed)
Miles Normandale (confirmed)
Rhys Gill - Saracens (rumoured) Unlikely
Craig Mitchell - Exeter (rumoured) Unlikely
~~Adam Warren - Scarlets (rumoured)~~
~~Dan Lydiate - Dragons (mentioned) (rumoured)~~
~~Scott Williams - Scarlets (rumoured)~~
James Hook (rumoured - again)
Rodney So’oialo - Honda Heat (rumoured)
Aled Summerhill - Blues Academy
Ben Roach - Blues Academy
Ellis Jenkins - Blues Academy
Tom Pascoe - Blues Academy
Will Thomas - Blues Academy

Departures (all confirmed)
Jamie Roberts - Racing Metro
Ceri Sweeney - Exeter Chiefs
Tom James - Exeter Chiefs
Michael Paterson - Sale Sharks
Jason Tovey - Newport Gwent Dragons
Campese Ma'afu - Nottingham
Ryan Harford - Cardiff RFC
Nathan Trevett - London Welsh
Matthew Screech - Newport Gwent Dragons
Darren Harries - Scarlets
Jake Cooper Wooley - London Wasps
Cory Hill - Cornish Pirates
Petru Tamba - Unattached
Andi Kyriacou - Retired
Xavier Rush

Re-Signings
Alex Cuthbert (3 years)
Scott Andrews (2 years)
Josh Navidi (3 year)
James Down (unknown)
Andreus Pretorious (can't find the article...)
Marc Breeze (unknown)
Lewis Jones (unknown)
Lloyd Williams (3 years)
Tom Williams (3 years)
Rhys Patchell (3 years)
Sam Hobbs (?3 years?)
Rhys Williams (?3 years?)
Tom Davies (?3 years?)
Richard Smith (2 years)

by Coleman Sat 12 Jan 2013, 5:15 pm

We've needed a second row for a while. Even when we had Tito we were very light weight. Looking forward to seeing him in action.

by wales606 Mon 14 Jan 2013, 6:29 pm

James Down has renewed his contract

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/6190.php

by maestegmafia Mon 14 Jan 2013, 6:58 pm

Re-signs not resigned..!

That's good news not bad.

Good on him he is a good lad, hopefully with a big future.

by wales606 Mon 14 Jan 2013, 7:10 pm

maestegmafia wrote:Re-signs not resigned..!

That's good news not bad.

Good on him he is a good lad, hopefully with a big future.

Haha, my bad.

by Guest Mon 14 Jan 2013, 7:18 pm

Well Sarries haven't named Gill on the resigned list among 12 current players they have managed to get resign.
Also Johnstone "prop" is going to Sarries.
So maybe the Gill rumor is true.

by maestegmafia Mon 14 Jan 2013, 7:21 pm

[quote="viewtothegym"]Well Sarries haven't named Gill on the resigned list among 12 current players they have managed to get resign.
Also Johnstone "prop" is going to Sarries.
So maybe the Gill rumor is true.[/quote
Good news

by wales606 Mon 14 Jan 2013, 8:09 pm

viewtothegym wrote:Well Sarries haven't named Gill on the resigned list among 12 current players they have managed to get resign.
Also Johnstone "prop" is going to Sarries.
So maybe the Gill rumor is true.

We can hope. I guess we will start to find out more in the next few months as contracts are signed, normally following the 6Ns.

Gill and Mitchell would do wonders for the Blues, and give Wales two quality props available for their training.

It could spell the end of Gethin Jenkins if Gill gets some good performances at the Blues.

by wales606 Mon 14 Jan 2013, 8:18 pm

3 year deal apparently.

Looks like the Blues are building a nucleus of young player on long deals to build a squad around - Cuthbert, Navidi, Downs and Andrews - with hopefully, Warburton and Halfpenny to follow.

by thebluesmancometh Mon 14 Jan 2013, 10:59 pm

Down isn't good or young, he's near 26 and still looks like a puppy fat 20 yr old!!!

I know we're desperate for locks but surely there are better options who have been playing the game for longer than 5 years!!!!

by maestegmafia Mon 14 Jan 2013, 11:04 pm

thebluesmancometh wrote:Down isn't good or young, he's near 26 and still looks like a puppy fat 20 yr old!!!

I know we're desperate for locks but surely there are better options who have been playing the game for longer than 5 years!!!!

No more in the academy?

What about Cooke?

by wales606 Mon 14 Jan 2013, 11:11 pm

Downs has spent most of his career injured. He is now starting to get some games under his belt.

Don't get me wrong, he isn't winning any prizes, but he is a reliable regional player, who at 26 is still pretty young for a lock. If Bradley Davies and Lou Reed are going to be getting Wales' call ups all the time we will need him.

Cook is getting some gametime this year, some of it at 6. He isn't really setting the world on fire - but it did take Navidi a few seasons to go from U20 captain to regional rugby (same with Scott Andrews, B.Davies and Warbs to be honest)

Hill seems to have fallen off the radar a bit, but he seemed far ahead of Cook on the physicality front last time he played.

by wales606 Mon 14 Jan 2013, 11:16 pm

For those who can't remember where they have seen the Blues new lock before, this might give you a reminder

http://prem0.hiboox.com/images/4612/diapob80a94c3edc97e8632e7aa7ed2e3ad30.gif

by Coleman Tue 15 Jan 2013, 10:20 am

Still not sure about Down, would be nice to see some strong second rows coming through the academy in the next couple of years. We'd kill for a King or Kelly right now. Paulo will no doubt be a physical guy, raging about the pitch looking to smash people. We need that; we've needed it for a while. Wonder who else we'll be signing.

by hookernumber2 Tue 15 Jan 2013, 11:04 am

Rhys Gill signed a contract extension with Saracens in February last year so won't be coming unless the Blues decide to buy out his contract.

From what I have heard he is very happy with Sarries and is on a pretty decent wage. Also, James Johnstone is a TH, Gill is a LH so the signing shoudn't really affect him.

Have heard the Matthew Rees rumour more and more and that should be done and dusted.

Heard rumours of Gethin, James Hook and a big international signing a few weeks back but these seem to have gone quiet recently.

by glamorganalun Tue 15 Jan 2013, 6:46 pm

wales606 wrote:For those who can't remember where they have seen the Blues new lock before, this might give you a reminder

http://prem0.hiboox.com/images/4612/diapob80a94c3edc97e8632e7aa7ed2e3ad30.gif

Great, I doubt he will get away with that type of tackle in the RABO or HC so the Blues need to prepare to accept a lot of yellow cards that may cost them.

by Cardiff Dave Wed 16 Jan 2013, 12:08 am

thebluesmancometh wrote:Dave

Ive heard rumours of the supposed spat, what do you make of it?

Thomas isn't a fool, the Blues owe a fortune to a small number of companies, a lot of which are owned or part owned by Thomas himself, the more debt the Blues get in the more money he makes.

"Luxury apartments" built on CAP???

by wales606 Wed 16 Jan 2013, 12:20 am

glamorganalun wrote:
wales606 wrote:For those who can't remember where they have seen the Blues new lock before, this might give you a reminder

http://prem0.hiboox.com/images/4612/diapob80a94c3edc97e8632e7aa7ed2e3ad30.gif

Great, I doubt he will get away with that type of tackle in the RABO or HC so the Blues need to prepare to accept a lot of yellow cards that may cost them.

It is not a tackle, it is a clear out of a ruck - it was perfectly legal, hence why he wasn't cited from an international match

Are you suggesting the standard of refereeing in the pro12 is better than international rugby,

or perhaps that it is worse and they won't actually know the difference between a ruck and a tackle?

by Morgannwg Wed 16 Jan 2013, 12:29 am

wales606 wrote:
glamorganalun wrote:
wales606 wrote:For those who can't remember where they have seen the Blues new lock before, this might give you a reminder

http://prem0.hiboox.com/images/4612/diapob80a94c3edc97e8632e7aa7ed2e3ad30.gif

Great, I doubt he will get away with that type of tackle in the RABO or HC so the Blues need to prepare to accept a lot of yellow cards that may cost them.

It is not a tackle, it is a clear out of a ruck - it was perfectly legal, hence why he wasn't cited from an international match

Are you suggesting the standard of refereeing in the pro12 is better than international rugby,

or perhaps that it is worse and they won't actually know the difference between a ruck and a tackle?

Well Jake Ball was cited and banned for the exact same thing.

by Cardiff Dave Wed 16 Jan 2013, 12:39 am

wales606 wrote:
glamorganalun wrote:
wales606 wrote:For those who can't remember where they have seen the Blues new lock before, this might give you a reminder

http://prem0.hiboox.com/images/4612/diapob80a94c3edc97e8632e7aa7ed2e3ad30.gif

Great, I doubt he will get away with that type of tackle in the RABO or HC so the Blues need to prepare to accept a lot of yellow cards that may cost them.

It is not a tackle, it is a clear out of a ruck - it was perfectly legal, hence why he wasn't cited from an international match

Are you suggesting the standard of refereeing in the pro12 is better than international rugby,

or perhaps that it is worse and they won't actually know the difference between a ruck and a tackle?

Looks like an elbow/forearm to the face to me.
Reckless at least and typically Samoan by the look of it.
Not very Cardiff I have to say.

by Coleman Wed 16 Jan 2013, 10:37 am

The Blues are really looking to lock down some of our players at the moment.

Mark Breeze (Unspecified Length)

Lewis Jones (Unspecified Length)

Really glad that we've extended Breeze's contract, I think he’s a very good hooker who hasn’t shown his best yet. Not too sure about Jones, our scrumhalf’s haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire, but obviously the coaches see something in him.

by wales606 Wed 16 Jan 2013, 5:39 pm

Breeze will make a good squad player, however, our hooker options for next season look to be Rees, Breeze, Kyricau, R.Williams and Dacey

Seems a bit excessive, unless Kyricau only signed a one year deal (which I would prefer since he has been injured all season and not shown much when he was fit)

Lewis Jones will make a decent 3rd choice scrum half. Unfortunately, he is currently our best scrum half - yet behind Lloyd Williams for no reason. I hope to god we are bringing in a new scrum-half next season and Lloyd Williams will become competant enough to be a second choice SH

by Cardiff Dave Fri 18 Jan 2013, 12:21 am

thebluesmancometh wrote:Dave

Ive heard rumours of the supposed spat, what do you make of it?

Thomas isn't a fool, the Blues owe a fortune to a small number of companies, a lot of which are owned or part owned by Thomas himself, the more debt the Blues get in the more money he makes.

Haven't got on for years, so I understand. They don't like each other apparently and both are into property development.
It appears to me that a lot of the money that Thomas has put in was merely a loan or loans to Cardiff RFC meaning the club owes him around £6,000,000 at least by now. Some of that gains interest, but he doesn't make a fortune out of it and he'll be sorted when he retires unlike many.
What really annoys me is............

by Morgannwg Sat 19 Jan 2013, 3:52 pm

Is the Blues game not being aired? It's not even on the red button.

by wales606 Sat 19 Jan 2013, 4:01 pm

Morgannwg wrote:Is the Blues game not being aired? It's not even on the red button.

They are showing every other HC game online, it's really annoying!

Although Sale did get a try in the 4th minute apparently, its 3 - 7 after 15

by Morgannwg Sat 19 Jan 2013, 4:11 pm

http://www.espnscrum.com/heineken-cup-2012-13/rugby/match/167668.html

by wales606 Sat 19 Jan 2013, 4:22 pm

http://matchdaylive.ercrugby.com/heineken/index.php?mobile=0

by Coleman Thu 24 Jan 2013, 12:50 pm

Tom James has signed with Exeter on a two year contract. He leaves at the end of the season. Source.

I don’t think anyone saw this one coming. I quite like the ol' Merthyr express. He isn’t the best player in the world, but he has always had the ability to make some very good breaks and runs, I guess with Alex and Robinson there and him effectively burning his bridges with Wales it’s time to make some money elsewhere.

by Effervescing Elephant Thu 24 Jan 2013, 1:34 pm

Thanks for putting this up, was going to start a thread but really couldn't be ar$ed! thumbsup

by glamorganalun Thu 24 Jan 2013, 3:08 pm

No great loss for the Blues, the guy is brain dead.

by BlueNote Thu 24 Jan 2013, 4:54 pm

"No great loss for the Blues, the guy is brain dead.."

Can't agree with that. He has his flaws, but he has done a lot of good things for the Blues.

eg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpMNiIlTEMk

by Guest Thu 24 Jan 2013, 5:09 pm

Where's the calls to close the Blues as they cannot keep hold of their players? Didn't they try to keep him? Shouldn't they have thrown the cheque book at him? Poor form Blues, poor form.

by thebluesmancometh Thu 24 Jan 2013, 6:05 pm

Sounds like an impressive signing, but people were saying the same about Maffi.

Tom James is joining the wrecking crew that is Exeter? Fair play to them, he will fit right in with their style of play, they just refuse to not play, and the wings are an integral part, James is big, strong and fast, will break lines, but isn't the smartest, as long as he's used for what he's good at he'll come very good down there!!

by wales606 Thu 24 Jan 2013, 10:16 pm

James is a good winger, and will be a loss at the Blues. I rate him about Robinson and Czekaj despite his occasional lack of a brain he does create opportunities better than either of the others - and when he is on form (as he was at the start of this season) he is a joy to watch ball in hand.

A big loss for the Blues with Mustoe retired, Tom Williams isn't much of a winger, Dan Fish is a FB and Owen Williams is a centre.

That brings our wing options down to Czekaj, Robinson and Cuthbert for next season (since Halfpenny seems to only play FB at the moment). We could use a few academy boys, or steal a few of the other regions academy boys (as happened with Prydie and Phillips last season)

by Coleman Fri 25 Jan 2013, 8:09 am

Mathew Rees! It may have been the worst kept secret in Welsh rugby. But I’m still excited. Source.

Will he change our scrum over night? No. Will he give us experience in the front row that we have been lacking? Yes. Great signing for the Blues and at the right time of his career for us I think. He will hopefully help Andrews develop and I’ve always rated his work rate.

As to our wingers, I think we are lacking wingers now. We will need to blood another player from our academy soon and hope they can make the grade.

by bedfordwelsh Fri 25 Jan 2013, 9:05 am

I think its a great move for all parties, Ree, Blues and Wales as I still think he has a lot to offer the National set up.

The Blues scrum hasn't been that good and he will add valuable experience, Owens I imagine will be getting the majority of games down at PYS so this way he keeps himself in shop window.

As for your back 3 with Patchell having come though so well will Tovey (despite wanting to play 10) be given more games at XV allowing Halfpenny and Cuthbert to fill the wing berths?

by LordDowlais Fri 25 Jan 2013, 9:22 am

Typical of a person who just could not grasp how lucky he was, if he was any good the Blues would have fought tooth and nail to keep him.Tom James that is. thumbsup

by LordDowlais Fri 25 Jan 2013, 9:26 am

I said about Matthew Rees on another thread, it has been know all season that he was going to come to the Blues, it make's sense as he wants to finish his career close to home, and he could bring the best out of the young Welsh forwards at the Blues as well, although it was no secret, all in all, a very good signing for the Blues.

by thebluesmancometh Fri 25 Jan 2013, 11:48 am

Rees is such a poor signing it's crazy how excited everyone is. 2 years ago yes, but now???

Rees has been all but ousted by Owens at both the Scarlets and Wales (although he will get call ups next season by Wales which means he will be limited at the blues)

Rees is still a decent player but the only positive I see from this is the experience he may bring to the likes of Hobbs, Dacey and Andrews.

Thomas has become so one eyed in his signings to shore up the scrum that he's letting the backline get away from him!!

Roberts and James are 2 very good players, and next season we are going to see Tovey moved to FB (despite signing for the 10 shirt) and or the likes of Robinson and Evans played even more than they are now (which is too much)

I despair at whats going on with the Blues!!

by ScarletSpiderman Fri 25 Jan 2013, 11:53 am

Bluesman - I have a feeling looking at the way the signings are going, and rumours are going, for all the regions, that next season we may be looking at the regions feilding the strongst match day XVs to date, but sadly this seems to be coming a thte cost of having any form of acceptable depth.

There is no point in recruiting an international standard front row, who will probably end up being with wales for the AIs/6Ns, if our going to have to sacrifice the few decent non-international players you have in order to do that.

by thebluesmancometh Fri 25 Jan 2013, 12:09 pm

SS
You might get the feeling my grumblings are unbiased at times (most of the time) but I was trying to make that point similarly.

The Rabo as a non competitive entity is becoming a warming station for sub par players, and as so gets weaker by the season, so the regions don't need the high quality non internationals such as Tom James, TRT, Nicky Robinson etc etc.

The regions want a team of top int's and then a team of kids/useless journeymen to counter the wage budget. The good 15 need to play only 9 games or so a season (HC and Derby) and the fodder can play the rest.

From the regions POV this makes sense, but the Rabo quality gets lower and lower and top end quality suffers for it.

Slippery slopes.

by XR Fri 25 Jan 2013, 2:56 pm

Gethin Jenkins returning too apparently

http://www.parcequetoulon.com/actualites/transferts/2191-gethin-jenkins-de-retour-a-cardiff-la-saison-prochaine.html

by Morgannwg Fri 25 Jan 2013, 4:06 pm

That rumour again ay? And Cory Allen can step in to replace Roberts. Blues could have one hell of a team next season. IMO, you need a better coach to build them back up.

by Coleman Fri 25 Jan 2013, 6:48 pm

We could have, I don't believe that Phil Davies is as bad as everyone says. We need to stop jumping around coaches and maybe give him some time. He took over in a transitional stage. I'd like to see a new backs coach though, and a scrummaging coach as well.

by Morgannwg Fri 25 Jan 2013, 6:51 pm

I'm not saying get rid of him. It's just clearly he isn't suited for a head coach role. He shouldn't be appointed of a region with his track record. Blues could well be his reckoning as a coach, I hope it will be.

by XR Tue 29 Jan 2013, 2:31 pm

You can see that PD is trying things with what he has available. Some of the signings have been atrocious though and before his time, who the hell signed off on Campese Maafu, for instance? Burnell & Baber, one left and the other is contracted until the end of the season. Hopefully he gets his marching orders and we bring in the man who should be involved in regional rugby...Mark Ring, to coach the backs instead.

The signing of Matthew Rees, for me, is positive as he'll be winding down welsh committments and will be a vital learning base for guys like Breeze who are finally showing what they got. Filo Paulo looks a big, uncompromising guy and looking forward to seeing him get stuck in to it in February. Then there's the Gethin rumour...

Just seems like we're starting to build a team for next season and most blues fans will have said this season is a write off before it started. We've had some crap results but also some good ones so it hasn't been all bad, just about what we expected.

Hopefully a few more signings for next year to strengthen the pack and, now with TJ leaving, possibly sign a winger to give depth, and we look a decent size.

by wales606 Tue 29 Jan 2013, 3:55 pm

gcBlues wrote:You can see that PD is trying things with what he has available. Some of the signings have been atrocious though and before his time, who the hell signed off on Campese Maafu, for instance? Burnell & Baber, one left and the other is contracted until the end of the season. Hopefully he gets his marching orders and we bring in the man who should be involved in regional rugby...Mark Ring, to coach the backs instead.

The signing of Matthew Rees, for me, is positive as he'll be winding down welsh committments and will be a vital learning base for guys like Breeze who are finally showing what they got. Filo Paulo looks a big, uncompromising guy and looking forward to seeing him get stuck in to it in February. Then there's the Gethin rumour...

Just seems like we're starting to build a team for next season and most blues fans will have said this season is a write off before it started. We've had some crap results but also some good ones so it hasn't been all bad, just about what we expected.

Hopefully a few more signings for next year to strengthen the pack and, now with TJ leaving, possibly sign a winger to give depth, and we look a decent size.

Yep, this season was a write off from the start - but there have been a fair few promising point, especially Rhys Patchell performances, alongwith the development of Owen Williams (at 13 please god, why was he on the wing again last week) and Josh Navidi aswell as a couple of good signing in Rory Watts-Jones, Robin Copeland and Benoit Bourrust.

Just a shame that we are losing Tom James and Jamie Roberts, especially James as we will be lacking depth on the wing (don't put O.Williams there, dont put O.Williams there)

by Coleman Tue 29 Jan 2013, 5:38 pm

I don't like to think the season has been a write off. Sure no one expected us to do anything in terms of winning the HC or even the league. But I think it could be our most important season for a while now. We've allowed a few players to develop and the squad will be better off for it next year and as pointed out we've signed a couple of players who haven’t bombed and resigned a lot of our talented younger players.

We've laid the foundation for a team that has some potential. I do agree that the sooner Baber leaves the better. I'd love to see Ring and McIntosh involved with coaching the senior side as they've both proven themselves to be good coaches at Premiership Level.

In regards to Gethin coming back I would like to have him back, but actually playing for us and not away with Wales all of the time. He is reaching his sell by date internationally as he isn’t the strongest scrummager and has always relied on his massive work rate. Would be nice to see that work rate for 20+ games a season for the Blues.

by Jenifer McLadyboy Tue 29 Jan 2013, 5:49 pm

Coleman wrote:I don't like to think the season has been a write off. Sure no one expected us to do anything in terms of winning the HC or even the league. But I think it could be our most important season for a while now. We've allowed a few players to develop and the squad will be better off for it next year and as pointed out we've signed a couple of players who haven’t bombed and resigned a lot of our talented younger players.

We've laid the foundation for a team that has some potential. I do agree that the sooner Baber leaves the better. I'd love to see Ring and McIntosh involved with coaching the senior side as they've both proven themselves to be good coaches at Premiership Level.

In regards to Gethin coming back I would like to have him back, but actually playing for us and not away with Wales all of the time. He is reaching his sell by date internationally as he isn’t the strongest scrummager and has always relied on his massive work rate. Would be nice to see that work rate for 20+ games a season for the Blues.

Can you do all your improvement starting on the 9th of Feb and reach a peak by March, Culminating in a fabulous away win in Ravenhill in early May?

Please and thank you. Wink

by wales606 Tue 29 Jan 2013, 6:10 pm

Coleman wrote:I don't like to think the season has been a write off. Sure no one expected us to do anything in terms of winning the HC or even the league. But I think it could be our most important season for a while now. We've allowed a few players to develop and the squad will be better off for it next year and as pointed out we've signed a couple of players who haven’t bombed and resigned a lot of our talented younger players.

We've laid the foundation for a team that has some potential. I do agree that the sooner Baber leaves the better. I'd love to see Ring and McIntosh involved with coaching the senior side as they've both proven themselves to be good coaches at Premiership Level.

In regards to Gethin coming back I would like to have him back, but actually playing for us and not away with Wales all of the time. He is reaching his sell by date internationally as he isn’t the strongest scrummager and has always relied on his massive work rate. Would be nice to see that work rate for 20+ games a season for the Blues.

Write off in terms of results, not development

by Coleman Wed 30 Jan 2013, 2:50 pm

Seems like the place to put it rather than posting another thread. But friday's game vs. London Irish is in doubt as the pitch is still water logged. Our U-8's were supposed to play the touch game at halftime but the Blues have told them that it won't be happening as the game might be off.

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