Cardiff Blues Season Thread 3 - Danny Wilson Appointed Head Coach

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

Navidi is better in other positions in my opinion. Williams is an out and out 8. Good signing.

[maestegmafia]

Looking like a convincing result vs cal island at the moment

[maestegmafia]

Need Quins to up their game a bit though

[maestegmafia]

Unfortunately the result in Montpellier went the wrong way for Blues. Good performances by a few key players for the Welsh squad though

[Coleman]

Bugger, we're out. Ohhh well, can focus on the league.

[mikey_dragon]

Missing 5 conversions won't do Anscombe any international favours.

[wales606]

Missing 5 conversions won't do Anscombe any international favours.

Apparently he was making all the touchline conversions in the first half, so don't know what happened in the second.

[Coleman]

Missing 5 conversions won't do Anscombe any international favours.

Apparently he was making all the touchline conversions in the first half, so don't know what happened in the second.

He hit the first few from the far left then when we had one in field from the right he seemed to fall to pieces. Tom James showed his quality. Cory Allen has scored some tries since he came back as well. Tough v Edinburgh now next week. 5,490 there last night. Much better then last year vs Calvisano.

[Cardiff Dave]

Bugger, we're out. Ohhh well, can focus on the league.

and next season while moving in the right direction.

[George Carlin]

https://www.606v2.com/t61954-cardiff-blues-v-edinburgh-30-january

[Coleman]

Gill is now confirmed. Gill, Jenkins and Hobbs at loose head. Ma'afu, E. Lewis and Mitchell (or Thyer) at tight. Starting to develop some depth in the front row. Just need some second rows now.

[mikey_dragon]

I thought Ma'afu, yet to have game time, was only until the end of the season? Or maybe I'm thinking of someone else. Has his assault charge anything to do with the lack of game time?

[Coleman]

I think you may be right but you'd hope we can keep him for next season if he does well.

[Guest]

I hope Gill works out for you. Always thought he could/should kick on to regular international rugby, given the promise shown at younger ages. Would be great if he does. Good to see him coming home.

[Blueschief]

Another good signing, please Cardiff let this not be another false dawn, my optimism is getting too high for that.

[Coleman]

https://mobile.twitter.com/bbcwalessport/status/692044590652755969

I'm not big on this twitter stuff. Clearly Gill is one of the annoucements. I wonder if we'll be making others. We've been linked with Kirby Myhill havn't we?

[LondonTiger]

Gill will be a really good bench option for you guys.

[mikey_dragon]

Think Gill has stagnated and could do with a move to a new team. Hopefully his form gets better again at the Blues.

[Cardiff Dave]

Only Warbs and Anscombe on DCs so far then?

[Coleman]

Good win on saturday. But we really should have scored more tries. Ma'afu looked good but unfit. Lucky not to get a yellow as well. I thought Hoeata has one of his best games for us and Vosawai again looks like the player we wanted to sign. Shame he took a season to get there. Be nice to have him and Williams here next season as Sheeky still dosn't look ready. Young lads in the scrum were shown to be just that in the second half but i think they'll learn a lot from it. Patchells kicking is a mystery to me. Nails the first one from the touch line then misses everything in field. Lee-Lo was great in defense as well.

[wales606]

Good win on saturday. But we really should have scored more tries. Ma'afu looked good but unfit. Lucky not to get a yellow as well. I thought Hoeata has one of his best games for us and Vosawai again looks like the player we wanted to sign. Shame he took a season to get there. Be nice to have him and Williams here next season as Sheeky still dosn't look ready. Young lads in the scrum were shown to be just that in the second half but i think they'll learn a lot from it. Patchells kicking is a mystery to me. Nails the first one from the touch line then misses everything in field. Lee-Lo was great in defense as well.

Lee-Lo is turning into a great signing, really good leading the defence at 13 and very strong in contact

Thought Patchell had a very poor game

[Coleman]

Really need Patchell to be on form for the visiting Irish teams. My worry is that we'll take Treviso lightly and shoot ourselfs in the foot. We need to put out the best team we can and use it as a stepping stone for what really are two massive games vs Leinster and Ulster.

Also i've read that Normaldale has joined Merthyr. Can anyone confirm?

[Cardiff Dave]

Good win on saturday. But we really should have scored more tries. Ma'afu looked good but unfit. Lucky not to get a yellow as well. I thought Hoeata has one of his best games for us and Vosawai again looks like the player we wanted to sign. Shame he took a season to get there. Be nice to have him and Williams here next season as Sheeky still dosn't look ready. Young lads in the scrum were shown to be just that in the second half but i think they'll learn a lot from it. Patchells kicking is a mystery to me. Nails the first one from the touch line then misses everything in field. Lee-Lo was great in defense as well.

On another day those 3 almost tries will count and we'll register a cricket score.

[PhilBB]

Gill is now confirmed. Gill, Jenkins and Hobbs at loose head. Ma'afu, E. Lewis and Mitchell (or Thyer) at tight. Starting to develop some depth in the front row. Just need some second rows now.

Thyer is a loose head. Hobbs may be off to Newport. Dillon Lewis is the tight head, Ethan Lewis is the hooker.

[Cardiff Dave]

Gill is now confirmed. Gill, Jenkins and Hobbs at loose head. Ma'afu, E. Lewis and Mitchell (or Thyer) at tight. Starting to develop some depth in the front row. Just need some second rows now.

Thyer is a loose head. Hobbs may be off to Newport. Dillon Lewis is the tight head, Ethan Lewis is the hooker.

Will Gats now require Anscombe at 15 for Cardiff in the furure or is this just a temporary measure coz LW and HP aint available?

[Don Blues]

Gill is now confirmed. Gill, Jenkins and Hobbs at loose head. Ma'afu, E. Lewis and Mitchell (or Thyer) at tight. Starting to develop some depth in the front row. Just need some second rows now.

Thyer is a loose head. Hobbs may be off to Newport. Dillon Lewis is the tight head, Ethan Lewis is the hooker.

Will Gats now require Anscombe at 15 for Cardiff in the furure or is this just a temporary measure coz LW and HP aint available?

Temporary measure I feel, I recon gatland sees anscmbe as no2 to biggar at 10, once halfpenny is available or Liam Williams deemed fit (probably next week) they will be the 15 options. Unless Anscombe has a stormer against the Irish!

Anscombe will be the blues main 10 going forward and the only time I see him at 15 for us will be for emergency cover. The one issue is how much he'll play for us with a dual contract!

[LordDowlais]

Warren Gatland is talking about phasing Gethin Jenkins out of the international game, so he could be available all season for Cardiff Blues in the near future:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-reveal-talks-gethin-jenkins-10833257


For those of you who do not like to click onto WOL:-

Wales reveal talks with Gethin Jenkins over 'exit strategy' as legendary prop's career moves closer to end.

Warren Gatland has discussed managing Gethin Jenkins' departure from the international spotlight and is determined to respect what he has achieved for Welsh rugby.

Warren Gatland has revealed that discussions have been held with Gethin Jenkins about his “exit strategy” as the prop’s glittering international career moves closer to its end.
Wales’ most capped player of all time has been left out of the starting line-up to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, with young Scarlets loosehead Rob Evans getting the nod ahead of him.
The benched Cardiff Blues veteran is now 35 and Gatland confirms he has talked to him about the way the remainder of his time in the Test arena will be handled amid a succession plan.
“We have spoken on a few occasions during the World Cup about potentially what happens to him,” said the Kiwi coach.
“He knows potentially he is not going to get through to 2019 and we have spoken about how do we manage that process where we bring someone on as a replacement and his potential exit strategy as well.
“Those discussions have been really positive in terms of the way that we deal with it and making sure we are aware of respecting what he’s achieved and done for Welsh rugby.”
Gatland is still expecting the 119-cap Jenkins to make a significant impact during this Six Nations campaign, starting with this weekend’s opener in Dublin, where he will be waiting for the call from the bench.
“He’s a professional. He’s been around for a long time. I have no doubt when he gets his opportunity he will come on and perform,” he said.
“His strengths are his ability over the ball and around the field and his leadership and his experience. Even though he’s getting on a bit, in terms of some of his breakdown work and cleaning out and scrummaging there are areas he’s still working on.”
[size=48]With relative rookie Evans, 23, having been selected ahead of both Jenkins and fellow veteran Paul James, who doesn’t make the match-day squad, Gatland confirmed we are possibly seeing a changing of the guard on the loosehead.
“Rob has played well for us before and deserves a chance looking ahead to the next few years,” he said, commenting on the three-cap Evans.
“We have a couple of loose-heads who have been around a long time and have given brilliant service, but how much longer they will be involved internationally, we are not too sure.
“We are giving Rob an opportunity looking forward to 2019. He’s a young player of the future.
“He’s had a few caps now and we’ve been impressed with his form for the Scarlets. He’s scrummaging well.”[/size]

[PhilBB]

Will Gats now require Anscombe at 15 for Cardiff in the furure or is this just a temporary measure coz LW and HP aint available?

You'd hope that he sees GA as the third best option at 15.

[Cardiff Dave]

Will Gats now require Anscombe at 15 for Cardiff in the furure or is this just a temporary measure coz LW and HP aint available?

You'd hope that he sees GA as the third best option at 15.

Otherwise it's a Dai Flan at 10 for Cardiff, I spose.

[PhilBB]

Otherwise it's a Dai Flan at 10 for Cardiff, I spose.

I think that Williams, Anscombe, James, Lee Lo, Allen, Cuthbert, Fish is a strong back line with WilliamsT, Morgan and Nanai-Williams as bench cover. That's good enough to challenge for honours.

Hooker and second row is still the concern, for me, else it'll be Gill, Dacey, Ma'afu, Hoeata, Earle, Warburton, Jenkins, Williams with Jenkins, Andrews, Lewis, Reed, Navidi as the bench.

[wales606]

Nanai-Williams .

???

Have I missed something?

[Cardiff Dave]

Otherwise it's a Dai Flan at 10 for Cardiff, I spose.

I think that Williams, Anscombe, James, Lee Lo, Allen, Cuthbert, Fish is a strong back line with WilliamsT, Morgan and Nanai-Williams as bench cover. That's good enough to challenge for honours.

Hooker and second row is still the concern, for me, else it'll be Gill, Dacey, Ma'afu, Hoeata, Earle, Warburton, Jenkins, Williams with Jenkins, Andrews, Lewis, Reed, Navidi as the bench.

Who's Nanai-Williams?

[PhilBB]

Just being mischievous...

[Cardiff Dave]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Nanai-Williams

[wales606]

Seen him for the 7s a few times, he is pretty skillfull but seems to be settled in Japan.

[Cardiff Dave]

Just being mischievous...

C0ck!

[Cardiff Dave]

Worth £38m, but sold for £1.8m. Mmmm!?!?
Sorry?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/first-minister-apologises-land-deals-10791610

[PhilBB]

I see that the u18s are Welsh Champions.

[Coleman]

I was going to post the same thing Phil. We've always had good age grade sides. Issue has always been turning them from good age grade players in to good pros.

[PhilBB]

I was going to post the same thing Phil. We've always had good age grade sides. Issue has always been turning them from good age grade players in to good pros.

I'm not too sure about that. Up to 2010 the return on investment was great but we all know what happened after that.

Integration into the first team should only be for the very top Academy graduates. Have a look at the Amlin winning team to see how it should work.

[Cardiff Dave]

[Cardiff Dave]

And the EDF winning side was better than the Amlin winning side. Shame everything went rapidly @rse over....

Cardiff Blues:
Blair; Halfpenny, Shanklin, J Roberts, James; N Robinson, Spice; Jenkins, G Williams, Filise, Davies, Tito, Molitika, M Williams, Rush.

Replacements: G Thomas for Halfpenny (67), Sweeney for N Robinson (67), Rees for Spice (2), T Thomas for G Williams (61), Yapp for Filise (70), D Jones for Davies (65), A Powell for Molitika (58).

[wayne]

And the EDF winning side was better than the Amlin winning side. Shame everything went rapidly @rse over....

Cardiff Blues:
Blair; Halfpenny, Shanklin, J Roberts, James; N Robinson, Spice; Jenkins, G Williams, Filise, Davies, Tito, Molitika, M Williams, Rush.

Replacements: G Thomas for Halfpenny (67), Sweeney for N Robinson (67), Rees for Spice (2), T Thomas for G Williams (61), Yapp for Filise (70), D Jones for Davies (65), A Powell for Molitika (58).

Dave was that hooker the Gareth Williams that used to play for Bridgend, if it was I seen him in town today, I knew he was short but he was only at the most 5'9" barely above me, in the last few years had some decent chats with Hibbard and Baldwin and they tower me, Williams was very mobile though.

[Cardiff Dave]

And the EDF winning side was better than the Amlin winning side. Shame everything went rapidly @rse over....

Cardiff Blues:
Blair; Halfpenny, Shanklin, J Roberts, James; N Robinson, Spice; Jenkins, G Williams, Filise, Davies, Tito, Molitika, M Williams, Rush.

Replacements: G Thomas for Halfpenny (67), Sweeney for N Robinson (67), Rees for Spice (2), T Thomas for G Williams (61), Yapp for Filise (70), D Jones for Davies (65), A Powell for Molitika (58).

Dave was that hooker the Gareth Williams that used to play for Bridgend, if it was I seen him in town today, I knew he was short but he was only at the most 5'9" barely above me, in the last few years had some decent chats with Hibbard and Baldwin and they tower me, Williams was very mobile though.

Gareth Williams yeah. Quite short I spose and very nippy on the hoof. Don't know if he played for Bridgend though.

[Cardiff Dave]

Still reckon Cardiff were a proper TH away from winning the HEC that season, but there we are.

[GavinDragon]

Williams is as wide as he is tall. Very stocky bloke!

[Coleman]

Things going poorly in Treviso. 13-7 down, 20 mins to go.

[VinceWLB]

Could only catch the last 20 but looked like Treviso mauled Blues off the park, Cardiff backs were helpless against the Treviso defense on a very heavy pitch.

Treviso will be a much improved side with their new coach.

[Coleman]

Top 6 gone i think.

[VinceWLB]

Apparently conceded a penalty try with Maafu propping at tighthead which is disappointing. He may not be as good as everyone think he is.

[Cardiff Dave]

Top 6 gone i think.

Chin up. A long shot to start with really. Looks like it's the Bic Biro for one more season.

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