Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Cardiff Blues Vs Australi
By Andrew Collins
November 24 2009
Cardiff Blues tonight take on one of the International superpower s of world rugby, as Dai Young’s men bid for immortality status as Cardiff Blues legends!
Dai Young has named the strongest squad possible, including Sam Warburton and Gareth Cooper who rejoin the squad from Wales duty.
Australians Ben White and Sam Norton-Knight both start against their home country, while Kiwi Xavier Rush captains the side.
Head Coach Dai Young said his side have nothing to fear ahead of the big kick off,
"It's very rare that we get the opportunity to play an international team and this is obviously the first time since we became a region. So we have all been looking forward to the match for a number of weeks now. The physicality of the match will be a step up for us but in the later stages of the Heineken Cup, if you look across the teams that we have played against, they have been pretty much full international teams. So it is nothing that the players will be totally alien to."
Cardiff Blues: Ben Blair; Richard Mustoe, Gareth Thomas, Dafydd Hewitt, Chris Czekaj; Sam Norton-Knight, Gareth Cooper; Taufa'au Filise, Gareth Williams, Gary Powell, Deiniol Jones, Scott Morgan, Sam Warburton, Ben White, Xavier Rush (capt).
Replacements: T Rhys Thomas, Sam Hobbs, Paul Tito, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Richie Rees, Ceri Sweeney, Gavin Evans.
Australia: James O'Connor; Lachie Turner, Ryan Cross, Tyrone Smith, Kurtley Beale; Matt Toomua, Luke Burgess; Pekahou Cowan, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu, Dave Dennis, Dean Mumm (capt), Mitchell Chapman, Matt Hodgson, Richard Brown.
Replacements: Salesi Ma'afu, Matt Dunning, Mark Chisholm, George Smith, Richard Kingi, Quade Cooper, Luke Morahan.
Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 24/11/2009 16:26
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Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: david williams (IP Logged)
Date: 24/11/2009 23:37
Just to get this out of the way, Cooper was shocking tonight! My mate commented that he's been found out, at international and now regional level.
I didn't expect too much from the team against international grade opposition. The forwards did the best they could, however our reserve backs showed the usual lack of imagination.
Regardless what 'two-dads' thinks, I believe him to be better at fullback instead of at halfback.
In the end, it was a meaningless game. A bit of exposure, gate and TV revenue and a useful run out in preparation for the weekend.
I didn't expect too much from the team against international grade opposition. The forwards did the best they could, however our reserve backs showed the usual lack of imagination.
Regardless what 'two-dads' thinks, I believe him to be better at fullback instead of at halfback.
In the end, it was a meaningless game. A bit of exposure, gate and TV revenue and a useful run out in preparation for the weekend.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: Dim Cais (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 00:19
A total embarrassment if you ask me.
Glad it was the bloooos who were utterley humiliated and not a proper Cardiff side. And it cost us around £200,000. I'm so happy.
Glad it was the bloooos who were utterley humiliated and not a proper Cardiff side. And it cost us around £200,000. I'm so happy.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: ATTR (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 00:24
I'm glad to see you are positive that it was cr@p!
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: Dim Cais (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 00:28
Quote:david williams
In the end, it was a meaningless game. A bit of exposure, gate and TV revenue and a useful run out in preparation for the weekend.
Exposure; that horror show should really have been staged behind closed doors.
Gate and tv revenue; about two shillings and sixpence.
A useful runout: for the Aussies, yes?
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: Wellyn (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 08:39
I'm fed up of the performances that the team are putting in week in and week out.
London Irish game a couple of weeks ago was awful, and the game last night just goes to confirm, if it needed confirming, that we have one strong team when we have our full compliment of internationals / Lions, then pretty much nothing else. Total shambles. Do the team train at all, or do they have a state of the art facility at the Vale Hotel just to meet up and have a chat over a coffee?
This season is a disaster. Bring on Connaught !
London Irish game a couple of weeks ago was awful, and the game last night just goes to confirm, if it needed confirming, that we have one strong team when we have our full compliment of internationals / Lions, then pretty much nothing else. Total shambles. Do the team train at all, or do they have a state of the art facility at the Vale Hotel just to meet up and have a chat over a coffee?
This season is a disaster. Bring on Connaught !
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: Jules 22 (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 09:21
The best decision I've made for a long time was not going last night - I just couldnt be bothered after the London Irish game and I called it right.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: Arthur-Dent (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 09:32
Two words; lack and lustre. I think that it was probably too much to expect a home win last night but it was reasonable to see a Blues team give display of good rugby. In the end of course we got neither. Sam Norton-Knight simply does not have it at fly half. In the second half all he did was pass the ball to whichever player was outside. This might have been more effective had there been a Roberts or a Shanklin there but there was not. He posses no vision and clearly cannot control the game in a way that is essential playing at 10 at this level. Hell even when Sweeney came on there was a little more variation. How desperate is that?
It is always easy to be negative but even given that there were the Wales squad players missing it is difficult to find many positives from last nights game.
Congratulations to the Aussies they were well organised, had good pace and were playing in 3rd gear for most of the game.
It is always easy to be negative but even given that there were the Wales squad players missing it is difficult to find many positives from last nights game.
Congratulations to the Aussies they were well organised, had good pace and were playing in 3rd gear for most of the game.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: shrekogre (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 09:40
I think televised Blues games should be shown after the 9.00pm watershed. Along with the horror films.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: lost in bridgend (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 10:50
Once again a complete and utter shambles.
I hope that Laulala wasn't watching.
I hope that Laulala wasn't watching.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: Huwie (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 10:57
I nearly died last night, the only good thing was seeing Nicky Robinson's moustache on S4C.
I'm really sorry for Hewitt and Mustoe the only players to turn up for us last night.
I'm really sorry for Hewitt and Mustoe the only players to turn up for us last night.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: shrekogre (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 11:06
Quote:lost in bridgend
Once again a complete and utter shambles.
I hope that Laulala wasn't watching.
Laulala was not present at the game last night. Where has he gone ?
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: smudgerblue (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 11:11
I don't think the Blues are alone in playing poor rugby this season - I think I have only seen one decent game so far either on TV or live.
Yesterday the Blues were poor, they seemed very slow to the breakdown and Cooper was dreadful.
I thought SNK, Hewitt and Mustoe had reasonable games - SNK can only do so much if he is getting slow ball. Thought he kicked well (apart from one slice) and decided to hold the ball and take contact when nothing was on outside.
A couple of nice hits from Hewitt.
Surprised that Shanklin wasn't on the bench.
Thought Blair had his worst game for the Blues in a long time - I would be tempted to play Roberts at full back against Toulouse.
What has happened to TRT? Again dreadful.
We are definately missing Molitika.
Also, we seem to go into contact alone, where as Australia go into contact in 2's and 3's - is it a fitness thing?
Yesterday the Blues were poor, they seemed very slow to the breakdown and Cooper was dreadful.
I thought SNK, Hewitt and Mustoe had reasonable games - SNK can only do so much if he is getting slow ball. Thought he kicked well (apart from one slice) and decided to hold the ball and take contact when nothing was on outside.
A couple of nice hits from Hewitt.
Surprised that Shanklin wasn't on the bench.
Thought Blair had his worst game for the Blues in a long time - I would be tempted to play Roberts at full back against Toulouse.
What has happened to TRT? Again dreadful.
We are definately missing Molitika.
Also, we seem to go into contact alone, where as Australia go into contact in 2's and 3's - is it a fitness thing?
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: DaveBigHands (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 11:17
All in all, not a great experience last night - hour and a half on Cardiff Bus to get to the stadium, sat in row 10 and got soaked. Oh, and a football ar5ehole sat in front wanted to have a fight with me because he didn't like the non-complimentary,private conversation I was having with my mate about Peter Ridsdale. On the field, it wasn't much better. 
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: TaffSpick (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 13:48
Have to agree with everything above.
Putting the performance aside, the atmosphere was dreadful from the first moment. I was surrounded by people just chatting throughout the game and when I shouted "C'MON CARDIFF" as is my want, I was given a dozen embarrassed glances. There was almost complete silence and disinterest from the crowd for the first half. Where have all the wags gone? There is no rugby soul at the new ground. It is just horrible. A scoreboard you can't see (if, like most people, you are in the Ninian Stand), oafish ticket office staff, rip off food and drink prices and, to cap it all, a roof that neither shades you from the sun or keeps off the rain (and I was in row M!). You can endure these things when you win but when you lose they add up to a pretty unpleasant experience all round.
Putting the performance aside, the atmosphere was dreadful from the first moment. I was surrounded by people just chatting throughout the game and when I shouted "C'MON CARDIFF" as is my want, I was given a dozen embarrassed glances. There was almost complete silence and disinterest from the crowd for the first half. Where have all the wags gone? There is no rugby soul at the new ground. It is just horrible. A scoreboard you can't see (if, like most people, you are in the Ninian Stand), oafish ticket office staff, rip off food and drink prices and, to cap it all, a roof that neither shades you from the sun or keeps off the rain (and I was in row M!). You can endure these things when you win but when you lose they add up to a pretty unpleasant experience all round.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: ATTR (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 13:48
Gave up on the free bus. Suffered a poor display from almost every player.
SNK was a real Nightmare. Immence relief when Sweeney came on and SNK went to 15. He looks so much better there.
SNK was a real Nightmare. Immence relief when Sweeney came on and SNK went to 15. He looks so much better there.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: smudgerblue (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 13:59
Think the problems started before the ball got to SNK - Cooper had a shocker, his passing is so slow.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: capsgon (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 17:05
just dire. totally depressing all round this season
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: Mark_Davies (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 17:52
Firstly it was a pleasure to watch Australia, their work at the breakdown was superb likewise their ability to run the ball and just all round athleticsm. It shows how little strength in depth welsh rugby has and the lack of quality of Magners league games.
As for the Blues Cjekai, Cooper, White, Scott Morgan and Gary Powell arent up to this level. Norton-Knight is clearly a full back playing fly half and Ben Blair looks out of form at the moment. Still dont understand why Tito and Sowden-Taylor didnt start they looked fairly fit to me when they came on.
As for the Blues Cjekai, Cooper, White, Scott Morgan and Gary Powell arent up to this level. Norton-Knight is clearly a full back playing fly half and Ben Blair looks out of form at the moment. Still dont understand why Tito and Sowden-Taylor didnt start they looked fairly fit to me when they came on.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: ATTR (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 20:55
Tito was not 100%, so we are told, and RST is probably third choice open side at the moment.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: star of wales (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 22:09
Another miserable matchday experience at the awful new stadium. The level of performance has been unacceptable all season but my last two outings to Leckwith (London Irish and Australia) have decided it's a Rags only season next year for me. Unfortunately it seems Ceri Sweeney is our best hope at 10 - God help us. The general malaise on the pitch this season is compounded by the number of plums that seem to be in attendance at the new stadium, too. We had the misfortune of sitting within earshot of someone who was as loud as he was ignorant, booing, jeering the ref, offering opinions to "the fat lads up front" etc. The intelligent terrace banter and wit has been sadly missed this season.
Incidentally I notice no-one has mentioned the ref - I thought James Jones had the best game I've ever seen him ref last night.
Incidentally I notice no-one has mentioned the ref - I thought James Jones had the best game I've ever seen him ref last night.
Re: Cardiff Blues Vs Australia
Posted by: ATTR (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 22:44
A lot of people, many of whom thought the move to be good, are starting to think the same way star.