Blues Face Last Strady Visit Ever...
Blues Last Strady Visit
By Andrew Collins
March 18 2008
Dai Young has named his side for Good Friday's Magner's league clash with the Llanelli Scarlets. It is quite likely to be the last time the two sides meet at the famous Strady Park, and off the back of Welsh Grand Slam success, many fans are expected to take the trip west.
There are 3 changes to the side that won dramatically against Munster a fortnight ago, with Nick Macleod replacing Rhys Jones at fly half, Rhys Thomas for Gareth Williams and Scott Morgan for Paul Tito.
As expected, there's also bench returns for Marc Stcherbina who has only 24 minutes of rugby to his name all season, and Dai Flanagan who has recovered from a fractured hand. He hasn't featured since the fantastic Stade Francais home win (15/12/07) when he scored 16 points.
Grand Slam hero's Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins and try scorer against France, Martyn Williams, have all been left out of the squad to be rested following a long 6 Nations campaign.
You can get tickets for the 7.10pm kick off via the Scarlets Official web site, the ticket office - 01554 783900, or at the ticket booth before the game, however the latter is not recommended.
With the Internationals now over for a few months, attention turns back on the Blues, who have the most important end of season for some years. Young's team need a victory at Strady to keep within league leaders Leinster, who sit 8 points clear, they then host Edinburgh a week later, before the 6th April sees the Heineken Cup Quarter Final against Toulouse.
Cardiff Blues:
B. Blair, J. Roberts, J. Robinson, G. Thomas, T. Selley, N. Macleod, R. Rees; J. Yapp, R. Thomas, G. Powell, D. Jones, S. Morgan, M. Molitika, R. Sowden-Taylor, X. Rush.
T. Filise, G. Williams, M. Lewis, B. White, J. Spice, D. Flanagan, M. Stcherbina
Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 18/03/2008 13:30
Blues V Scarlets
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: smudgerblue (IP Logged)
Date: 18/03/2008 14:18
As expected, nice to see to players return from injury come onto the bench - Flanagan and Stcherbina.
I imagine the side for Toulouse will include Jenkins, Martyn, Shanklin, Tito, Gareth Williams, Spice and possibly Tom James. When you start adding these names, you start to realise it's a pretty strong squad with just two weaknesses; at tighthead and outside half.
With the possibility of either Nicky / Flanagan / Macleod playing at 10 for Toulouse.
Is there any new news on how Nicky is doing?
I imagine the side for Toulouse will include Jenkins, Martyn, Shanklin, Tito, Gareth Williams, Spice and possibly Tom James. When you start adding these names, you start to realise it's a pretty strong squad with just two weaknesses; at tighthead and outside half.
With the possibility of either Nicky / Flanagan / Macleod playing at 10 for Toulouse.
Is there any new news on how Nicky is doing?
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: amstel (IP Logged)
Date: 18/03/2008 18:54
Good side by us, Scarlets also has a strong looking side.
Should be a cracker.
Anyone making their way down to Turkland!
Should be a cracker.
Anyone making their way down to Turkland!
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk Admin (IP Logged)
Date: 18/03/2008 19:25
Yup, i sure will be. Going down with my mum, dad and mate. see most of you there i hope...
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: S A Brained (IP Logged)
Date: 19/03/2008 21:40
Not going. Working until 18:00 hrs no time to get there then.
I think we should be sending a shadow side. the league is gone all we have left is Toulouse and the HEC dream.
I think we should be sending a shadow side. the league is gone all we have left is Toulouse and the HEC dream.
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk Admin (IP Logged)
Date: 19/03/2008 21:58
Quote:theArmsPark.co.uk Admin
Yup, i sure will be. Going down with my mum, dad and mate. see most of you there i hope...
I often wonder if you still enjoy watching rugby SA. This is still a grudge match between 2nd and 3rd and between two Welsh derby teams. Even if it were 11th vs 10th, i'd still want to see us send a good side up there and give them a game.
I don't know about you, but i want cardiff to win every single game. Besides, saying we're out is a little pessamistic isn't it. I mean, its going to be tough, but there's no point giving up just yet.
Admittedly we could lose players to injury, but you can't throw away 2 league games just in case. Plus, they need some game time to prepare for Toulouse, the fixture list has been a bit all over the place during the 6 nations, they need to settle down and focus on the regions again, and what better way than winning at Strady, now that would build confidence.
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Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: S A Brained (IP Logged)
Date: 20/03/2008 00:15
Realistic. I also see no point in players getting injured in this Mickey mouse tournament.
With the fixture list we have do you really think we have even the slightest chance? The ML's job is done we have qualified for next season's HEC. No we still have that competition to prioritize!
If we really needed to build don't you think we would be playing all our first choice players?
They can all play in the Edinburgh game.
Remember being realistic does not stop you enjoying rugby. You even enjoy the odd shock win all the more.
With the fixture list we have do you really think we have even the slightest chance? The ML's job is done we have qualified for next season's HEC. No we still have that competition to prioritize!
If we really needed to build don't you think we would be playing all our first choice players?
They can all play in the Edinburgh game.
Remember being realistic does not stop you enjoying rugby. You even enjoy the odd shock win all the more.
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk Admin (IP Logged)
Date: 20/03/2008 11:06
Well if we're being realistic, we probably have a better chance of winning the league than we do of winning out in Toulouse. i know what your getting at in terms of the HC being more prestigeous, but when your only involved in 2 tournaments towards the end of the season, it seems silly just to write the league off completely.
If, in the likley event, we do lost in France, by your methods thats season over. We ay as well go into the Strdy and Edinburgh matches thinking we can still do something thios season.
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If, in the likley event, we do lost in France, by your methods thats season over. We ay as well go into the Strdy and Edinburgh matches thinking we can still do something thios season.
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: Rusts (IP Logged)
Date: 20/03/2008 11:52
Teams should go out with the intention of winning every game, especially a derby. Get a win on possibly the last visit to Stradey, that would be nice, no?
The ML has suffered over the years because of certain teams' unwillingness to field strong sides.
Whether some people think it's a 'Mickey Mouse' competition or not, the ML is here to stay at the mo. The only way the league will get better and more competitive is if teams field strong sides all the time...and if people stop being eternally pessimistic!
Apart from that, i think it will be tough to get a result at Stradey. But you don't get if you don't try.
The ML has suffered over the years because of certain teams' unwillingness to field strong sides.
Whether some people think it's a 'Mickey Mouse' competition or not, the ML is here to stay at the mo. The only way the league will get better and more competitive is if teams field strong sides all the time...and if people stop being eternally pessimistic!
Apart from that, i think it will be tough to get a result at Stradey. But you don't get if you don't try.
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: S A Brained (IP Logged)
Date: 20/03/2008 23:40
The ML has served its reason. we have qualified for the HEC next season. that is the plain and simple truth. The antipathy I and many others feel toward it is the result of the Irish lack of interest and the pointlessness of the Scots.
Why not look to the future and use these end of season games to blood some youngsters.
I disagree about our chances. The game Vs Toulouse is a one off cup game. Any thing can happen. REMEMBER ST PETERS! The ML is an event that should Leinster fail to win it there will be a stewards enquiry.
Why not look to the future and use these end of season games to blood some youngsters.
I disagree about our chances. The game Vs Toulouse is a one off cup game. Any thing can happen. REMEMBER ST PETERS! The ML is an event that should Leinster fail to win it there will be a stewards enquiry.
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk Admin (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2008 00:46
How can you say the Irish don't take it seriously, Leinster are 1st and Munster are 4th. Admittedly Connacht are 10th and Ulster 9th, but the Dragons are 8th and Ospreys 7th.
I know what your getting at, and i think the next match we loe really will be it, but we may as well give it a shout. As for Toulouse, im going over knowing we can do it, but realitsicly, its insanely unlikely. Now how is that any different to your evaluation of the league.
All i'm saying is lets give it a go. A win at Strady and/or Edinburgh would build much needed confidence before the Toulouse game.
If we lose either of those then yes, lets spend the final few games after Toulouse giving Allinson, Hewitt and co a bit of game time.
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I know what your getting at, and i think the next match we loe really will be it, but we may as well give it a shout. As for Toulouse, im going over knowing we can do it, but realitsicly, its insanely unlikely. Now how is that any different to your evaluation of the league.
All i'm saying is lets give it a go. A win at Strady and/or Edinburgh would build much needed confidence before the Toulouse game.
If we lose either of those then yes, lets spend the final few games after Toulouse giving Allinson, Hewitt and co a bit of game time.
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: S A Brained (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2008 10:02
A one off shock like
Cardiff V St Peters
Newport V Penclawd
Bradford V Liverpool
Bradford V Chelsea
or a run of shoch defeats for Leinster coupled with Cardiff Winning with BPs at home and away V LLanelli and Ulster?
One offs happen the later is highly unlikely.
Remember: Miracles happen the impossible takes much much longer.
Cardiff V St Peters
Newport V Penclawd
Bradford V Liverpool
Bradford V Chelsea
or a run of shoch defeats for Leinster coupled with Cardiff Winning with BPs at home and away V LLanelli and Ulster?
One offs happen the later is highly unlikely.
Remember: Miracles happen the impossible takes much much longer.
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk Admin (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2008 12:05
I think you mean Barnsley 
But anyway, i don't think this is going anywhere. If we lose tonight, it's irrelevent. I really don't like this idea of giving up the league with 6 games to go, all of which are winnable, just for teh sake of a one off match we are very unlikely to win.
Obviosuly i'd rather win the HC than Magners, but lets just see how tonight goes first.
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But anyway, i don't think this is going anywhere. If we lose tonight, it's irrelevent. I really don't like this idea of giving up the league with 6 games to go, all of which are winnable, just for teh sake of a one off match we are very unlikely to win.
Obviosuly i'd rather win the HC than Magners, but lets just see how tonight goes first.
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
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Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: S A Brained (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2008 21:04
Barnsley indeed.
Another inept Strady display. I hope it was worth it.
Let's hope that the injury to RST does not add salt to the wounds!
Another inept Strady display. I hope it was worth it.
Let's hope that the injury to RST does not add salt to the wounds!
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: swanseablue (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2008 21:45
the league is the bread and butter, if you think thats 'mickey mouse' then god help us! I seem to remember 10 years ago people saying the heineken cup would never catch on, well..........?
Dissappointed tonight, chance has been and gone!clearly all our eggs are in one basket, ROLL ON TOULOUSE!
Dissappointed tonight, chance has been and gone!clearly all our eggs are in one basket, ROLL ON TOULOUSE!
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: S A Brained (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2008 21:50
The league is about qualification for Europe.
For God's sake we PAY the Irish and the Scots to play in it. It is a drain on development of WELSH PLAYERS!
When will people wake up and smell the coffee?
For God's sake we PAY the Irish and the Scots to play in it. It is a drain on development of WELSH PLAYERS!
When will people wake up and smell the coffee?
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: Rocky (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2008 23:11
Quote:swanseablue
the league is the bread and butter, if you think thats 'mickey mouse' then god help us!
God help us indeed.
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: DRY (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2008 23:42
mickey mouse has just e-mailed his disgust as being mentioned in the same breath as the magners league, pointing out he was a success.......
Mickey did however mention that maybe the first 6 teams in the league, whatever country, should automatically qualify for the HC and this would kick start certain teams into taking the league seriously and fielding their top players on a more regular basis (not a bad idea considering he's a mouse i thought). The big CHEESES in charge of the league take note.
Mickey did however mention that maybe the first 6 teams in the league, whatever country, should automatically qualify for the HC and this would kick start certain teams into taking the league seriously and fielding their top players on a more regular basis (not a bad idea considering he's a mouse i thought). The big CHEESES in charge of the league take note.
Re: Blues V Scarlets
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk Admin (IP Logged)
Date: 22/03/2008 14:53
Bravo Dry, very MICE post.
Obviously us joining the Guinness Prem would be the best deal, but there's very little we as fans can do about that, so for now, lets just enjoy the league for what it is.
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!
Obviously us joining the Guinness Prem would be the best deal, but there's very little we as fans can do about that, so for now, lets just enjoy the league for what it is.
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!