Quantcast

Cardiff Blues v Harlequins Preview


By @TheCardiffLife
November 18 2015

Twitter writer @TheBluesLife gives her lowdown on the European Challenge Cup match on Thursday night.

European nights are back with a bang at the Arms Park, as we welcome English big-hitters Harelquins to Wales in the second round of Challenge Cup fixtures. After beating Calvisano in Italy on Saturday, the big tests start now if the team harbour any hopes of making it to the knockout rounds, and turning CAP into the fortress that Danny Wilson wants it to be. Following that 50-9 victory last week, Cardiff are currently top of Pool 3, ahead of the visitors who themselves beat French side Montpellier 41-18 last week. As was pointed out when the group was drawn, it really wouldn’t look out of place in the Champions Cup, and as such, easy games are few and far between. With the greatest of respect to Calvisano, the other sides in the pool have to be aiming for a bonus point against them, but will battle it out between themselves to advance. Cardiff are admittedly the underdogs for this, but two home wins and anything on the road as a bonus is what’s required, and not entirely out of reach. Calvisano 9-50 Cardiff: https://theblueslife.wordpress.com/2015/11/16/calvisano-9-50-cardiff/

Harlequins arrive on the back of a successful start to their World Cup delayed season, sitting 3rd in the Aviva Premiership after three wins and a loss in their opening games. Having said that, they haven’t been plain sailing wins, as none of them have been by more than 10 points, and even the loss was only be three, meaning the big win by over Montpellier last week was the first convincing Quins performance this year. Looking back, Cardiff shouldn’t have anything to worry about if history repeates itself, having lost just one game against Harlequins in six attempts, with four wins on the way. The last game and the game before that, which was the Quins win, were played in the Anglo-Welsh Cup which doesn’t really count, but the four before that were in the Heineken Cup between 2007 and 2010. In the last of those, Cardiff won 45-20, with tries from Ben Blair, Gareth Thomas, Ceri Sweeney, Ian Rush and a Jamie Roberts brace. Only Gethin Jenkins, Tau Filise, Sam Hobbs and Tom James survive from the Cardiff squad that day, and all four will be in exactly the same positions on Thursday night as they look for a repeat of that day. Gethin and TJ retain their places from the Calvisano games, while Hobbs returns to the bench after injury and Filise replaces Dillon Lewis for the more experienced look at tighthead. The only other change in the starting XV comes in the shape of Blaine Scully, after a try scoring European bow on Saturday, making his home debut at full-back. Dan Fish might, quite rightly be a bit miffed at being relegated to the bench, but Scully is a worthy replacement, and realisitically offers more in the defensive department that might be so crucial to us.

The bench remains pretty much as you were, with Jarrod Evans retaining his role as replacement fly-half ahead of Gareth Davies. So, a huge, huge game, the first really big European encounter of Danny Wilson’s reign. It’ll have to be a game where everyone will need to be playing at their best, particularly the forwards to counter Harlequins massive rolling mauls. Our internationals will have to match theirs, and our squad players will have to match that level. I’m not hopeful of a massive crowd on a miserable Thursday night, but those who are there really need to get behind the boys. Come on Cardiff! Stats Cardiff record v Harlequins: W 4 D 1 L 1 Cardiff form: WLLLLLW Harlequins form: WWLWW Cardiff top points scorer: Rhys Patchell (99) Harlequins top points scorer: Nick Evans (88) Cardiff top try scorers: Josh Turnbull and Tom James (4) Harlequins top try scorers: Jack Clifford and Danny Care (2) Referee Watch Alexandre Ruiz (FFR) – Top 14 referee behind Roman Poite and Jerome Garces in the pecking order, but still only young. Refereed our 24-14 win over London Irish at CAP, assisted by exactly the same touch judges, let’s hope for a similar scoreline.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

Cardiff Blues v Harlequins Preview
Discussion started by 1876 Cardiff Rugby , 18/11/2015 22:40
1876 Cardiff Rugby
18/11/2015 22:40
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

jake 1
18/11/2015 23:17
Not sure its a 'huge huge game' its the challenge cup, a quins second team by the looks of it, on a Thursday night. (stupid kick-off time)

Blues should win this if you compare the squads on paper [www.bbc.co.uk]

Should we be resting likes of Warburton and Jenkins for this? I would rather concentrate on getting pro 12 top 6 (however unlikely that looks right now) than this competition.

But I'm being miserable @#$%&! Ill be there tomorrow and hopefully there will be a good tribute for Lomu

Invader
19/11/2015 11:26
Whatever the comp. Time to get some good feeling back at CAP. All out for a win. The Pro 12 is pretty much written off.

gcblues
19/11/2015 11:33
Quote:
jake 1
Not sure its a 'huge huge game' its the challenge cup, a quins second team by the looks of it, on a Thursday night. (stupid kick-off time)
Blues should win this if you compare the squads on paper [www.bbc.co.uk]

Should we be resting likes of Warburton and Jenkins for this? I would rather concentrate on getting pro 12 top 6 (however unlikely that looks right now) than this competition.

But I'm being miserable @#$%&! Ill be there tomorrow and hopefully there will be a good tribute for Lomu

winner of the comp gets in to the champions cup, that's why

Blues92
19/11/2015 16:41
I think its nonsense saying we should rest our welsh stars, they barely play and acne make a huge difference.
Also I beleive top 6 is very unlikely this year so a good European run can real bring the fans back and add a feal good factor to the arms park.

Stoopendous
19/11/2015 18:18
Quote:
Blues92
I think its nonsense saying we should rest our welsh stars, they barely play and acne make a huge difference.

Hope the spots clear up. If you didn't have a plastic pitch you could have tried a mudpack. Enjoy the game tonight - will be watching on the tellybox!

wales606
19/11/2015 21:11
Shocking implosion in this second half,

Harlequins are going to get a TBP at this rate.

First 20 minutes were great, then the forwards decided not to bother and we Quins managed 80% possession in the first half!

Selgwent
19/11/2015 21:39
Should have been yellow card for Quims 3 at first scrum.
Perfectly good try to Lloyd had ref had used TMO.
Quims first try has dubious entry to prior ruck.Penalty to us not a try.
Penalty try to us, and maybe a yellow for a Quim????

Smiler deserved RED for playing Easter with boot: should have gone to Merthyr!!!!!

cardiblue
19/11/2015 21:51
to me patch looks like hes gone already play jarod much more up with the play

wales606
19/11/2015 21:58
Awful. No chance of Champions Cup rugby next season now if you ask me.

Jarrod Evans looked better than Patchell off the bench, Dan Fish also looked good.

Forwards were all pretty dire (Other than Ellis Jenkins), Patchell and the centres didn't get much decent ball, but equally failed to do much when they did get some. I was excited to see James, Cuthbert and Scully play, but they hardly got the ball in attack.

We seemed to play the way DW wants for the first 20 minutes and were dominating the collisions and the breakdown, then they decided to completely implode.

Ospreys away next, so can't see us getting a win for a while.

Think we will lose to Connacht in Cardiff as well on current form.

Cardiffblues1
19/11/2015 22:29
Patchell shockingly poor tonight. He won't be guaranteed anyone's ten shirt if he doesn't improve his game management. He is in danger of turning into Hook, looks good at times but can't control a game for 80 mins. Jarrod looks better at that already.
Lots of players need to go to Methyr. Thankfully Danny knows this and recruitment will happen. Roll on next season. The scarlets are welcome to Patchell. His kicking stats are about 55% this season and the rest of his game is falling apart. Not many positives but Ellis Jenkins is having a fine season. Hope his ankle is not too bad. Also Tom and Alex chased all night long. Good to see Cuthbert really up for it. They should double slap Fish for taking all their space and only passing when nothing was on

Rayerker
19/11/2015 22:55
I despair to be honest. We have no game management and no ability to score tries when we get into twenty two.

The opening twenty minutes was great and we stole the ball at the breakdown almost at will. Then quins began to hold onto the ball for longer at each tackle and the ref failed to ever pin them which meant they continued to do it. From then on we barely got possession. Despite this it took a ridiculous interception from Dacey to put them ahead and then senseless play from reed to put them further ahead. Quins from then on shot up in midfield killing all our space and living offside and Cardiff with their lack of game management kept chucking it out rather than chipping it behind them, bringing vosawai onto the short ball or anything else at all. And then just as we finally get back in the game Matthew Rees senselessly stamps. Even then we get within five points before once again showing no control to allow them to claim a last second bonus point.
As a side we are stupid. We are so far from where we need to be and it will take years to build this squad to a competitive level again. It's so very depressing.

Cardiffblues1
19/11/2015 22:59
We will be better next season because half these players will be gone. We will also improve a bit when Anscombe and Allen return at Xmas. Sadly Ellis has a knee injury so may be missing for a while.
Frustrating but not surprising given our shocking coaches and recruitment the last five years. Danny has got the right ideas and he will get the time to put them into practice.

cardiff_steve
19/11/2015 23:07
Im slightly shocked by just how bad a display that was. But I dont really change my opinion about this Cardiff side.

Danny Wilson knows what he's doing. But he's inherited a shambles, and far too many players that arent good enough.

Its not just the ditrtrackers spending their time in the WP that aren't good enough either. Proper 2nd rows dont get stripped like that.

Oh and if Matthew Rees doesnt play for us again, I consider that a fair outcome.

Ben Blair's Right Peg
20/11/2015 00:00
Thought silly mistakes cost us like three interceptions and Lou reed setting off down the middle without the ball. Can't blame the defence when players gift the ball away in attack. We dominated the first half and should've had a try, we failed to take our chances at the line out although should've had a penalty try for side entry in the first 5 minutes.
Poor throwing and Hoetas absence cost the line out in key areas in the second half.
Thought Ellis Jenkins was incredible again, the front row performed well, the back three worked hard and thought both centres had good games.
Jarred Evans should start next game, he looks so sharp, patch had a shocker tonight

brfc_quin
20/11/2015 00:17
Out of interest how many of your starting XV tonight are likely to start next week in the league?

It was an enjoyable night out in Cardiff for the few away fans that made the trip!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:11:20:00:18:09 by brfc_quin.

jake 1
20/11/2015 00:33
apart from first 15 mins - extremely poor. Only Ellis Jenkins emerged with any credit. Quins didn't really do anything just held on to possession and waited for basic mistakes.

Blues kicked away so much possession, when they did decide to hold onto ball they scored two tries but it was far too late. I would issue a blanket ban on up and unders.


Farcical scenes at half time where some girl from 'the voice' broke everyone's ear drums (to be fair the sound system did her no favours) went on for far too long and had to be forced off mid-song as players were on the field and ready to play 2nd half.

Shambles all round.

cardiff_steve
20/11/2015 00:40
Quote:
brfc_quin
Out of interest how many of your starting XV tonight are likely to start next week in the league?
It was an enjoyable night out in Cardiff for the few away fans that made the trip!

Too @#$%& many.




I appreciate, that from an outside perspective, it may seem disrespectful from us to only talk about our own shortcomings and not credit the opposition. But, you do need to understand that as a rugby organisation we are really not in a good place at the moment, and havent been for about four or five years.

That said, i thought the side you brought down brought a positive attitude and taught us a lesson in defence and how to protect the ball when you've got it. Your fans were good, and made yourselves heard.

Glad you enoyed your trip to Cardiff and I hope you enjoy the rest of your time here,

Some of your wear terrible blazers, but Im probably not one to be giving sartorial advice,

cardiff_steve
20/11/2015 00:42
Quote:
jake 1
apart from first 15 mins - extremely poor. Only Ellis Jenkins emerged with any credit. Quins didn't really do anything just held on to possession and waited for basic mistakes.
Blues kicked away so much possession, when they did decide to hold onto ball they scored two tries but it was far too late. I would issue a blanket ban on up and unders.


Farcical scenes at half time where some girl from 'the voice' broke everyone's ear drums (to be fair the sound system did her no favours) went on for far too long and had to be forced off mid-song as players were on the field and ready to play 2nd half.

Shambles all round.

My take is that when teams are kicking away possession like that, it essentially means the players dont have faith in each other to keep hold of it.

Cardiffblues1
20/11/2015 09:02
My morning perspective is well played Quins they stuck to their task and got the win.
We badly missed Warburton, we have a few good players out injuredand of course Ellis going off was a blow as he was our best player. Our back row put in a huge shift with Vosawai making 20 tackles. The problems were so many though starting with the 5 day turnaround. Quins changed most of their team and we couldn't do that so our guys fell off as the game went on. It wasn't just the fact that Patch kicked the ball back to them every five minutes but that he never varied that even though our two wingers were chasing all night long. They were a yard offside all night so stand deeper and stop giving a hospital pass to your backs. It was terrible game management and he needs to make his mind up if he is going or staying and sort out his skills Tom's kicking was better FFS.
Methyr will have a job lot at the end of the season. Bring on the new signings.

mikepw
20/11/2015 09:20
Hi, enquiry from Quins supporter. Well several..
- Was that your proper kit? I thought Cardiff were Blue?
- What's the Merthyr reference?
And an observation - those blazers are worn for a variety of reasons - at one extreme it's a form of post-modern irony, at the other it's exactly what a chap should wear to a match. For most it's just fun.

Sorry I couldn't get there last night - when the pools were announced I thought of a trip to a real rugby ground. But not on a Thursday night..

Good luck with the rest of your season and look forward to the return

Mike

gcblues
20/11/2015 09:56
Quote:
mikepw
Hi, enquiry from Quins supporter. Well several..
- Was that your proper kit? I thought Cardiff were Blue?
- What's the Merthyr reference?
And an observation - those blazers are worn for a variety of reasons - at one extreme it's a form of post-modern irony, at the other it's exactly what a chap should wear to a match. For most it's just fun.

Sorry I couldn't get there last night - when the pools were announced I thought of a trip to a real rugby ground. But not on a Thursday night..

Good luck with the rest of your season and look forward to the return

Mike

Hi Mike

1. The euro kit is a stay strong for ows shirt, I think all proceeds go to his fund.

2. Merthyr are a semi pro team in the Welsh Championship who are owned by Peter Thomas's (Cardiff Owner) brother, Stan. He's been pumping money in to them in the hope they get promoted to the Welsh Premiership and become a 3rd 'blues regional' team there. It's widely rumoured that some of the older and also sub standard players who will leave at the end of the year will head there

Blue Gareth
20/11/2015 11:29
Last nights performance highlights the lack of depth we have.

Jarrod Evans has to be first choice

What's happened to Navidi & Dolan?

gcblues
20/11/2015 11:37
Navidi injured, assume Dolan is too

binman
20/11/2015 12:12
Quote:
Blue Gareth
Last nights performance highlights the lack of depth we have.
Jarrod Evans has to be first choice

What's happened to Navidi & Dolan?

Dolan is playing for the selects tomorrow...not sure why. We could have done with him on the bench yesterday.

Summertime is also back and starting tomorrow, again, wouldn't have moved seeing him last night

robin58
20/11/2015 16:45
Almost as depressing a result as the loss against Zebra

cardiff_steve
20/11/2015 16:46
Quote:
mikepw
Hi, enquiry from Quins supporter. Well several..
- Was that your proper kit? I thought Cardiff were Blue?
- What's the Merthyr reference?
And an observation - those blazers are worn for a variety of reasons - at one extreme it's a form of post-modern irony, at the other it's exactly what a chap should wear to a match. For most it's just fun.

Sorry I couldn't get there last night - when the pools were announced I thought of a trip to a real rugby ground. But not on a Thursday night..

Good luck with the rest of your season and look forward to the return

Mike

Hi Mike, just messing about the blazers, I like your supporters.

There is actually blue in that kit, just very very dark. Its Blue and gold to mirror an Aberdare shirt. Aberdare's the homeclub of our former player Owen Williams, who suffered a serious spinal injury. The shirt is part of a campaign to raise funds for him. [www.staystrongforows.com]

As GCBlues says, Merthyr is where a lot of our squad will probably be playing next season.

Blues Boy
20/11/2015 18:14
As GCBlues says, Merthyr is where a lot of our squad will hopefully be playing next season.

"Fixed"

Nickysbeard
20/11/2015 18:36
We should've scored a couple of tries in the first quarter. After that we did a couple of good things but not much. Quins very much deserved the win. The worry was that was their second string and not far off our first. We don't have a real ball carriers in the pack, no decent second rows (I'm still hoping that hoeata comes good), very little dog. Vosawai promised much but hasn't consistently delivered. There's little at centre, Leelo needs time to settle in but will come good . Cuthbert looked hungrier than he has for a while . Wilson has a lot of work to do but I believe he's the right man for job.

cardiff_steve
20/11/2015 18:46
Quote:
Nickysbeard
We should've scored a couple of tries in the first quarter. After that we did a couple of good things but not much. Quins very much deserved the win. The worry was that was their second string and not far off our first. We don't have a real ball carriers in the pack, no decent second rows (I'm still hoping that hoeata comes good), very little dog. Vosawai promised much but hasn't consistently delivered. There's little at centre, Leelo needs time to settle in but will come good . Cuthbert looked hungrier than he has for a while . Wilson has a lot of work to do but I believe he's the right man for job.

Im a broken record on this but we sort out so much if we could just add competitive second rows.

I'm convinced Hoeata, in this hemisphere, is a 6. Down, not a terrible player but maybe more a squad player not a starter. Reed, 'nuff said. And.... thats really it. Then we're into using backrowers there.

Add two 6'7, 18 stone plus players who will carry effectively, clear out rucks and maul consistently well and the other issues with the team suddenly become so much easier.

Quinten Poulsen
20/11/2015 19:46
Totally unrelated, but hopefully someone can answer - what was the name (colloquial?) of Cardiff RFC's second team before regional rugby? Was it the Rags or something similar?

cardiff_steve
20/11/2015 20:42
Quote:
Quinten Poulsen
Totally unrelated, but hopefully someone can answer - what was the name (colloquial?) of Cardiff RFC's second team before regional rugby? Was it the Rags or something similar?

Yes, the rags.


And, I have to say I paniced slightly when I saw your username, before I spotted the pun.

Rayerker
20/11/2015 20:58
To blame our outside half for this loss is madness. He kicked because we had no go forward for long periods and because their centres were permanently offside. Does anyone really think that passing@#$%&to Gavin Evans to take up would be a good idea? Possibly he could have chipped it over the top a few times to keep them honest but the reality was that as soon as they stopped being turned over on about twenty minutes we stopped getting any good ball. Our front five got battered as it does most weeks. Filise and both second rows are powderpuff unfortunately. In Wales we blame tens for defeats and cheer them for victories. Second row is currently the most influential position in rugby and our two are poor.

Cardiffblues1
20/11/2015 21:12
Nobody is disputing the poor quality of some of some of our pack but you are deluded if you think Patchell didn't add to our problems last night as he does for a good twenty mins most games. He is not getting better but demanding the 10 shirt suggests a misguided arrogance.

Rayerker
20/11/2015 22:25
Course he added to our woes. But then every player except Ellis Jenkins, Lloyd Williams and our wingers did. Shame geth asked him to kick four kick able pens to the corner as the result may have been a bit different - all be it undeservedly.

Quinten Poulsen
21/11/2015 01:00
Quote:
cardiff_steve
Quote:
Quinten Poulsen
Totally unrelated, but hopefully someone can answer - what was the name (colloquial?) of Cardiff RFC's second team before regional rugby? Was it the Rags or something similar?

Yes, the rags.


And, I have to say I paniced slightly when I saw your username, before I spotted the pun.

Ha ha! Good to know there's a PR poster/lurker on board!

Why were they called the rags? I spent a long time in Wales and even worked in St Mary St for a few years, but for the life of me I can't remember.

southcoast5
21/11/2015 12:51
About the Rags, back in the 20's Cardiff began fielding 2 first teams and played about 60 fixtures a season. Opposing clubs didn't like the idea because it was difficult to identify which was the stronger team and they saw it diluting the fixture. The concept was dropped in the late 20's and the club reverted back to a first and second team. My understanding is that when new shirts were subsequently purchased they automatically went to the first team and the seconds had to deal with the older shirts left over, taking a perverse pride in the fact and adopting the nickname 'Rags'.
Many of us can recall how shirts ripped and faded back in the cotton and wool days. I imagine it was even worse before the war.

capsgon
21/11/2015 20:20
Interesting - who'd have thought that we've been annoying other clubs from so long back - good for us.
I wonder if Ponty was one of them.
Hope so

cardiff_steve
21/11/2015 20:56
Quote:
Quinten Poulsen
Quote:
cardiff_steve
Quote:
Quinten Poulsen
Totally unrelated, but hopefully someone can answer - what was the name (colloquial?) of Cardiff RFC's second team before regional rugby? Was it the Rags or something similar?

Yes, the rags.


And, I have to say I paniced slightly when I saw your username, before I spotted the pun.

Ha ha! Good to know there's a PR poster/lurker on board!

Why were they called the rags? I spent a long time in Wales and even worked in St Mary St for a few years, but for the life of me I can't remember.

I cant remember your username, but I'm pretty sure I've encountered a former Cardiff resident Quins fan on there before. Im now more an infrequent poster on there. There's only so many Irish people a chap can put up with.

Southcoast is spot on, it was because there was a tradition of them having the older shirts. I believe back in the mists of time, there was also a 3rd XV, known as the "tatters", I suppose it's obvious why.

southcoast5
22/11/2015 11:52
Yup the Tatters emerged in the 60s as Cardiff Extras. Didn't last long. Back in those days the first team played twice a week during September, October, February and March so there was a lot of opportunity for players to don the shirt and the club attracted a lot of players from around the area particularly the valleys. For many who couldn't reach the heights of a cap an occasional appearance for the Blue and Blacks was something to be proud of and Valley clubs would be pleased if one of their complement made it.
Ponty didn't have a chip on their shoulders in those days.

Your Name: 
Subject: 
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net