Cardiff Blues
Nicky Aims for Toulouse
Nicky Aims for Toulouse
By Andrew Collins
January 27 2008
Cardiff Blues fly half Nick Robinson says he hopes to be fit in time to face Toulouse in the Heineken Cup Quarter Finals. The key 26 year old has been out injured since the Blues away loss to Stade Francais.
Robinson ripped the tendon off his hip against Leicester and re-injured himself after a 5 week absence in his comeback at Stade Francais. He has since had an operation, and was originally expected to return mid to late April, however the lure of playing in a Heineken Cup Quarter Final match at Toulouse had provided an incentive to speed up his recovery. "I started back in light training this week and I'm really pleased with the way things are going. I've set goals and the quarter-final is a great goal for anyone coming back from injury. The next month will be key to how it progresses and we'll see how it goes." His early season form had lifted the Blues to top position in the Magner's League, as we as kicking off the Heineken Cup serge to quarter finals. Since his injury, Cardiff have relied on rookie Dai Flanagan as well as Nick Macleod. Robinson went on to say, "It is massively frustrating to see how well the squad is playing and to not be part of it after being through some tough times in Europe in the past. But no one said life was fair. These things happen and it could be a lot worse. Three or four months isn't too long in the grand scheme of things. I've got to try and be positive and obviously there is still a chance to be part of something great with the Blues." Flanagan is expected back by the Munster home match on March 1st, Robinson is targeting the Toulouse match on April 6th.
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Stumbleupon27/01/2008 18:59
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:01:27:21:05:53 by jenksta.
Its no good rushing him back in for the HC only to injure himself first game back.
29/01/2008 09:03
29/01/2008 11:16
Can't see us having any chance of beating Toulouse with Macleod and only a slightly better chance with Flanagan.
he needs game time before hand.
29/01/2008 11:52
We have already tried to rush him back once V Stade away it landed us in this current mess. If we do gamble lets hope Dai has the sense this time to have either Dai Flanagan or Mick Macloed on the bench preferably Flanagan.
Quote:smudgerblue
I'd play him as long as he has had at least 40 minutes of rugby before hand.
Can't see us having any chance of beating Toulouse with Macleod and only a slightly better chance with Flanagan.
Quote:mackumblues
I agree with the gist of this in that there is no way we should play him unless he has played before the game either with the Blues or Cardiff RFC.
We have already tried to rush him back once V Stade away it landed us in this current mess. If we do gamble lets hope Dai has the sense this time to have either Dai Flanagan or Mick Macloed on the bench preferably Flanagan.
Why do you both prefer Flanagan. We hid him when he played. Macca, even with the mistake at Bristol, was NOT hidden in the last two HEC games. He was hidden over Christmas and it didnt work. At least he can be trusted enough to be left alone to play at 10. Flanagan needs to be protected. As we have seen over and over again this season.
30/01/2008 10:38
But just have the feeling that the backline operated better with Flanagan then Macleod, but he was just coming back from injury so it is difficult comparing the two.
The main issue I have with Macleod is his kicking out of hand - defensively he is a lot better than Flanagan, he also tends not to panic if in trouble, happy to take the hit unlike Nicky.
Is Flanagan now fit? As it will be interesting to see who Dai picks away to Leinster and at home to Munster.....
Let's see how they get on, but NR is a class or even two ahead of them.
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