Cardiff Blues vs Munster, Sat 1st Nov 5:15pm; Sky Sports 2

thomond2006

Cardiff Blues:
15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Richard Smith, 13 Adam Thomas, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Lucas Amorosino, 10 Gareth Davies, 9 Lloyd Williams,
8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees (c), 1 Sam Hobbs.

Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Taufa'ao Filise, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Garyn Smith, 23 Dan Fish

Munster:
15 Johne Murphy, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Duncan Williams,
8 Robin Copeland, 7 Paddy Butler, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (c), 3 BJ Botha; 2 Kevin O'Byrne, 1 John Ryan.

Replacements: 16 Eusebio Guinazu, 17 Alan Cotter, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Sean McCarthy, 20 Barry O'Mahony, 21 Cathal Sheridan, 22 Johnny Holland, 23 Ronan O'Mahony

Munster won comfortably in this fixture last year so more of the same would be welcome! BJ Botha, CJ Stander, Andrew Smith and Andrew Conway are the only players retained from the team that won against Saracens. A notable selection is Rory Scannell at 12.

former legend

Cardiff have a decent team on paper but have been absolutely brutal this season. Munster should win this one.

Looking forward to seeing Amorosino.

Molester Stallone II

Will be keeping one eye on an ale, and the other on Scannell at 12. I'm hoping for a good game from him

Fireball07

That's a very decent Cardiff team for a fixture during international break.

I mean, just look at how experienced their front row is compared to ours... 2 Lions and Hobbs, who has played almost 100 games for Cardiff. We've got Botha + 2 pretty inexperienced players. Ryan's been around a while, but has only started 10 games and some of them would have come at TH.

The rest of their pack is very solid too, although ours is pretty decent too.

A good half-back partnership, their Williams is definitely better than ours. Hopefully JJ will have a good game though.

Their centre partnership have been regulars all season, while we have a guy starting his first game; and Patchell & Amorosini are both very good players to have in your back 3 even if Patchell is better at 10... we might be equal with them there, I think GVDH can make an impact.


It'll be tight, I'd say.

Swiwi.

When is Gareth Anscombe going to debut for Cardiff?

AngeGal

Swiwi. wrote: »

When is Gareth Anscombe going to debut for Cardiff?

Late November against Edinburgh is the target according to quotes I saw from head coach the last day.

Fireball07

If we win, we'll go 3rd. Started off the season poorly enough, but hopefully we can put together a good run of form now.


We have the joint best defence in the league, conceded only 6 tries, along with Ulster but we are only 6th in tries scored.

I think we'll come to regret the home loss to Edinburgh come the end of the season though.

razorblunt

Fireball07 wrote: »

If we win, we'll go 3rd. Started off the season poorly enough, but hopefully we can put together a good run of form now.


We have the joint best defence in the league, conceded only 6 tries, along with Ulster but we are only 6th in tries scored.

I think we'll come to regret the home loss to Edinburgh come the end of the season though.

I think the victory over Leinster cancelled out that loss in the sense of probably being at where they expected to be.

phog

The surprise selection for me is the back row, no real 7 there, perhaps Foley is going to try and allow Butler develope there but I'd prefer to be starting BOM.

Gwan Munster.

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

The surprise selection for me is the back row, no real 7 there, perhaps Foley is going to try and allow Butler develope there but I'd prefer to be starting BOM.

Gwan Munster.

BOM is 28 so he's not a long term prospect?

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

BOM is 28 so he's not a long term prospect?

We need to win the match tonight not way off in the future.

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

We need to win the match tonight not way off in the future.

I know BOM has had injuries but his last appearance was February. It looks like he is squad cover really. I think Munster are desperate for Butler to live up to his potential, what other players have skipped the academy?

Perhaps Butler's selection offers a lineout option too? POM is superb at the lineout and that is one of the many things you lose when he is not available.

Fireball07

Bit of a delay to kick-off?


Is Copeland not a good lineout option too?

Fireball07

Super take by Johne.

vienne86

Fireball07 wrote: »

Bit of a delay to kick-off?


Is Copeland not a good lineout option too?

Against his old club - interesting night for him.

vienne86

Great start from Munster. Nice break by Hanrahan. Great penalty 0-3!

thomond2006

Encouraging start

Fireball07

Early penalty slotted easily by JJ.

Simple thing there created some momentum, little popped pass by JJ to Botha and then we drove right through them. Good start Munster.

vienne86

I love Patchell. Cardiff not here to just make up the numbers anyway.

thomond2006

Amorisino and Van Den Heever's pace will be quite a threat on this pitch!

Fireball07

They've caught us out wide a few times already. Bit worrying.

Anatidaephobia

This actually looks like it's going to be a good game.

Mahatma Geansai

That break all came from O'Byrne being taken out of the Munster defensive line.

thomond2006

Awful box kick and it leads to Cardiff gaining all of the ground back and earning a penalty

thomond2006

Seriously considering mute button...

vienne86

Patchell made good ground there. And then slots a penalty. 3-3.

Fireball07

3-3.

Cardiff getting past the first man in defence too easily. Bit worrying.

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

Seriously considering mute button...

Not a ukulele fan?

Irlandczyk

George Formby? Ukulele songs? Antoine else yelling various expletives at their tvs during this 'commentary'?

thomond2006

Great kick from JJ. Pretty cheap penalty for Cardiff to give away.

vienne86

JJ had his kicking boots with him. Splendid penalty - 3-6 even though it was all Cardiff for the previous few minutes.

thomond2006

Buer wrote: »

Not a ukulele fan?

Irlandczyk wrote: »

George Formby? Ukulele songs? Antoine else yelling various expletives at their tvs during this 'commentary'?

Silent expletives.

Fireball07

That was a great kick by JJ, silly penalty to concede by Cardiff.

vienne86

Cardiff making easy yards - good mauling from forwards. Penalty chance......slotted by Patchell.

Buer

Both sides gifting points away. Cardiff with a braindead offside punished excellently by JJH then JJH himself gets caught in possession and fires a sloppy offload resulting in a kick out on the full.

Whichever side tightens up will win.

Fireball07

Another awful penalty to concede by Cardiff, they've had all the ball, and we should have 9 points here.

budhabob

Scannell been decent in defence so far with some good tackles.

thomond2006

Are Cardiff able to run the ball all the time? I'm not so sure.

Roanmore

Irlandczyk wrote: »

George Formby? Ukulele songs? Antoine else yelling various expletives at their tvs during this 'commentary'?

Yep

vienne86

Ah JJ - fab. Another penalty. 6-3.

Sky commentary on Flannery.......ugh! Embarassing.

Fireball07

What is Robson blathering on about? He's a dire commentator.


JJ's had a great start from the tee. If he was to continue like this, it's hard to ignore him for the starting team as Keatley's form off the tee has been poor.

Molester Stallone II

Stuck at home, can't get out, no broadband.... I'd kill for ukeleles!!

thomond2006

Another poor penalty from Cardiff after driving Holland back

Fireball07

We look really good when we get a bit of momentum like that. Some very big carries by Copeland, Butler, VDH & Smith. Good quick ball.


No attempt to roll away after the big hit, should be 12-6.

Buer

Can't see how Hoeata could move there but it is possibly a better result as I reckon Munster might well have claimed the try if they had been able to go through phases.

vienne86

Good handling from Munster backs - great to watch. And JJ slots another. Big contrast to Keats off the tee.

Fireball07

Buer wrote: »

Can't see how Hoeata could move there but it is possibly a better result as I reckon Munster might well have claimed the try if they had been able to go through phases.

He didn't even try though, but yeah we look like we have the better of them up front.


Out wide they have caused us problems.

Buer

That could well have been a (harsh but understandable) penalty against Navidi for falling on the wrong side.

Fireball07

Silly to concede a penalty there at the scrum. Even if JJ wasn't actually holding on or whether he was actually on his feet, it was always going to be a penalty in that situation.


Quinny keeps calling Duncan Williams- Duncan Casey.

Mahatma Geansai

Probably should have been a Munster penalty because the 7 was straight over the top and off his feet. Very poor control by Copeland at the base; not the first time this season either.

DDC1990

Ref prob thought JJ had a chance to release first (which he did).

Unlucky for JJ as well, most refs will give you that extra second to place the ball.

Correct call overall IMO.