RugbyRebels

Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Aled Summerhill, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lewis Jones; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Josh Turnbull, 5 James Down, 6 Sam Warburton, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 8 Josh Navidi

Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Jarrad Hoeata, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Gavin Evans

Ospreys

15 Dan Evans
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Jonathan Spratt
12 Owen Watkin
11 Ben John
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb (Capt)

1 Nicky Smith
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Adam Beard
5 Rynier Bernardo
6 Olly Cracknell
7 James King
8 Dan Lydiate

REPLACEMENTS
16 Sam Parry
17 Gareth Thomas
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 Rory Thornton
20 Sam Underhill
21 Brendon Leonard
22 Sam Davies
23 Josh Matavesi

I can't see anything but a Cardiff win but what do I know?

History says Ospreys win. Current form says Blues win.

Cardiff are favourites for me and that would give Wales a better chance of having 2 teams in Europe next year.

But my Ospreys hat is on and I'll obviously be supporting them regardless of what might be better for Wales in general

I fancy the Blues to edge this one, looking forward to seeing how the 10s fare against one another.

Dacre wrote:Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Aled Summerhill, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lewis Jones; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Josh Turnbull, 5 James Down, 6 Sam Warburton, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 8 Josh Navidi

Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Jarrad Hoeata, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Gavin Evans

Ospreys

15 Dan Evans
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Jonathan Spratt
12 Owen Watkin
11 Ben John
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb (Capt)

1 Nicky Smith
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Adam Beard
5 Rynier Bernardo
6 Olly Cracknell
7 James King
8 Dan Lydiate

REPLACEMENTS
16 Sam Parry
17 Gareth Thomas
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 Rory Thornton
20 Sam Underhill
21 Brendon Leonard
22 Sam Davies
23 Josh Matavesi

I can't see anything but a Cardiff win but what do I know?

So we'll see what life is like without Patch. A bit less ginger, but otherwise...

UKHamlet wrote:

Dacre wrote:Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Aled Summerhill, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lewis Jones; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Josh Turnbull, 5 James Down, 6 Sam Warburton, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 8 Josh Navidi

Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Jarrad Hoeata, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Gavin Evans

Ospreys

15 Dan Evans
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Jonathan Spratt
12 Owen Watkin
11 Ben John
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb (Capt)

1 Nicky Smith
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Adam Beard
5 Rynier Bernardo
6 Olly Cracknell
7 James King
8 Dan Lydiate

REPLACEMENTS
16 Sam Parry
17 Gareth Thomas
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 Rory Thornton
20 Sam Underhill
21 Brendon Leonard
22 Sam Davies
23 Josh Matavesi

I can't see anything but a Cardiff win but what do I know?

So we'll see what life is like without Patch. A bit less ginger, but otherwise...

They've replaced him with Dan Fish....

Numbers wrote:

UKHamlet wrote:
So we'll see what life is like without Patch. A bit less ginger, but otherwise...

They've replaced him with Dan Fish....

Fish is a better winger than fullback, but he's okay. Except tackling, high ball and his positional sense. And his kicking. And the fact that he's a slap head. Apart from that, he's okay.

UKHamlet wrote:

Numbers wrote:

UKHamlet wrote:
So we'll see what life is like without Patch. A bit less ginger, but otherwise...

They've replaced him with Dan Fish....

Fish is a better winger than fullback, but he's okay. Except tackling, high ball and his positional sense. And his kicking. And the fact that he's a slap head. Apart from that, he's okay.

I like the lines he runs from fullback, but yes, good in attack poor in defence is about right.

Dan Lydiate at eight is a bit new, isn't it? I've noticed he's been carrying the ball a bit lately.

UKHamlet wrote:Dan Lydiate at eight is a bit new, isn't it? I've noticed he's been carrying the ball a bit lately.

cos he can't tackle right any more.

UKHamlet wrote:Dan Lydiate at eight is a bit new, isn't it? I've noticed he's been carrying the ball a bit lately.

Yeah I thought that was a bit strange, King strikes me as the more mobile of the two but for some reason he is playing 7.

Has Lyn sneakily rejoined them.

Can only see a comfortable win for Cardiff. A back row of 7's v a backrow of 6's will see Cardiff turn over lots of ball, especially as with the possible exception of Cracknell, none are strong carriers to put Cardiff on the back foot.
Add that to a pedestrian set of outside backs and the Ospreys will struggle.
Their best hope is to play a tight game and rely on Biggar to kick the points.

Buggaluggs wrote:

UKHamlet wrote:Dan Lydiate at eight is a bit new, isn't it? I've noticed he's been carrying the ball a bit lately.

cos he can't tackle right any more.

The Ospreys have ruined him.

I'd be a bit more confident if James, Williams and Patchell were on the park.

Ospreys turning down the kick at the posts to go for the line out - and then lose the line out

Nige might as well wear a "West is best" T-shirt.

Ospreys much the better side in the first 30 mins. Blues need to pick this up.

Sam off.

Looks like Banjo is screwed

Jenkins caught that.

Nige saw the telly replay. Good call.

Giving the Ospreys a mullering in the scrum. That will tell in the second half.

And we're killing them at the breakdown, but the Ospreys are carrying better.

Our lineout is crap too.

Lucky to be ahead at half time. The Ospreys played most of the rugby.

WTF is that shirt, Shane? Farkin hell.