Cardiff Blues v Sale

[An Tarbh]

Massive game for both sides this weekend, again more for Sale as they have the chance to cancel out Toulouse's lead next weekend with a win at Edgley Park.

Even if the Blues do get the win this weekend and next it's hard to see 18 or 19 points being enough to get them a runner-up spot.

Tom Shanklin looks set to return for the Blues, as are fellow Lions Martyn Williams and Andy Powell.

 

[Olyy]

Looking forward to this very much, should be a great.
Cardiff seem to have lost form since the start of the season, whereas Sale have gained a lot. Last match was a bit of a farce (ref being ridiculous), so the rematch should be a goodun. Cardiff will have something to prove, and Sale just want the win.
If we get this, the match against toulouse will be tense!

 

[Bluemoon]

Its the Amlin Cardiff are looking at now. It will be interesting to see who plays at ten, because that will make the difference. Cardiff will want to win this on Saturday and it all depends which team turns up. Alot of people have suggested that Cardiff were a bit unlucky at Edgeley but Cardiff have been on a slippery slope since then.

It'd be nice just to build a bit of form over the next few cup games, for the sake of the entire season.

 

[Olyy]

Teams:

Cardiff Blues: Blair; Halfpenny, Laulala, Roberts, James, Sweeney, Rees, Jenkins (capt), G Williams, Filise, Davies, Jones, A Powell, M Williams, Rush.
Replacements: Rhys Thomas, Hobbs, G Powell, ***o, White, Cooper, Norton Knight, Shanklin.

Sale Sharks: Macleod; Cueto, Tait, Thomas, Cohen; Hodgson, Peel; Roberts, Briggs, Halsall, Schofield, Gaskell, Fearns, Seymour, Koyamaibole.
Replacements: Kerr, M Jones, O'Donnell C Jones, Abraham, Wigglesworth, Kennedy, Doherty.

Good to see Thomas back at the centre with Tait,
This is def. our strongest side possible atm (just needs Sheridan back in the front row),

Unfortunatley, Norton-Knight isn't starting at 10, so that's hurt our chances a bit

 

[dullonien]

***o not starting again. He's really dropped off the pace this season. Where's Warberton? Should be an interesting game, not sure who'll get the win.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Warburton has apparently had some sort of medical flu jab on Thursday but should be fine to play next week. Shame it clashes with the Ospreys match, (Which is going to be a better game) because otherwise I'd love to watch it. I'll probaly flick betwen the two.

 

[Thingimubob]

Blues 9 - 5 Sale atm according to the Beeb
No sign of a stream for it though <_<

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

12-5 at half time. Two penalites from Blair, one from Halfpenny. Halfpenny missed one at the end of the first half, and Richie Rees went out a few yards short.

http://www.ercrugby.com/live
That's the best place for HEC updates, I say. Tells you almost everything, and -In some games- everything.

 

[Bullitt]

12-5 HT

 

[Olyy]

Currently
Blues 29 - 12 Sharks



Booooooooooo

 

[Thingimubob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Olyy @ Jan 16 2010, 05:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Currently
Blues 29 - 12 Sharks



Wooooooooooo! [/b]

Corrected for you
Also I've just seen a picture of Peel, Cueto and Lee Thomas very wrecked on facebook :lol:

EDIT: Looks like Sale have scored another try
29 - 19 now

 

[Olyy]

29 - 19 now, try for Gaskell

Two minutes left to try and get a losing BP

 

[Thingimubob]

apparently not, update says 36 - 19 to Cardiff now

 

[Olyy]

Yup, X Rush on the 80th minute =(
That's our Heineken Cup over unless Toulouse lose to Quins....which ain't gonna happen

 

[dullonien]

Good to see the Blues back to winning ways. Must have been a much better performance from them than we've seen recently.

 

[Thingimubob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Olyy @ Jan 16 2010, 05:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Yup, X Rush on the 80th minute =(
That's our Heineken Cup over unless Toulouse lose to Quins....which ain't gonna happen[/b]

Not really sure the Blues' Heineken is still on either, mostI'm hoping for is to get the 3rd/4th best runner up place for the Amlin Quarter Finals

 

[shtove]

Xavier Rush is awesome. Haven't been impressed by Halfpenny since he came back from injury.

 

[dullonien]

Yup. Still mathematically possible for the Blues to go through. But it won't happen. Tolouse would have loose/only win by a small mrgin w/o a bonus v Harlequins. Then in the final round, Sale would have to beat Tolouse and deny them a bonus point, while the Blues would need to win with a bonus + a decent point difference v Harlequins.

One, maybe two of those things could happen, but not all three.

 

[RC]

Blues were definitely more impressive today than they've been for a lot of the season, but there's still a lot to be said for their game.
But hey, a win's a win.
Rush stepped up immensely today, laulala started off well but made some basic errors in midfield. Blair kicked was awesome precision and Halfpenny slotted a 53metre kick.
All round a quite entertaining game, but it's not looking too bright for the blues to get through to the quarters.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

From what I've heard Rees absolutely outplayed Peel while he was on.