Blues v Connacht Scrum V Live Pro 12

Last Christmas Cardiff Arms Park was reduced to a swamp. The pitch was

unplayable, the players unrecognisable, the commentators

unimpressed. A lot of mud coloured jerseys out

there. Eight months on, I knew pitch, new

season. And this man is back. Can this new generation of young

internationals bring real success to this artificial arena?

Connacht are the first PRO12 opponents to try out the new paging

Cardross. -- this new pitch in Cardiff. Last season, the Blues

scored fewer tries than anybody else. The first competitive PRO12

game has been officially opened tonight. Welcome to Scrum V from a

rainy and windswept Cardiff Arms Park. We have come indoors. Martyn

Williams has joined me. This Blues side, I guess in seasons gone by

they have considered a soft touch, but they have recruited most of

their pack. Can they bully opposition packs? Ella McGrady is

the key to their success this year. -- I think it is the key to their

success this year. This summer they have recruited Gethin Jenkins, who

is injured tonight, Matthew Rees, Filo Paulo. It is a big year for

Matthew. He has come in as captain. Filo Paulo, people remember him

playing against Scotland for Western Samoa last year. There is no point

in having these guys if the guys up front are not doing their jobs.

Hopefully the Blues can stand their authority tonight. He cannot fail to

have noticed the new artificial pitch, put down in the summer.

I have been canvassing some of the Blues players. This is anecdotal.

They all like the surface. They say it plays better in the wet than in

the dry. These are perfect conditions, ironically. They were

normal studs. We should get increased ball in play time because

the surface is more of a top of the ground surface. The bounce of the

ball is different. The service takes energy over the ball. The grubber

kick might be slightly difficult. Tom, you have played on it. What do

you think? Takes energy out of the ball and takes out your legs. That

will show in the second half. Dan Parks may have to put extra on his

kicks to get them into the torch. Alex Cuthbert is back tonight. Are

you looking forward to seeing him? He finished the season on fire. He

can run around people, he can run over them. I'd spent big things.

Lets see your example of the grubber kick that we were talking about.

Exactly. Just as I said. Skill is forever. Well done, Tom Shanklin.

Yes, he has still got it. Martyn was looking at the forward 's

earlier. Sean is in the truck. You have been casting your eye over the

halfbacks? If the Blues are to have been casting your eye over the

challenge this year, they need the spine of their team from Matthew

Rees Julie Halfpenny, to function effectively. A lot rests on this

young Welsh pairing tonight. -- Matthew Rees and Leigh Halfpenny. I

feel a bit further Matt Williams. He has had a lack of game time. He is a

good rugby player with a good rugby brain. He is quick and strong around

the fringes. I just really needs to start imposing himself on PRO12

games. Alongside him he is joined by reach -- Rhys Patchell. He oozes

confidence. He really has all the attributes to make it to the highest

level. He is certainly one to watch for the Connacht back row. Take a

look at this. Forgive the footage. We talk about Dan Parks. Rhys

Patchell has a huge impact moment in games. Lookout frame tonight. Dan

Parks is the record points scorer in the Celtic league.

Exciting matchup. We talked a lot about Rhys Patchell last season. The

Blues hierarchy have pleaded with us not to begin mob too much. He is the

number-1 choice now and destined for big things, he? Yes, difficult when

you are played as well as he has, to stay out of the spotlight. He is an

immense talent. He has come through the academy system. He has got the

lot. Hopefully, with Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland back fit as well,

there is no immediate rush to get him in the Welsh team. Thanks,

Martin. Nearly time for a kick-off. Rick O'Shea is on BBC radio Wales.

There is commentary on the red button for you tonight. Gareth

Charles and Jonathan Davies are in the commentary box.

John Muldoon has the honour of leading a team out on his 200th

game. Even though there may not be too many familiar names, there is a

lot of experience. Captain Michael Swift has played more games than any

the player in this league. Familiar faces behind them, none more so than

Dan Parks. Robbie Henshaw picked up a couple of Irish caps in the

summer. Dan Parks spent two years here with the Blues. More points

than anybody else in the history of the league. Tom Williams will have

watched him play a lot. He will know what to expect. Deep kicks to the

corner. Back in their old colours. It is an

historic moment as, for the first time in a competitive match, Matthew

Rees leads the Blues out onto the green, green plastic of home. That

is the pack that have to try to assert themselves. Bradley Davies

and Feeley -- Filo Paulo in the boiler house. The Williams brothers,

Lloyd at nine and Tom at 15. Alex Cuthbert back after the Lions tour.

As we saw last week, and of course as a former Cardiff player, and

after today on the Isle of Wight, a commemorative service for a true

blue and black, Wales and Lions legend, Cliff Morgan.

Good to see some of the old guard. Their memories of Cliff will be as

vivid as anybody is. Claudio Blessano of Italy in just his fourth

competitive game in charge. Let's see what this pitch is all about.

Certainly not the mud bath we saw last year. No, it looks absolutely

magnificent. Let's see what it is like underfoot. Dan Parks does not

even test the new pitch with his first kick. One thing that will

benefit the kicker, when you drop the ball, the ball with them bounce

up. I don't know if he did not realise that. He got such a clean

strike. He put it into touch. He did not put it into touch by Agard. He

absolutely cleared it. Very unlike Dan Parks. There was a look of

incredulity on his face. Connacht did train on the ground this

morning. They will have had some time to adjust.

The free kick goes the way of the visitors. Early engagement. Connacht

go for the reset. That has gone against Scott Andrews.

They had the early engagement and then the bind went. It is not going

to be a problem with footing. You're standing leg, kicking this. Sam

Warburton hoping to be back sometime next month. Hamstring problem he

picked up on the Lions tour. From slap bang in the middle of the

park. It should be 50 metres spot on. Just under. Not quite having the

legs. And again, Dan Parks looks around rather quizzically. Quite

surprised he didn't have the legs from there. Clocked up 236 points in

his three years -- two years with Cardiff Blues. Gavin Duffy in his

11th season. Rhys Patchell safely underneath the ball.

Connacht had an overlap on the right-hand side. They have got a

second row in midfield and a flanker on the wing. They cut back inside.

You can hear the water squelching. That was a good chase on Patchell by

the Connacht players. O'Halloran did well there.

That was a very well-placed kick by Patchell. just about near enough to

the 22. The referee wasn't really sure about the call there.

The service has given him that confidence, because it is a horrible

night. -- surface. I think it was knocked on there,

they got away with it, the Blues. The water sprays up. And brought

back to an earlier offside. Very fortunate to get the penalty here,

because it was a knock on in the tackle. It was a very good run but

as he goes to ground, just watch, he loses control of the ball. Definite

knock-on. That is before the penalty was given.

Backout off the post. It looked as though it was curling in but hit the

inside and out again. He will be disappointed with that.

I think he will be disappointed with that. Here is the hit, Bradley

Davies comes in. Ooh. I think he mistimed it.

I wonder if there will be any more lucks at that one. -- any more

looks. I think just one point on that

kick, you would have expected him to nail it, but you didn't see many

people chasing the ball. You have to chase it. Joining us now is Martyn

Williams. What you think of the page? It looks good, doesn't it? --

of the pitch. But top-level rugby, you couldn't ask for much, could

you? Robinson was steaming up the inside,

maybe just overran it slightly. Add the timing and the awareness be in

harmony, that would have been interesting. Great off-load, big man

to little man. Good cover in the defence, I have to say.

Again, O Halloran is the chaser of the high ball.

I think they have got to do more than that, the Blues... A good bit

of opportunism from Matt Healy but it didn't bounce for him. It looks

like a bit of a dead bounce, I'm sure that is because of the rain as

well, and the nature of the pitch. Good pressure by Matt Healy on Tom

Williams. Managed to keep it in play. You can see, it definitely

does kill the ball. You have to be aware as a chasing player, it is not

going to run dead. He was very casual, Williams. When you look at

the back, that is the only kicking option, he needs a bit of help, Owen

Williams. You need another option. It is dead and it is also not going

to bounce up into your hand, you need to get down and pick it up on

this surface. Matt Healy slides in. The conditions

are perfect for doing that, and that is the way to use the ball, simply

and effectively, and Matt Healy gets the first try at the new Arms Park

surface. A big gap between the centres, gets

over the gain line and the gap is too big. Nothing there at all.

The conversion is simplicity itself for Dan Parks and Connacht get off

to a 7-point lead. Buries the ball, over the gain line,

recycled, and then they didn't communicate on this side of the

ruck. Lovely off-load and a try. I must say, I do like the look of

this scrum half, Kieran Marmion. He has started every league game in the

last year, educated at Brecon, and he's very good. He is a big talent.

They put the ball to hands, Pat Lam's influence.

It has gone back, the referee said. But it went forward blue advantage.

They are running from deep, the Blues, but they lost the ball again.

Jonathan? As the guy goes to ground, there is nothing actually on. What

should happen is he feels that hole there and he stays there.

Unfortunately, he goes on the outside.

Will pick that up again when there is a chance.

The Blues are going to go for another shot at goal. Jonathan. We

will put it on again, what should have happened is he goes into there,

there is no gap. Unfortunately, there is no communication. And look

at the gap that opens up. The scrum half sponsored, good support, and

that is it. -- the scrum half sponsored. If you see that again at

half-time, you will see Michael Swift, the skipper has done a great

job, he takes two men out and create the gap. A little bit too much

effort on that one from Rhys Patchell it and he pulls it to the

left of the goal. -- Rhys Patchell. It is important that they don't

panic, 15 minutes gone. Yes, I just think they have... They seem very

well organised defensively, Connacht.

This is your last game now, Martyn, tell everyone where you are going. I

have signed off for Kilimanjaro. Have you done much training? I have

done loads. Five days of golf! On the hilly courses! If Warren Gatland

can get up there, hopefully I can. I am surprised you are not going,

Jonathan. I am on a bike. There is no one really taking this

game by the scruff of the neck. A lot of kicking, no one is winning

the aerial battle. One opportunity, and that is the difference so far.

No pattern at all to it. Apart from the effort by Copland, the Blues

haven't had any territory. It is a kicking game at the moment. Connacht

will be happy at the moment, they are camped in the Blues' half. That

is what they are looking for, to bring Dafydd Heyward into the hole.

Little things will make a difference. A good field position

now, try and get over the gain line, and if it is a slow first play, just

put it behind them and play the waiting game. You can see what the

Blues are going to try and do, run it then that channel. I expect the

Connacht bat group will try and close it down. -- back group.

Henshaw and Duffy have come over to the right hand side. It wasn't a

great scrum, they couldn't do anything with it.

That is the other thing, I wonder what scrummaging is life on this

surface. Apparently on the Saracens surface, there are a lot less

collapsed scrums. It should be better than last season.

This is a big cage for Rhys Patchell, -- a big kick. He has

missed two early on. The first kick he would have been disappointed

with. The others have been difficult.

He has nailed that. That one is the one that Rhys Patchell has been

looking for. The Blues get their first points at home in the new

season. Almost a quarter of a way -- the way through the game.

Owen Williams played in both tests in Japan in the summer. Navidi

played in the second. Pressure on Patchell very quick. He still got

some distance on the cake, didn't he? -- kick.

Patchell did very -- really well there.

Superbly done by Rhys Patchell. Kieran Marmion got deposited over

the sideline. They got the better of that. They were a bit loose. Lovely

break by Patchell. Deceptively strong.

Zebre are 18-9 ahead against Munster at half-time. That is a bit of a

turnip. Two tries in that 18 points. Ulster lead by 6-3. Newport Gwent

Dragons in action in Edinburgh. They just need to keep possession now. It

is still a horrible night. They would be disappointed with

that. They had a good drive setup. There is nothing worse than when it

stops. There is the past. No communication.

-- there is the past. That was well protected. Matthew

Rees working it up the blank -- blindside. They will gain a few

extra metres. That vital bit of possession last. We saw it happen

the Scarlets last week. To not gone is. It kills the momentum. -- two

not guns. Phil Davies, the Blues coaches here.

We have had plenty of possession. We have to be patient and control the

ball. We missed a couple of kicks at goal. We have to be patient and

controlled. If we can, we will score points. And turning that the

territory into points, I suppose? Yell that -- That's right. Added

smart kicking. It is a wet evening. Both sides are making errors.

We need a good spectacle. It is a horrible night. I think it

is important. People may think that just because you have an artificial

pitch, it is good to be easy. But it is going to be difficult for them.

It will be belittled not guns, the little spills. -- it will be the

little knock on is. Interesting call. What is he calling

the captain for a? Your team-mate pushed a player. No

more, please. Very dangerous, that pushing lark! Don't pushing again!

-- don't push him again! That is the referee trying to assert his

authority. Patchell takes no time at all in taking his kicks.

Straight down the middle from Rhys Patchell. And the Blues are back

within a point. That is the key Martyn. I think they are dominating

possession and territory. But because of the little mistakes...

The scrum is going well, the line-out is going well. They have

struggled with the kicking game. They have got themselves back in it.

It is a big year for Rhys Patchell. That was bad communication. Normally

the guy behind takes charge. That is the last thing you want

after getting back to within a point. Give away the scrum five

metres out. Let's see what they do. It is too close for an up and under.

Drop goal? ! Blues trying not to give it to many

to the breakdown. -- Blues trying not to commit to many to the back.

Great tackle. The drop goal position is gone now. They should have gone

for the drop goal. That last scrum should give the Blues a lot of

confidence. Use the territory and get penalties from the dominant

scrum. That was a great tackle. That is a big lift for a site when you're

outside centre is doing that. Owen Williams has a big, big future. With

Jamie Roberts going, hopefully you can fill that void. Corey Allen as

well, expecting big things of him. Yes. Two big centres. The future is

bright, particularly in the backline.

Let's see how this scrum shapes up on the Blues ball. They will apply

the pressure -- they applied the pressure on the Connacht put in.

That was an important tackle. Navidi did the work.

I was expecting a whistle for a knock on.

Cuthbert was screaming for the ball. It was hacked downfield instead.

Great pass by O'Halloran. Give it to Cuthbert on your right. Yes,

Cuthbert was screaming for the ball. They are struggling to break down

Connacht. Too many penalties for your team. No

more. Next time, pay the consequences. Speak with your mates.

The referee says the penalty are flowing in the Blues direction. The

point is flowing in Connacht's direction. -- the point is flowing

in Munster's direction. They have come back from 18-9 behind.

In the final ten minutes of the first half. A first-half which has

not fully developed any patter on. No, not at all really. -- pattern.

Rhys Patchell is on the ten metre line at the moment. That will do

very nicely indeed. He is becoming Mr drop goal, Rhys Patchell. The

ball was slow but I do feel he went back in the pocket a little bit too

rarely. There were a couple of options early on. It's just cuts the

options down a little bit. A good psychological edge. A try by

Connacht against the run of play but now the Blues are back in front. He

got a drop goal against Glasgow last week. And that puts the Blues ahead

for the first time. They have just got to carry it a bit more now,

Cardiff. Get over the gain line. Henshaw was looking for the inside

delivery, thought he was taken out early and he may have a case that

the defence. I think he was taken out early but a great tackle by

Cuthbert. That wasn't forward, his hands were going back. Great tackle

by Cuthbert. The past wasn't going to come

anyway. -- the past. Andries Pretorius made the line-out

kick. And again, they are looking to get

it out wide. There is a bit of wit to its now,

there has been a turnover and defence has been tied, you would

think there would be a bit of wit. -- width.

The counter attack is on here. Tom Williams puts it up into the night

air. He drags Dan Parks out of 22. Again, width... And lost at the

crucial moment. Connacht have come to play a bit of

rugby. Any loose kicks... It is on again. He is a prop

forward, Dan Parks. There is an opportunity there. The percentage

ball. Cuthbert has stayed down. While Cuthbert gets a bit of

treatment, we will go back to fill. This is the Cardiff Arms Park

groundsman, Brian Walker. It is not all pipe and slippers view, there

are still maintenance to do. Yes, there is. We don't do as much as we

used to do with the grass, obviously, I am not looking as

forward to Monday mornings as I used it. But there is rubbish on the

field, bits and pieces, so we have some new kit from our sponsor Ted

Hopkins that picks of the rubbish of the field, and then we put a brush

on it to stripe it. That is how you get the stripes on? Just by brushing

up and down, but you don't do it on a regular basis. You try and get the

fibres to stand up on the turf to keep its level, you mustn't let it

get flat, so we keep brushing it. We are hoping to use it all the time.

You are fascinating, you should be on Tomorrow's World. Thank you very

much! I think there is a lack of

concentration and communication for the Connacht try, they are slightly

edging it, but as I say, Connacht are looking to play an expansive

game, the counterattack, is the chase has to be good. On a couple of

occasions, it hasn't and that could be the difference between winning

and losing this game. Cardiff need a little bit more in the second half.

Get people carrying the ball. That is where it is going to be one.

It is not really struck back. It hits his foot and goes nowhere,

really. So the final play of the first half,

in all probability. A crooked feed. Is that a free kick? Is a default

penalty? It wasn't a bent arm, was it? Third time, he says. It is a

penalty. I can't remember him calling the two other crooked

feeds. Normally. Definitely crooked, so we have to applaud the officials.

-- nor me. But I can't even remember the Connacht scrum-half being done

for the feed in. In his mind, he may have seen them, but he hasn't called

them. So maybe it should be a free kick instead of a penalty.

Dan Parks with the very last kick of the first half and he restores

Connacht's lead. It has been nip and tuck all the way through this first

top. The visitors have the only try of the game, thanks Tim Matt Healy.

I just feel that they have to play at the territorial game. They don't

look like scoring a try but they have played well and played

cleverly. Rhys Patchell is just walking past

us, looking quite pleased. The page is very wet on top, almost like a

dewy offence. Leinster are leading. All-star leading in Glasgow and the

Dragons are 3-0 up in Edinburgh, and that would be a fantastic story.

Here is the story of the heart from this one. Proceedings began with one

minute's silence for the legend of the Welsh game, Cliff Morgan.

It was Connacht who struck first, Matt Healy crossing after some

defensive miscommunication that the Blues. But Rhys Patchell kept the

Blues within touch with his metronomic boot, after missing his

first two attempts. A couple of penalties and a drop goal. But on

the stroke of half-time, the former Cardiff Blues fly-half mad at that

late Dan Parks nudging his team into the lead. So the Blues are way down

on the territory. Just ahead in terms of possession. Plenty of

handling errors, as we would expect in these conditions. And look at

those missed tackles. Connacht missed seven altogether, that is

pretty high at this standard. So, boys, it is very nip and tuck, first

half, and I guess a lot of it is being dictated by the conditions.

The rain has been here since around three o'clock this afternoon. It is

awful out there. It is difficult to make excuses the players because the

pitches more or less perfect, but the ball is so greasy and the

contact is a bit of a mess. The interpretation of the referee, a

both teams are struggling it. Hopefully second half it will pick

up a bit. Although we have kissed goodbye to the mud buffs of

yesteryear, we knew it wouldn't be a free running spectacle -- Matt

Baggots. You just cannot catch or pass the ball, but it is pouring

down, we have all played in these conditions and it will be the team

that makes the least mistakes who will inevitably win it. Only the one

try in that first half, Sean. Unsurprising, given the conditions.

Connacht struck first. It is difficult to see a pattern in the

Blues' defensive way but you can see something in their policy,

particularly the try. If you look at the channel, they chose to have the

scrum-half here and Josh Navidi in the scrum-half position. They come

across the line to try and disrupt the scrum-half. The effect, if they

don't close him down, is a disconnect between Josh Navidi and

the rest of the forwards. They can see the gain line, a strong running

centre. And then lots of blues on this side marking nobody. The rest

of the defenders for the Blues are worried about the Connacht forwards.

Some systems would have William sweeping up but the Blues choose not

to and it is easy for Connacht to go through. So a defensive system at

fault or individual errors? It looks like individual areas. It looks like

Andris Pretorius should have coming. Alex Cuthbert is not in the

right position. Michael Swift as well, he took two guys out to stop

them covering. So good and bad play in that sense. Tom Queally were

screaming, you almost saw it before it happened. What was the problem?

It was good play by Connacht, they had good dummy runners, but Alex

Cuthbert is there, a position he is not going to be in, guard, and you

have to be talking and if he had slipped into the guard, it wouldn't

be a try. Sean has been looking at Rhys Patchell. We talked about him

before the game, a bit of a mixed bag but we have seen some Patchell

magic. Yes, the best moments are the Blues, Copeland and Patchell are

involved. What I like about Copeland is -- Patchell is he can defend, he

has an all-round game and he has the real confidence to have a go, and

even though he doesn't get bullied through, he off-loads. And we saw in

the pre-season game, he is quite cool and he is keeping the Blues in

the game. We have mentioned, it is pasta versus future, the former

blues player Dan Parks against Patchell -- it is the pasta versus

the future. Who is coming out on top? What has impressed me about

Rhys Patchell, he had a shaky start, a couple of kicks came off

his shin, but he has gathered himself and in the last 20 minutes

about half, he was outstanding. Like Tom said, it will be up battle

between the Number tens. Dan Parks, a slice at the start, but then he

steadied the ship, as you would expect. Yes, nothing fancy, he is

governing in the right positions, not attacking from anywhere. But I

think Patchell look more -- the Blues look more attacking when he

has before there opportunities to counterattack on his game but the

conditions are quite dangerous and I don't think they want to play

high-risk rugby. Plenty more sport coming your way this weekend on

BBC. Sport Wales follows us at 9:30pm on BBC Two, with a feature on

the Tenby Ironman and an interview with Joe Allen. The scarlet welcome

Treviso tomorrow, hoping to banish memories of last week. -- the

Scarletts. And we will look back at the action in the PRO12 on Sunday at

5:30pm, discussing the new scrummaging laws with Brian Moore.

If you have this, the reason why, if the ball is straight, in order to me

to hook it back, I have to take all of my weight on one leg and go out

and around, like that. Now, that means I have to have a stable

position and I have to be still. means I have to have a stable

position and If I am allowed, because the ball is that, just to do

that, I can stay square and just walk over the ball. Brian Moore,

probably the simultaneously most entertaining and terrifying

interviewee I have ever met. Some other scores from tonight.

We can go back into the stand where Phil Steele has a special guest. I

am with the twin brother of the Cardiff Blues physio, Ben Warburton.

Also known as Sam Warburton. Do you have to join the queue like

everybody else? I have to join the queue like everybody else. No

special treatment. The recovery has gone really smoothly. The hamstring

can be quite temperamental but it has gone very well. I am looking to

get back for the Heineken cup. It is quite nasty, wasn't it? Yes, you get

a hamstring injury when you're running. It was an unfortunate

contact injury. The first few weeks, we did nothing. After that we have

been quite aggressive in rehab. The medics at the Blues have been great.

What else does the Lions captain get up to after a tour? I went away for

the five weeks after I came home. I spent time with my fiance. Anything

but rugby. It is nice to get some quality time with family and

friends. What do you think of tonight? Wet. We played... Whoever

dominates territory in the second half will take the spoils. Well done

from everyone on Scrum V free Alliance -- Alliance exploits. I

told you I wouldn't mention Gareth Bale. You nearly got there!There is

Warren Gatland. We heard this week that contract talks are being opened

with him to keep him as the boss of Wales. The Blues have been indulging

in some innovative marketing campaigns in recent months. Not

least the Harlem shake, where they had their very own version of the

craze. This particular one has got 250,000 views on YouTube. Getting

down with the kids. And a flash mob. Robin Copeland, not shy of

publicity, revealing the new Cardiff kit in Cardiff City centre. The next

one we are about to see is one of the most intriguing or disturbing.

Josh Navidi with the naked torso, advertising the new Blues away kit.

If you guys were still playing, which one of you guys would have

been picked to do this? This guy would have loved it! Not now. It is

brilliant they are doing this. They need to freshen it up on and off the

field. At the end of the day it does not matter how good your marketing

team is your commercial team, it is on the page. That is your breast

marketing opportunity. If you have a successful side, the rest will come.

With the fact there is a Premier League side in the City no, it is a

crowded market and they have to be a bit more imaginative? Yes, there is

big politician. Football or rugby. -- yes there is big competition.

People will come and see the rugby if they are playing well. I

certainly enjoyed those clips. I hadn't seen the Josh Navidi one. He

is not in bad neck. It is all about what happens on the pitch. What do

you think is good to happen in the second half? Can the Blues pull

back? Yes, I think so. Some things haven't quite come off. The scrum is

pretty solid. I would like to see Owen Williams and Alex Cuthbert get

their hands on the ball a little bit more. They have a bit more cutting

edge. Cut the errors out and I think they will come home. We will see.

The new page has had its debut on the -- in the PRO12. The rain makes

perfect conditions, apparently. I am mature the players would agree

entirely at this stage. The second half is nearly upon us. If Blues can

cut out some of the mistakes, hopefully there will get a victory.

We can return to Jonathan Davies and Gareth Charles.

A promotional opportunity with the chuckle Brothers there in the

studio, and Shanks! He would have loved that video in the shower.

Going back to the game, I was quite surprised with the territory that

Connacht had. I do feel, as the boys have said, they have won the kicking

battle. The possession Cardiff have had has been in their own territory.

They have to carry ball now. With conditions as they are, you need to

be playing in the right areas. They will not be a lot of tries scored

tonight. I think territory is going to be key. No change to either

line-up during the interval. It is a one point game.

That is what they want. All carriers. -- the ball carriers.

The chasing from Connacht has been excellent. Good rush defence.

Nobody anywhere near Tiernan O'Halloran. They were lucky there

because there was a next man on the outside. He saw the forward and took

him on. If he had straightened up, the opportunity was there. He did

not need to bring the man on the inside. The ball goes White. He

straightened up. It was a chance. Unfortunately it went on the

outside. A word of apology from Eoin Griffin.

The chances in this game have been few and far between. Just the one

try scored by Matt Healy. That was way back after ten minutes.

Brett Wilkinson claimed it was Scott Andrews who was dropping the

shoulder. The referee was on the far side. Communication came from the

nearside touch judge. All this guy has got to do is straighten up and

hold him. He holds him and there is an extra man. Unfortunately, he has

run it out. That is what happens. You have to be aware of what is in

front of you. Look to see if you can take it on the outside.

That was well played by Matt Healy. He has looked a handful.

I think they are taking far too much now. , had the better of the kicking

game in the first-half. -- Connacht. Yes, I think they are kicking and

they are kicking poorly. There is no need to kick. Plenty of time for Dan

Parks. Build through the phases. Do not

kick. Have confidence in your ball carrying. Get quick ball next one.

They are slowly and steadily building, the Blues. The ball is

loose and it has been read claimed by Harris-Wright, the Hawker. It has

been turned over. It was a good build up initially by the Blues.

Then they lasted. And Gavin Duffy is the one who clears the decks, just

as far as his opposite number, Tom Williams. The first one was a very

good kick, and the chase. Every time Tom Williams has the ball, he looks

up and there is a wall of green. They are really winning the kicking

game. The Blues have got to be patient.

There will not be much in this game at the end. They need to scrap a

win. Conditions are certainly a leveller. The rain, which started in

the middle of the afternoon, has not drawn breath since.

They are going through the phases but they are not making any headway

at the moment. They are being driven back by the Blues.

It is still on. Matthew Rees is on the outside. Very effective running

by Muldoon. Straight through again. That is where the first try, the

only try, came from. Good gathering by John Muldoon. Connacht are far

more patient than the Blues, Martyn. Yes, they have been really

impressive. They have looked comparable with the ball in the

hand. Dan Parks has not had a drop goal yet. That is a first. We have

got to see more of Bradley Davies, Filo Paulo, Pistorius. I think they

should take a leaf out of Connacht's book, pick it up and go

through the middle. People like Filo Paulo, Copeland. That is their game.

When Connacht come, they are going far too deep, they are not getting

over the gain line. Filo Paulo, half a dozen caps for

Samoa. The touch judge has called a

knock-on. It is poor execution of the passing. And again, when she

getting into an attacking position, knock-on. -- once you get into an

attacking position am not on. The Blues are going to be ringing the

changes. Scott Andrews, Robin Copeland and Dafydd Hewitt are the

ones who are exciting. Benoit Bourrust, Gavin Evans and Macauley

Cook are the three who are coming on.

I believe Benoit Bourrust is a lot better this year. Yes, I think he

struggled a bit last year, by his own admission. I think the scrum has

gone pretty well for the Blues denied. It is interesting, they have

taken of two of their big carriers in Copeland and Hewitt. Maybe they

are looking for a bit more width. They have shifted Andrews Pistorius

to number eight. Maybe they will be looking for him to lead things --

Andries Pistorius. Congratulations to Benoit Bourrust,

as well as the two who have been there before.

Brett Wilkinson, South African born, like any other prop, he has

never given away a penalty in his life!

Patchell draws it in and the Blues are back ahead with just under half

an hour to go. You feel now they have got to take the restart and get

back down there. Apart from the first try, there hasn't been

anything in this game. They have just got to keep their noses in

front now. Play the game in the right areas.

Munster have turned the game around after trailing against Zebre.

That is good play by the Blues. Lovely inter-passing. Those are not

freckles on his face, Lovely inter-passing. Those are not

you got some technical stuff? Small rubber balls, isn't it? Millions and

millions of them. That was the dummy jump. Lovely

heartbreak. Goes to ground, doesn't panic. One more Panis, maybe and

they are on the outside. -- one more pass. Matthew Rees loves

to be in that position, behind that kerb but gets away from the

attacker. Get it to Lloyd Williams. Tom Williams! Brought down by Gavin

Duffy just a metre or two short. Have the Blues bombed the overlap?

Yes, they have. They almost got there, but they should have, really.

Well, well, well. I thought they were in here. They worked the ploy.

Again, Cuthbert goes, there is the half tackle. Still two onto. It is

fantastic defence by Connacht. But you do feel the opportunity was

missed. Harry Robinson drops it. Connacht

had an opportunity, but happy to put the ball out of play. A great

defensive line by Connacht. We saw the scarlet last week, they didn't

do a job. They did a fantastic job there. -- the scarlets. We stop it

there, he has got to hit this man there. That was the chance, just run

it on. Cuthbert comes on a late, late run, but the first option was

to give it. Lloyd Williams should have straightened up a bit and put

his brother in. But again, a missed opportunity for the Blues, they

should have scored. The Blues are certainly not short on

possession in this period. But still only two points ahead. Navidi makes

headway. This is an excellent build-up from

the Blues. Patients, just keep it going. Excellent work by the

skipper. The Connacht defence trying to

oppress -- apply pressure. Good pressure from the Blues. They

need some end result. And all of that pressure in the end

comes to nothing. They have got to keep their wits about them.

Macauley Cook lays it on the ten metre line.

That is that bit of game awareness. There has been a long passage of

play, don't put yourself under pressure and just put it back into

the Connacht 22. You need a few old heads. That can be a game changer.

You spent a long time in the 22, you have phase after phase, come away

empty-handed and have Dan Parks lining up in front of the post.

Instead of shifting it out to Patchell a bit early, as a defender,

you are quite happy when it goes out to the Number ten. And now Dan Parks

has an opportunity to put Connacht back in front.

And goes wide. You don't see him missing them very often. That is a

surprise, for him to miss that. This is interesting. Harry Robinson has

just run off for a bit of attention to cut. So Gareth Davies has come on

in place him. -- in place of him. A sloppy period of play. The kicking

is not very good. It is like the old ping-pong.

That was a poor passage of play by both teams. You do question

sometimes the counterattack, but the chase is so good now, it is an easy

thing to coach, the kick and chase. They are so organised, aren't they?

Yes, it is so difficult. In a tight game like this, everyone shouts on

the counterattack. If you are isolated, holding the ball on the

floor, you get the penalty and lose the game, so... Safety first on a

night like tonight. There you go, son. Get back on the

wing! Lou Reed comes on to replace Bradley

Davies. Lou Reed, picked up a couple of caps

on the summer tour to Japan. Alex Cuthbert is eager to get the

ball in his hands. He is there as first receiver at the moment. We

will see if the scrum stands its ground. Changes in each row of that

Blues scrum by now. It went down again. Patient position, scrum.

That's it. He has gone down twice. The new prop has come on. Rodney Ah

You. Are you binding correctly? No! Left hand clearly on the floor. The

man from just outside Wellington in New Zealand.

He did not really get a good contact at all on that one. This is where

they want to play. Stay down here. Neither Dan Parks nor Rhys Patchell

has had a particularly good night with the boot. Danie Poolman, South

African centre, comes on on the wing for Connacht.

Knocked back by O'Halloran. He was aware of what was happening in that

situation. The ball was bobbling around and Rhys Patchell almost rode

his luck to put the Blues in. A very good open and under. A lovely open

-- off-load. They have had the opportunities, Martyn. They have.

And that was another big one. They have not quite finished it off. This

is a good drive. It is right on the try line. Hands, bodies, anything in

for it. Where is it? Connacht have smuggled it back and now they will

get a chance to clear. That was another missed opportunity. Did they

panic? Initial drive was superb. -- the initial drive. Knight who stays

infield. -- Naoupu. They have got to go for a goal. They have got to take

the three points. That is a bit of a let off for the

Blues really. Yes. It is difficult for Matthew. He was left in two

minds. Even then, it was that little bit of control, that little bit of

patience. He pulled the first one. He needs something from this

momentum they are getting. This time, and no mistake. That is just

what the Blues wanted. In the final quarter it has given them a little

bit of breathing space. And a 5-point cushion. He has done well

all night. He made a decision. That was a sloppy placement. Last week it

was four penalties and a drop goal that the Blues had in Glasgow, all

from the boot of Rhys Patchell. It is the same again this week. At the

moment they are in a winning position. They were losers in

Glasgow. They have got another option as a kicker now. I was just

going to say that. Poolman put his fellow players under

pressure there. I would like to see the penalty count tonight. Yes. Was

he offside? 14-4, that is a big difference. That is ridiculous.

Harry Robinson is back on. Tom Williams makes way. That is down to

the kicking options. He was only about 20 yards offside

there! Josh Navidi got away with that.

Confusion in the end. The good thing about tonight, we have not had any

controversy. Shanks has got some good stories. It

is after nine o'clock as well, so he will be able to tell them. Sport

Wales follows at half past nine. Scarlets, after losing last week,

have a second home game. Treviso coming up tomorrow night. The

highlights from the weekend at half past five on Sunday. And it is

YouTube guys again. -- it is you two guys again. We have already seen a

preview of Brian Moore are looking at the scrummage.

That was the old Mowry sidestepped! A little bit of confidence just to

shift the ball on a little bit more. The chase has got to be good. They

are going to counterattack. They are calling for more defenders out

right. Blues have kept their shape

defensively. Muldowney lost it. Off the hook. The rain may have stopped

by now but it is still very wet out there. Was this a knock-on? Let's

have a look. Very unfortunate. Lets go pitch side.

I am with the Cardiff Blues team manager. How are you going to close

this out? We are going to be doing what we have been doing in the

second half and hopefully cross that line. We have made a few less errors

then we made in the first half. When Harry Robinson came back on, you

kept Gareth Davies bag -- on. What was the thinking? Harry was filling

his hamstring. That is it. -- feeling. Territory is important

now. With at all like to see a running game of rugby. But I think

the Blues fans would like to see the game played in the opposition 22.

Connacht sneaked that try in the first half. They know they have to

score another try to get back into this game. That was a good scrum.

Untidy. Illegal. I think both teams are a little bit frustrated by some

of the referee's interpretation. Connacht especially, the weather

penalty count has gone. The penalty count has absolutely slaughtered

them. I think it will be an interesting

interview with Pat Lam after this game on the penalties and the free

kicks. Ronan Loughney, the replacement

prop. A very good drive. Excellent work by

the Blues. A penalty is coming. Gareth Davies lined up the drop goal

but it was a shot to nothing. The referee was just waiting to bring

them back for a penalty. If they put this over, they are home and dry,

and two scores here. -- clear. Muldoon saying, if the hands on the

ball, is it out? A very clever of putting it. Rhys Patchell may have

missed three this evening. He has put over the important ones. And

that one is as important as any. That should see the Blues home. It

has been tight. But now they should register their first home win.

Not safely gathered. Connacht have a chance at the very least to get a

losing bonus point. They need any chance at the very least to get a

kind of points. Wait, wait. Move away, ten metres. This is your

third penalty, no binding. It is the same offence by Rodney Ah You.

Interesting, because I saw in a previous groom that Benoit Paire who

roost was actually pulling -- Bourrust was pulling and other prop

away. Does he pull his hand off? It didn't have a chance to, surely.

That is very harsh, isn't it? Yes, I think Pat Lam could be the highlight

of this, the post match interview. I think it will be worth watching, I

think he will be furious. Let's have a TMO, Gareth Simmonds.

Lets see if there was a full play. That is a high tackle. He was so

near the ground, his lips down that far that I'm not sure it was a high

tackle. -- he slipped down. He has got him, got him. That is a

high tackle, but he was going down. His hands were up, so that has got

to be a high tackle. It is by no means patients, he was

just flapping at him. -- it was by no means vicious. Yes, it was a high

tackle by 21 green. Your recommendation? Just the penalty. ,

he was itching, wasn't he, to get that yellow carded? Number 21 did a

high tackle, OK? Please, no more. Just a penalty now. It is the

correct decision by Gareth Simmonds. The Blues have certainly picked

their game up in the second half. They haven't conceded any points and

they have turned around a 1-point deficit. Rhys Patchell has all 21

points this week the Blues, as they register their first win. I have got

to pick my man of the match. It has been a scrappy game, but to me, his

goal-kicking and general play, a few bad kicks, but the man of the match

is Rhys Patchell. He's the only want to score any points for the Blues so

far this season. -- the only one. There he is, Rhys Patchell, my

RaboDirect PRO12 man of the match. Now all the replacements come on

just for the final minute and a half or so. The job has been done, so

everybody now gets an outing. Connacht, of course, have two bring

on a prop with a player in the sin bin.

Not the straightest feed you will ever see on a rugby field.

That was a high shot. Definitely a TMO. And Gareth Simmonds eventually

gets in on the action. Yes, cloudy, high tackle again. -- yes Claudio.

My first reaction was a high tackle, a swinging arm.

Well, the impact is on his jaw. His jaw shakes, to be honest. That is a

high tackle. This will be the best angle. Again, I would go penalty

against. Penalty and that's it, yes. Claudio, yes, it was a high tackle

by blue, six. Your recommendation? Just the penalty. Exactly as

happened then the opposite end. -- down the opposite end. Number six,

high tackle. So Connacht need more than three to

get within seven. We haven't seen one of those for a while, a wall.

They just give it to the biggest bloke in the field. Build a wall,

then give it to the biggest bloke on the field!

Hacked over the dead ball line, and that will bring an end to

proceedings. It wasn't the classic opener running rugby we were hoping

for on the new fast pitch, but it was never going to be, given the

conditions. But the Blues won't mind, because at their new home,

with a new pigeon plays, the Blues have got off to a winning start. --

with a new pitch in place. It was about playing the ball in the right

areas. Both sides didn't look like scoring. But ultimately, the

pressure told and Connacht gave a lot of penalties away, and that was

the difference this evening. The penalty and free kicks was the

difference, and it will be interesting to see what Pat Lam has

this say about the penalties that his side conceded. The penalty count

was monstrously against Connacht but at the end of the day, they had the

only try, Matt Healy, wave, way back after ten minutes, but the Blues

kept a clean sheet in the second half and turned a 10-9 deficit into

a victory, thanks to 21 points from the boot of Rhys Patchell. For the

second week running, he got all of his team's point and the Blues have

a win on the board as they dispose of Connacht to the tune of 21-10.

So a welcome victory for the Blues but it was Connacht who struck

first. Confusion in defence leading to a Matt Healy try. Rhys Patchell,

as Gareth alluded to, kept the Blues in touch with a drop goal just

before half-time. And it was his boot that pretty much saved the

day, 21 points in total. That kick denied Connacht a losing bonus

point, so they will go away with nothing, and if there was any danger

of a comeback, it was snuffed out after Ronnie are -- their prop was

sent to the sin bin. It is a victory for the Blues. A bit old school,

seeing all of the fans on the page, because it has been encouraged,

because the more fans that are padding down the pitch, the better

the pitch will become. The Blues shading it in terms of possession.

More forays into the opposition 22 and the boys made a point of this

just now, five penalties conceded to a monstrous 18 from Connacht. It

will be interesting to see what Pat Lam says about that. Indiscipline

costing his team victory and if Rhys Patchell had kicked them all, it

could have been a heavier spore -- scoreline. It wasn't pretty, but it

was an important victory. That is right. People write, of, but they

are not in the losing pool -- they write Connacht off. The Blues are

still a young side, just getting that first win, getting that

confidence and Zebre next week, it should be another win. Connacht did

come to play and in the first, perhaps they did have more of the

play, and there was a bit of concern here that perhaps they would sneak

an away win. But ultimately, the Blues, maybe a few substitutions

contributed to this, but had better shape in the second half and didn't

look like losing. Connacht looked pretty good in the first, they were

camped in blue's -- in the Blues' 22, but when Gareth Davies came on

and Patchell moved to 15, there was a better shape. They had two

different kicking options, it relieves a lot of pressure from ten

and when Patchell moved to 15, ten is his best position, but he looks

attacking from 15. I know it is thinking ahead, but if he was

selected in that Welsh squad, that is good for Wales, because he's

versatile and it shows he can play two positions and if he doesn't get

a starting position, he can cover two and he will be in the mix if he

goes on like this. He showed us his versatility, he is with Phil Steele.

Rees, congratulations, was it a frustrating game to play in? We were

hoping it would be nice and dry and we could throw the ball around but

it hasn't panned out that way two weeks in a row. Thrilled with the

result but a lot to work on. The whole idea of the pitch is that it

is all weather, what you mean the conditions weren't great? In terms

of the weather. Nobody wants to watch a game of rugby when it is

raining and it is wet and it is horrible. The page itself is great.

There is a lot of firm footing -- the page. Hopefully we will get some

dry weather soon. Is just affected the handling, you thought? Yes, the

ball was a bit slippy because of the weather and we saw a few knock-on is

that maybe on a better they would have stuck and we would have seen

more running rugby. That right book is lit -- that right boot is looking

pretty handy this year. You get somewhere it works out, I missed a

couple, which I was anticipating getting, but all in all, we got the

win, which is important. Is there any difference in place kicking on

the new pitch compare to a crass speech? Not massively. There is a

little bit of give on the pitch, but it is nice to have a firm footing on

the Arms Park for once in a while. Was that the type of game that the

Blues might have lost last season? What does that say about the way the

team have developed? A lot has been made about last season, we lost a

lot of games by one score or less and we showed grit and determination

to pull the result out of the bag. The forwards were magnificent, to a

man they all deserved man of the match, it was a massive effort and

when Gareth came on, it was just our job to keep the ball going forward.

You are the man of the match, well done. That is very kind, but others

deserved it more. A very modest Rhys Patchell. He was man of the match.

We can speak to Jonathan Davies. Thoroughly deserved? Yes. I thought

he did play well. The kicking was the difference. Nobody really stood

out. I think the biggest factor was the penalties or the free kicks. 15

was the difference. The one thing that had shall I like is commonly

missed a few kicks early on, and then he stepped up and hit them

over. He handles the pressure very well. He is still very young. The

experience of another season as first choice will set up in good

stead. -- set him in good stead. Went Gareth Davies came on at ten

and Patchell shifted to 15, there was better shape, perhaps? Yes. They

closed Rhys Patchell down in the first half. It is difficult kicking

from the base when you're in midfield. The kicking wasn't going

very well. It allowed Connacht to attack a little bit. It may be was a

tactical decision by Phil Davies. It certainly helped the Blues. Gareth

Davies was the second option. Happy scenes in the Blues changing room.

It is an important victory. Rhys Patchell deflecting the praise,

saying Josh Navidi perhaps deserved man of the match. He was impressive.

And of course, he got the crucial kicks. He can play at full-back as

well? He has got speed. He is a fit kid. He goes looking for attackers

if anything. You cannot coach that. That is in you or it is not. I love

his game management. Steps back, put three over. As a forward, that is

invaluable. It gives you confidence. He was outstanding. Word is that

composure, from? I think he has just got it.

He was outstanding. Word is that composure, from? I think he He is

not afraid to have a go either. You see some money players going for the

safety option. He wants to attack. He backs his own ability. He has got

loads of pace. I have seen him chasing down wingers. It is natural

instinct. You cannot coach it. I hope he gets better. Bad luck on the

defeat, Pat. Your thoughts on the penalty count? I would be surprised

if you can find a game with a penalty count that much. I feel for

the players. A lot of heart. That is what Connacht is about. Fighting for

everything. To have a penalty count like that is astounding. At least it

is live on TV. Obviously we have to look at ourselves. There are two

teams out there. We move on. But I feel for the guys. They worked hard.

They gave it everything. To be on the back end of that is very

difficult. What particular decisions were you annoyed about? When you hit

those conditions it does come down to what happens at the breakdown. It

has to be two teams. For a penalty count of that much. There is an

assistant here. He will look through that. We will look at our game. I'm

sure feel will look at their game as well. We move on and get ready for

the next game. Were you pleased with how the team adapted to the pitch?

Yes, I think it is fantastic. To have a pitch like that here after

all the rain, it's great. Cardiff did a good job. We adjusted. Where

little bit disappointed. Good luck with next week. Here is Matthew

Rees, the Blues skipper. Your first win as skipper. How was

it? In the first half we give too much ball away going through the

phases. The last pass was not going to hand. It cost us the first half.

We tighten the game open the second half. What was the chat about at

half-time? Doing the basics well. Going through the phases. Full. --.

What about the breakdown play in the second half? That is one area we

tightened up in in the second half. Connacht are a tough team to beat.

We can take away a couple of positives and move onto Zebre next

week. That might have been the type of game that Blues may have lost

last season. How much comfort can you take from that? Stems from last

week when we went to Glasgow and we came all a bonus point. I thought we

played really well. To get a result in the first game at home, we take a

lot of positives for that forced -- from that. Hopefully we can build on

that and get another result. Chance to get a run going? Definitely. That

is the biggest thing. The boys can take a lot of confidence from last

week. We will take the result tonight. And move on to next week.

Well done. First win as skipper. Thank you. Cheers. Matthew Rees. He

is a good shrewd signing. Whether he will play for Wales again, we don't

know. He is experienced, he will bring extra steel? I think the Blues

would be happy if he did not play for Wales. He would be more involved

here. He's an experienced player. He is a great leader. He gives them an

extra bit of grunt up front. He is a class player. I think he has been a

class signing. The Blues will definitely be happy if he does not

get any international recognition this year but he has still got it.

Yes. And he is still hungry, I'm sure. Pat Lam was diplomatic but the

frustration was evident. As standing was the word he used. Has he got a

right to feel aggrieved? Yes, I think so. When you get that penalty

site -- count, a side is dominating another side. But it was a 50-50

game. Been a gentleman he is, he was very diplomatic. I made a joke about

it on Scrum V on Sunday about Italian touch judges. It is an issue

sometimes. Some of the refereeing is poor. I think Blues deserved the

win. But to win as comfortably as they did in the end is debatable.

They did not get the run of the plastic either. There were some

clear-cut penalties. There was some indiscipline by Connacht. I have not

seen a penalty count like that for a while. Was pretty one-sided. Bradley

Davies is with Phil. Bradley has got some ice in his

shorts at the moment. Is that another niggle? Yes, I did the

splits. A bit painful. I am fine. I think you got six points off the

Russian judge! The forward performance was much better? Yes.

Obviously difficult with the weather. The field is great. The

ball is still slippery. In the first half we were a bit slack. It was

great to get a win. A young team. We showed great character in the end to

get a result. The type of game you might have come unstuck in last

year? Yes, those were the games we lost last year. But today we were

quite proud of the young halfbacks and got the result in the end. With

that then, are you looking to be out for a week or so? No. A day or so.

I'm fine. Zebre, you will be expected to win and gain some

momentum for the season? Whoever we play next week is going to be a big

game. Once you win a game this big, you have to back it up the week

after. We had a solid point last week. We deserved more. Today, a

win. Hopefully we can get some momentum. Watch the ice does not

slip. No. It is all right. Sean Holley has been going through some

analysis. He has done looking at some of the

positive stop? Some honest appraisal there.

Connacht were tricky customers. There are some good signs for the

Blues. A big criticism of the Blues last season was the scrum. Some

positive signs denied. They destructive the Connacht ball quite

a few times. When you are on the front foot it allows big ball

carriers like Copland to do their stuff. This was an early attack on

the first half. I thought Copeland looked dangerous. Defensively they

looked pretty sound, particularly after the try. Owen Williams was

pretty strong. Lloyd Williams was strong around the fringes. This is

one of the few times they put the ball through the hands. They have

the ability to do this. They looked a bit shy and timid. Maybe the

conditions at a part to play. A little bit of variation with Gareth

Davies at ten. Rhys Patchell out wide. They should more creativity. I

still think there is more to come next week.

Listening intently to that was Phil Davies. Welcome. What is your

overwhelming feeling after that, relieve? Yes, we were pretty

frustrated at half-time. We didn't build anything. We did not control.

We felt if we could control it a bit, get the forwards coming around

the corner, they were giving penalties away. That is what we

did. It was a great 23 man effort. As the boys have said, we are very

pleased to get a result. We would not have won a game like that last

year. We are very pleased with the effort and the commitment, and the

tenacity. It was important, wasn't it, first game on the new pitch? It

is very important. The fans were terrific. They made a lot of noise.

It is up to the team to perform to get people to come and watch and get

behind us, which they did. It was very important to get a win. It was

pretty ugly mind. But it was four points. Pat Lam seemed unhappy with

the penalty count. Do you think he has got a right to be aggrieved?

There were certainly a lot of penalties in the game. Patchell, he

has been putting in a lot of practice over the summer and it came

to fruition. We were on the end of some frustration that times. It is

part of the game. Pat is a top guy, an experienced coach. They will

learn from the game. You may want to look away for this because John is

picked out some examples of bad Blues play. You can see the team

talk that took place at half-time. It is the effectiveness of the

ball-carriers I want to look out for the second half. At times the Blues

don't come with any depth or place. I don't think Filise wants to take

that ball. It is very difficult. Now they don't have a scrum-half.

Pistorius was in a standing position. He makes a break but the

backline of the Blues do not support. What if Pretorious gets

through? There is nobody on his shoulder. They spilled the ball.

Another missed opportunity. A lack of execution on two against one.

Selfishly he goes for it here. They had another opportunity with Lloyd

Williams. Another two against one. He needs to go at this defender on

his inside shoulder, outside the next defender so recreates the

overlap. He doesn't. He passes too early. Connacht snuffed out the

attack. That is no tries in two games. That is something they will

be working on for next week. Fair comment is shone? Spot on. We talked

about those situations at half-time. We are creating opportunities. We

are rubbing harder on the corner. -- running. We need a little bit more

depth. I agree with what shone said. We are creating. That is the key.

How important is another home game against Zebre next week? Yes, as

Bradley said, we have two back it up. It is about backing up next

weekend against Zebre. Trying to put some positive momentum into the

season. The very best for it, Phil. Phil Silvers caught up with Alex

Cuthbert. How was it back for you? It was top, yes, you could tell from

the game that it was a bit slow, it was a bit of a battle, but we knew

if we kept sticking to the game plan and working the territory in the

corner, they would make mistakes and we would pounce on that. The site

certainly showed character to keep the momentum going and capitalise on

the ball. In the first, we were trying more of the rugby and it

wasn't coming of us and they were pouncing on the mistakes. In the

second half, we sought to get into territory and get them making

mistakes and we know with Rhys Patchell's kicking at the moment,

he's getting everything, so we needed to keep the scoreboard

ticking over. What about your general fitness? It is owing to be

sore tomorrow but it is good to get to 80 minutes and ready for next

week against Zebre. You have Zebre at home next Friday, the chance to

get a run of form. Definitely, we have to make the most of these home

games and try and get all of the bonus point. And if the weather

helps us out of it, we should be all right. Enjoy the ice bath. Alex

Cuthbert making his comeback this evening in a victorious performance

from the Blues and we have swapped one Davies for another, Jonathan

Davies has joined us. Good evening. I want to talk to you

about that missed opportunity, Tom Williams out wide. Should the Blues

have scored? I think they should. They had a couple of opportunities,

they decided to go short and it was recycled back to Cuthbert. If he had

given him the ball just before the contact, it would have been

clearer. The first option was to go short and covered gets the ball, if

he could have passed that ball just before that contact, it would have

been pretty clear-cut. I think Tom Williams has to stay in field, he

tries to go on the outside. He gets bundled into touch, when you are in

that position, either bring them being on a switch or try and stay in

field. I think it was just confidence. They are still young,

they had opportunities, there is no real old head driving them and

giving them a lot of praise and selling them where to be in certain

parts of the game. A couple of wins under their belt, that will come.

You are taught as a young kid to run the angles, hold people up, so I

think they just get a little bit excited when they get opportunities.

It is good to see them with more than just one of the runners. That

is you create space. It would be worse if we said they weren't

creating anything, they did. That is pleasing. We can go to another

result tonight, a bit of a shock, Glasgow have beaten Ulster in

Ravenhill. The final score was 14-12. James

Eddie with the winning score. Ulster have now lost twice in a row. Last

year's finalists have lost twice in a row. That try to exempt to 12-11,

and 13-12 was the final score. So plenty of celebrations for the

travelling Glasgow fans, if there were any, and Ulster are in a bit of

trouble after reaching the PRO12 final. Martyn, your reaction? It

just shows that the point the Blues got in Glasgow was a well earned

point. Glasgow are a good side, they have a lot of their big guns back,

but no one would have said Ulster would lose two from two. It shows

how important somewhere like peanut is. He is a class player, he makes

them tick and he is not there at the moment -- Li romping.

I believe in the Edinburgh game, the current score is 13-10. Lets just

run through a list of the results. -- let's just run through a list of

the results. As we saw, Glasgow nicked their win in Ravenhill and

Zebre where leading Munster early bird class told in the end -- where

leading Munster early, but class told in the end. The game is still

going on between the Dragons and Edinburgh, but as things stand,

Glasgow are into second, Munster club of the table. The Blues are in

fourth. -- top of the table. And a familiar feeling at the bottom,

Zebre propping up the table. Plenty of sport coming your way on BBC

Wales television this weekend. Let's have a little

Wales television this weekend. Let's have a taste of what is coming up

next at 9:30pm. Is this the camera I had to sing into? Swimming, cycling

and now the small case of a marathon. Doing everything right,

but on the pitch, it hasn't quite clicked.

So that is in just a little over ten minutes on BBC Two Wales. Joe Allen

interviewed, the Tenby Ironman and a Wales look back. And the PRO12

continues throughout the weekend, Scarlet will be looking for

revenge. And then of course, scrum V on Sunday. We will see Brian Moore

talking enthusiastically about the new scrummaging laws. There are two

big games involving the roles regions in the PRO12 tomorrow, the

ospreys are in Dublin and the scholarss are at home for the second

week running. They finished their regular season last year with a 40

point thumping at the hands of tomorrow's opponents, Treviso. And

this season has started as badly as the last one ended, another 40

point, this time against the champions, Leinster. But there were

some encouraging signs. Tomorrow, Treviso back in West Wells. -- West

Wales. Simon Easterby and his men will be looking for revenge.

We know how good Treviso. A lot of people are looking at it as we

should automatically beat them, but the Ospreys did very well to get a

victory last week and they really spoiled our season with the home

defeat, we were saying goodbye to a lot of players. So it definitely owe

them one at the same could happen again. We have to learn from last

Friday's game, put those things right and have a little reversal of

what the scoreline was last year. Rhys Priestland alluding to the fact

that Treviso did give the Scholarss a bit of a thumping and ruined their

season. Should they be worried after what

happened against Leinster? I think so, the confidence will have taken a

dent last week. It is difficult to know what the Scarlets performance

was all about, they looked good for the first 40 minutes then fell

apart. It is important to get a good start tomorrow, because of Treviso

get on top, the Demons will come into the Scarlets. But there is

talent right in the side and they were good enough to win. A certain

Jonathan Davies is on the bench, recalled to the 23. Due think if

they Scarlets had one last week, he would have an extra week off?

Possibly, he may be back earlier than he expected. He played all of

the minutes for the Lions. It is exciting with the centres, Jamie

Roberts is injured and whether he makes the autumn internationals or

not, is up in the air. That leaves us, spot open, so you have Williams,

Ashley Beck is back, so it will be interesting to see how people

perform, because there is an opening. I think it is a pressure

game for the Scarlets, because as Martin said, they started so well

last week and it is difficult to put your finger on it. Defensively, they

lost their shape but got blown away. Looking at their first two

games, you play at Leinster at home without their Lions, and then you

have Treviso, who are a difficult side. Because of the second-half

performance, they have put pressure on themselves and maybe Treviso are

smarting a little bit from the defeat by the Ospreys, so we'll be

up for it. It is a big game for the Scarlets. Ospreys are playing

tomorrow as well, they are on the road in Dublin. For most people,

that is a pretty intimidating place to go, but the Ospreys have some

pretty happy memories. They will have one of their Lions in

their team, in evidence coming in for Ryan Jones. Richard Rivard and

Adam Jones are on the bench. Others have an extended break, but they

showed last week that they could bring the bar last of the bench and

close down a game that was perhaps in danger of escaping them --

ballast. Yes, a difficult place to go, they don't get any 50-50 calls

in for a young Ospreys side to go there and get the win, it is very

good. And it doesn't get any easier against Leinster. It is a big ask,

it is a stretch to ask them to win but if they can come away with a

bonus point, they will be happy. You look at the Leinster side and last

week, none of their Lions featured but they can still feel a formidable

starting 15. And this guy they have signed from Newcastle has slotted

straight in and already looks like a really good signing. He is a great

signing, he was awesome in Newcastle, and he has just come in

and fit straight in. They have Darcy back as well. Two strong teams going

at it, it will be", but I would probably take Leinster because they

are at home. -- it will be a close call. But Ospreys have a great team.

Ospreys with two away games, you think it is a tough one, and a bad

start last year, but they have the pack of four and if they are

struggling, they bring the big guns on. Looking at Leinster last week, I

don't think they will be defensively as porous as the Scarlets. I thought

the pack for the Scarlets started well, the scrum was good and they

might get the upper hand, so I actually fancy Ospreys tomorrow. It

is funny you mention that, because the Scarlets pack did look good

against Leinster in a first half, and like the Blues, not renowned as

a powerful team up front and maybe the Ospreys have looked at that and

maybe thought we have the most fearsome pack. They will always

backed themselves up front. If Dan Biggar is playing like he did last

week, they definitely have a chance. I think my cross is playing

tomorrow. For me, Leinster look such a well drilled coached side, it

doesn't matter who is playing, they all fit into the system and they are

very difficult to beat in Dublin. But if any side can do it, it is

Ospreys. You are saying Ospreys, you are sitting on the fence... I am

saying Leinster with a bonus point for the Ospreys. The Dragons have

levelled things against Edinburgh, 13-13. The other major talking

points this week has been the future of the European cup, a very dramatic

week with plenty of statements, plenty of conjecture. We will go

into this in a lot of depth on Sunday, we don't have time to night,

but from the Cardiff Arms Park, it looks as though the rain is still

pouring down but the Blues have managed a first win on the plastic

pitch in the PRO12 against Connacht. 21-10 the final score. They have

Zebre here next week. From all of us on the programme, thanks for your

company, and good night.