:00:14. > :00:18.Five they are one of the most feared teams in the northern
:00:18. > :00:25.hemisphere. European champions Leinster are top of their pool in
:00:25. > :00:28.Europe. They have climbed to second in the lead. But the Blues on a
:00:28. > :00:34.roll of their own. Four straight wins and a flawless record in the
:00:35. > :00:42.Heineken Cup. Tonight they enter the cauldron of the Royal Dublin
:00:42. > :00:46.Showground. Where one winning run will come to an end. It's a tall
:00:46. > :00:50.order for the Blues tonight. They haven't won in Dublin since 2004.
:00:50. > :00:54.If they are to change that, they will have to do it the hard way -
:00:54. > :00:58.as eight of their players are missing. They'll be up against a
:00:58. > :01:05.partisan home crowd, more than 16,000 fans of packed into the
:01:05. > :01:12.Royal Dublin Showground tonight. Welcome to Scrum V. I'm joined by a
:01:12. > :01:15.former Wales internationals Jonathan Davies and Tom Shanklin.
:01:15. > :01:20.The team are still boasting nine international players. Boosted by
:01:20. > :01:23.the return of number eight, savvier Rush. It's a pack that contains a
:01:23. > :01:32.Rush. It's a pack that contains a number of seasoned campaigners.
:01:32. > :01:35.A few youngsters in their but looking at Dieter Pohl, Molitika,
:01:36. > :01:42.Russia. That is where the game is going to be won or lost tonight,
:01:42. > :01:46.purely because of the conditions. It's wet and windy in Dublin.
:01:46. > :01:49.late change in the three-quarter line tonight. Fish has come in for
:01:49. > :01:54.Czekaj, who pulled out with a hamstring strain. It's a fairly
:01:54. > :01:58.exciting looking back line. It is. It hasn't been tinkered with too
:01:58. > :02:02.It hasn't been tinkered with too much. Looking forward to seeing
:02:02. > :02:11.Ceri Sweeney play tonight. He has sat on the bench for most of the
:02:11. > :02:15.season. And Laulala, who I think is very exciting. We can head over to
:02:15. > :02:21.Dublin now, where Phil Steel is with former Ireland hooker Shane
:02:21. > :02:28.Byrne, they can talk us through the Leinster side. Yes, 41 caps for
:02:28. > :02:33.Ireland, not a hint of hairnet. The Leinster side, not their best by
:02:33. > :02:37.any means but still pretty useful. For absolutely. It's unusual having
:02:37. > :02:40.the European Cup quite so close, so they are resting Sexton and Ross on
:02:40. > :02:43.they are resting Sexton and Ross on the bench. But Colin is back and
:02:43. > :02:48.watch O'Brien a number eight. Some people would say it's maybe his
:02:48. > :02:50.best position. A typical Dublin night, blowing a gale. And night
:02:50. > :02:54.night, blowing a gale. And night for the ball handlers or the man
:02:54. > :03:00.handlers? The rain is staying away at the moment but it's going to be
:03:00. > :03:04.wet underfoot. It's going to be about to pack up front. Lovely to
:03:04. > :03:10.see the mullet is still intact on Shane Byrne. The conditions dictate
:03:10. > :03:17.play, so how do you see this one going tonight? It's going to be won
:03:17. > :03:20.and lost up front. I'd like to see Dan Fish come in, because he's got
:03:20. > :03:24.a very tidy left foot and might take a bit of pressure off Ceri
:03:24. > :03:29.Sweeney. You mentioned the rain, it's a tough place to go and play,
:03:29. > :03:34.Dublin. Yes, it's wet underfoot and the wind makes it tricky. It
:03:34. > :03:38.depends which way it's going. If it's going down field... If you've
:03:39. > :03:42.got the wind at your back and to play a territorial kicking game and
:03:42. > :03:46.tried to accumulate the points, and give you enough to see you through.
:03:46. > :03:50.But if you are playing against it, you've got to try and keep it in
:03:50. > :03:55.hand. It makes it tough for them because you've got to keep it in
:03:55. > :03:58.hand and just play the clock. An interesting game. What they've
:03:58. > :04:05.created on a Friday night is absolutely fantastic. For house all
:04:05. > :04:10.the time, great atmosphere. It's a very tough place to go. Let's see
:04:10. > :04:19.how they go. They are about to kick off. We can cross now two and a
:04:19. > :04:23.commentary team of Phil Matthews regions have to dig deep into their
:04:23. > :04:27.playing resources, as the national side squeezes in another extra
:04:27. > :04:32.international to provide the financial resources. A tester for
:04:32. > :04:36.Cardiff Blues in the home of the European champions on a raw and
:04:36. > :04:42.blustery night. The referee is Andy McPherson, the Leicester born that
:04:42. > :04:46.Scott. It's Ceri Sweeney to get us and the way for Cardiff Blues in
:04:46. > :04:50.the light blue. Alongside me is Phil Matthews, former Ireland
:04:50. > :04:55.flanker. Difficult conditions for both teams tonight. It's hard to
:04:56. > :04:59.work out exactly which way the wind is blowing. It's going to be on
:04:59. > :05:09.Cardiff's back in this first half. Leinster one to keep the ball in
:05:09. > :05:18.
:05:18. > :05:25.hand. Sean O'Brien is going to be Blues do have the wind advantage in
:05:25. > :05:28.this first half. We've had rain showers earlier so the ball might
:05:28. > :05:35.be a bit slippery this evening. Cardiff Blues with some unfamiliar
:05:35. > :05:41.faces. Mrs Tyrrell, the hooker. He played last year for Western force
:05:41. > :05:47.in Australia. It looked as though he might have to retire. Just his
:05:48. > :05:54.second league appearance. Cardiff Blues getting an early penalty.
:05:54. > :05:57.Maybe a chance for us we need to line up the posts. Tito going short
:05:57. > :06:07.of there. You might have thought Leinster would have sussed that one
:06:07. > :06:29.
:06:29. > :06:35.league this season. This is his 127th League game. Largely on the
:06:35. > :06:39.bench behind Dan Parks in the last few weeks. Has he got the the
:06:39. > :06:49.accuracy with that one? Cardiff Blues get the lead they need in the
:06:49. > :06:56.
:06:56. > :07:06.Ceri Sweeney, a lot of experience there. A slightly less experienced
:07:06. > :07:13.
:07:13. > :07:23.Leinster access. Sean O'Brien is a get back possession very cheaply
:07:23. > :07:23.
:07:23. > :08:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:08:09. > :08:13.Ireland international from New was really little or no choice. In
:08:13. > :08:16.some respects it's a lot easier for sides playing into the wind because
:08:17. > :08:20.they have to carry the ball. The difficulty will come in the second
:08:20. > :08:24.half, the challenge for Cardiff will be to get it right tactically
:08:24. > :08:29.in the first half. The temptation is to make the overplay the wind.
:08:29. > :08:35.They will want to get points on the board. This is the equivalent of a
:08:35. > :08:41.virtually on the halfway line. might have to give this a bit of a
:08:41. > :08:44.blast. I don't think it's quite as bad as the Ospreys experienced over
:08:44. > :08:54.in goal way last weekend, but it's still pretty blustery year in the
:08:54. > :08:54.
:08:54. > :10:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:10:11. > :10:21.Leinster back on terms, playing attacking position just outside the
:10:21. > :10:21.
:10:21. > :11:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:11:18. > :11:23.tonight. Rush takes it up towards Leinster aggressively in defence.
:11:23. > :11:28.That is a home penalty. Even though there's been a rotation policy here,
:11:28. > :11:32.that famous Leinster defence is really holding true. So well
:11:32. > :11:42.drilled. They don't over-committed to rocks. There's always one of two
:11:42. > :11:42.
:11:42. > :13:02.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:13:02. > :13:12.support. The home side playing really impressively. O'Brien is a
:13:12. > :13:12.
:13:12. > :14:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:14:18. > :14:26.real threat to the Blues' defence by Leinster. They showed their
:14:26. > :14:31.continuity here. Rusedski has downward pressure there. He lays
:14:31. > :14:36.the ball back well. He will come the other side... Just nudged
:14:36. > :14:46.forward before it crosses the line, though? That's not conclusive there.
:14:46. > :14:47.
:14:47. > :14:57.When you look at the expression on Rusedski's face, one of initial krb
:14:57. > :15:07.
:15:07. > :15:12.the forward movement? It's one for Seamus Flannery.
:15:12. > :15:19.If he made his decision, I would have thought he would have made it
:15:19. > :15:29.positively. Hmmm. Very difficult to spot the ball. It might just have
:15:29. > :15:32.
:15:32. > :15:39.gone on the line. Confirm I can award the try yes? That's correct.
:15:39. > :15:46.The roar of approval from the royal Dublin showground. The flags are
:15:46. > :15:50.flying as Leinster have the first try of the game. It's a lot easier
:15:50. > :15:53.for renster because they only have one option, that's to commit to
:15:53. > :16:03.going through the phases. That means everybody knows what the plan
:16:03. > :16:06.
:16:06. > :16:12.is. Everybody was involved in that movement, backs forward. Nacewa
:16:12. > :16:16.involved. They will be delighted with that start into this wind.
:16:16. > :16:26.McFadden to try to get Leinster into double figures, inside ten
:16:26. > :16:34.
:16:34. > :16:39.He's hit that one well, as well. 10-3, Leinster lead. Let's hear
:16:39. > :16:43.from Shayne and Phil pitchside. said about the Blues having the
:16:43. > :16:46.elements behind them. Already a try and a bit down. How worrying is
:16:46. > :16:50.that? You have to say a superstar getting the penalty, what they
:16:50. > :16:57.wanted with the wind behind them. Every time Leinster have been in
:16:57. > :17:02.the 22 they've come out with some sort of score. Not what they wanted.
:17:02. > :17:06.How's Rhys Ruddock doing this season? One of the youngest players
:17:06. > :17:15.to cap the province in Ireland. There's loads to come from him.
:17:15. > :17:25.They're off again. Over to you Nick. Nacewa with a burst out of defence.
:17:25. > :17:46.
:17:46. > :17:56.hands on the ball at the mo.. So the wind is no real use -- use to
:17:56. > :18:19.
:18:19. > :18:29.the moment. Possibly the wrong decision that with open spaces wide
:18:29. > :18:32.
:18:32. > :18:36.stadium announcer. Cardiff Blues killing the ball outside the 22.
:18:36. > :18:39.Another penalty shot for McFadden. Cardiff unable to slow up the
:18:39. > :18:43.Leinster ball. They need to commit themselves to counter rucking and
:18:43. > :18:46.get more forwards into the rucks to slow the Leinster ball down,
:18:46. > :18:49.because so far it's Leinster gaining momentum all the way.
:18:49. > :18:55.They're not being hit on the gain line. It's Leinster going forward,
:18:55. > :18:59.through the phases relatively easily. Cardiff will have to do
:18:59. > :19:04.that, it's clear what Leinster are going to do. They need to commit
:19:04. > :19:08.much more players to those rucks, really slow down Leinster's ball.
:19:08. > :19:12.It's not working for them at the moment. There's going to be a few
:19:12. > :19:16.sharp words, I suppose, you could say halftime. It's going to be a
:19:16. > :19:20.very different gave for Cardiff at halftime. Somebody needs to get the
:19:20. > :19:28.word to Cardiff Blues to start to counter ruck. McFadden taking his
:19:28. > :19:33.time with the kick then, from wide on the left-hand side. The royal
:19:33. > :19:36.Dublin show ground has filled up remarkably since maybe ten minutes
:19:36. > :19:41.before kickoff. Everyone leaving it late to get into the ground. They
:19:41. > :19:51.didn't want to be out in the open longer than necessary. Thought it
:19:51. > :19:55.
:19:55. > :19:58.might only be a half-full stadium. they like the look of this?
:19:58. > :20:03.Beautifully placed by McFadden. Leinster's lead is already up to
:20:03. > :20:07.ten points. You have to say well deserved as well. They've played
:20:07. > :20:12.the conditions. They knew exactly what they needed to do. I have to
:20:12. > :20:22.say Cardiff Blues will have to do more -- be more dynamic at rubgz.
:20:22. > :20:33.
:20:33. > :20:43.Thraiz lot of time left in this in that contact area, as Phil has
:20:43. > :21:02.
:21:02. > :21:08.halfway. Fish just misjudging the wind. That's so dispir riting to
:21:08. > :21:12.the forwards now. That's an experience, you have to say, he
:21:12. > :21:17.will have known what the wind was going to do there. The ball needed
:21:17. > :21:21.to be touched. Maybe keeping the ball in hand, Cardiff will have to
:21:21. > :21:24.build momentum themselves with ball in hand. Because the wind has been
:21:24. > :21:30.behind them, the forwards are not in the game. They're chasing kicks
:21:30. > :21:34.and making tackles. Ceri Sweeney and Richie Rees are going to have
:21:34. > :21:44.to get the ball in hand and get some momentum and go through the
:21:44. > :22:01.
:22:01. > :22:10.phases themselves. So far it's all line with a relatively simple move,
:22:10. > :22:16.down the blind side. This time a bit of relief for the Blues. They
:22:16. > :22:26.got themselves in a good position over the ball. But he came in and
:22:26. > :22:26.
:22:26. > :22:36.dived on them and quite rightly near touch line. It's a welcome
:22:36. > :22:48.
:22:48. > :22:51.option for the Blues to v, a left- Cardiff can build on this.
:22:51. > :22:57.They need to get some momentum in the game, Cardiff Blues. Going with
:22:57. > :23:01.the wind in the first half, but yet to take advantage of it.
:23:01. > :23:11.The referee not satisfied with that throwing.
:23:11. > :23:15.
:23:15. > :23:25.That's unfortunate. It was a good move they brought Xavier Rush to
:23:25. > :23:34.
:23:34. > :23:44.all he surveys at the moment. It's been a pretty dominant Leinster
:23:44. > :24:09.
:24:09. > :24:14.Leinster back row and Leo Cullen joining in.
:24:14. > :24:17.That tackle from Tito and Hill combining on the touch line. Boss
:24:17. > :24:23.choosing to go blind, overplaying the blind side there. He's running
:24:23. > :24:26.out of room and not really giving his forwards any space to carry
:24:26. > :24:36.that. Jennings driven into touch gives Cardiff another bite of the
:24:36. > :24:46.cherry. Isaac Boss has been hugging the touch lines quite a bit in the
:24:46. > :24:46.
:24:46. > :25:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:25:33. > :25:37.Just shows how important possession is. Maybe they should have held
:25:37. > :25:41.onto that, tried to pass out of a tackle, turn today over and that's
:25:41. > :25:51.resulted in a penalty opportunity for Cardiff, which they'll gladly
:25:51. > :25:58.
:25:58. > :26:08.carryer more and force mistakes like that to stop Leinster's
:26:08. > :26:09.
:26:09. > :26:12.momentum. Ceri Sweeney with his second kick at goal. I would say
:26:12. > :26:16.relatively simple, but I don't think any kicking is going to be
:26:16. > :26:19.simple this evening with or against the wind. The wind at his back at
:26:19. > :26:25.the moment. That's high enough and straight enough. Cardiff up to six
:26:25. > :26:28.points to Leinster's 13. We come up to the quarter mark. If the Blues
:26:29. > :26:34.are going to compete in this game, they'll need to be in the lead by
:26:34. > :26:37.halftime. You would have thought so, but it doesn't, often it doesn't
:26:37. > :26:40.work like that, because what Cardiff will do coming into the
:26:41. > :26:44.second half is exactly what Leinster have been trying to do.
:26:44. > :26:48.Very often the side playing into the wind are going to get the
:26:48. > :26:58.scores. It's so much easier tactically playing into the wind in
:26:58. > :27:20.
:27:20. > :27:30.some respects, even though it can kick. It's quite a risk in that
:27:30. > :27:59.
:27:59. > :28:08.strong as it was. But it's still pass. I suspect it possibly was.
:28:08. > :28:15.The officials weren't quite in line. He might just have mishit that one
:28:15. > :28:20.as well. Carr goes back. Thankfully for Cardiff blues it doesn't roll
:28:20. > :28:30.over the line. That's OK by Ceri Sweeney. They really haven't
:28:30. > :28:36.
:28:36. > :28:46.thought at the moment. Seven-point advantage with one scrambled try
:28:46. > :29:25.
:29:25. > :29:28.lost possession. He felt the wrong whistle. It's as much having three
:29:28. > :29:38.defenders on the one tackle, and that is what thence to have been
:29:38. > :29:48.doing in defence all day long. -- that is what Leinster have been
:29:48. > :30:07.
:30:07. > :30:17.doing. This time they go for the sharper of thought. That's a major
:30:17. > :30:52.
:30:52. > :30:57.the moment. I was just thinking that Leinster have started to ditch
:30:57. > :31:00.a bit of their game plan. They were so tight and focused in carrying
:31:01. > :31:10.the ball forward in the first 20 minutes, they are getting a little
:31:11. > :31:12.
:31:12. > :31:19.bit loose as the kicking has come into the game. Let's have some
:31:19. > :31:23.touchline thoughts on Scrum V. Where are the blue was going wrong
:31:23. > :31:28.tactically at the moment? It's hard enough, Novak and being forced to
:31:28. > :31:36.have a depleted side, but they are turning over too much ball. On the
:31:36. > :31:40.ruck, the penalty... It's killing them. On the field, how do you put
:31:40. > :31:43.something like that right in the middle of a half? They've got to
:31:43. > :31:50.understand the conditions they are playing in. They can't fling the
:31:50. > :32:00.ball around. At half-time at Ravenhill, will still lead the
:32:00. > :32:23.
:32:23. > :32:33.Scarlets by 17-10. Highlights of in terms of the forwards running on
:32:33. > :33:07.
:33:07. > :33:15.to possession? Cardiff Blues getting some fairly solid bodies
:33:15. > :33:25.back there. Sweeney back behind the goal line. Ritchie Rees in position
:33:25. > :33:49.
:33:49. > :33:58.going to bounce very well for the Cardiff Blues, but it was well
:33:58. > :34:08.defended in the end. The Scarlets are now trailing 24-10 in Belfast.
:34:08. > :34:12.
:34:12. > :34:16.That game kicked off an hour before game. The Blues need to get back at
:34:16. > :34:26.least on terms before then, having had the wind at their backs in the
:34:26. > :34:42.
:34:42. > :34:52.bit loose. They started apart a little bit from that early game.
:34:52. > :34:59.
:35:00. > :35:06.Starting to try and get a bit more 10pm on BBC Two Wales. A tribute to
:35:06. > :35:16.the late Wales football manager, Gary Speed. And a celebration of
:35:16. > :35:25.
:35:25. > :35:35.Shane Williams' international with a 6:30pm kick-off at the
:35:35. > :35:35.
:35:35. > :36:54.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:36:54. > :37:04.Boss. Tremendous gains by Boss possession and territory too
:37:04. > :37:20.
:37:20. > :37:26.He would rather run and kick, so would Laulala. Now there is Cardiff
:37:26. > :37:33.Blues to attack if someone can get on Laulala's shoulder. He looked
:37:33. > :37:43.desperately for the offload their. Mustoe 40 saw a gap close to the
:37:43. > :37:44.
:37:44. > :37:50.forwards. -- thought he saw a gap. A penalty chance for the visitors.
:37:50. > :37:55.That was much better defence by the Blues. Tom James particularly
:37:55. > :38:00.stopping Leinster from getting bad ball wide. They got the turnover.
:38:01. > :38:09.You can see that Tom James is cutting off the past there. They
:38:09. > :38:14.weren't able to go wide. They get the penalty as well. They are
:38:14. > :38:19.fighting their way back into this game. Against the wind and against
:38:19. > :38:29.the grain, but they won't be too disappointed. The rain is starting
:38:29. > :39:00.
:39:00. > :39:06.He has hit everything so well so far this evening. He won't be happy
:39:06. > :39:11.with that. It looks like Cardiff Blues are alert to the quick one,
:39:11. > :39:16.so Leinster are going to have to go the traditional route. The rain is
:39:16. > :39:26.now drifting into the Leinster faces for the remaining eight
:39:26. > :39:45.
:39:45. > :39:49.whistle at virtually every ruck at the moment. Leinster are doing what
:39:49. > :39:55.Cardiff should be doing. They are really challenging and competing.
:39:55. > :39:58.They are getting low body positions and committing two or three players.
:39:58. > :40:02.Cardiff, and the other hand, are not committing enough to the
:40:03. > :40:06.breakdown. Leinster have got two, three players around before Cardiff
:40:06. > :40:16.have any supporting players to that break down. They've got to be
:40:16. > :40:55.
:40:55. > :41:05.bench tonight. We don't expect them up for Leinster against Bath. The
:41:05. > :41:28.
:41:28. > :41:38.second of those matches at the And into the wind, when possession
:41:38. > :42:02.
:42:02. > :42:06.is so crucial, you really don't one. He was. You could see that
:42:07. > :42:15.touch from Dan Fish, he was giving away an awful lot. Leinster want
:42:15. > :42:19.the ball, why give it back to them? That was a good chase by Nacewa. In
:42:19. > :42:21.conditions like that, you'd expect the ball back to be sitting back
:42:22. > :42:31.waiting for that long kick, but that's not the way he plays the
:42:32. > :42:53.
:42:53. > :42:57.they can't kick it directly into touch. Leinster are sitting back in
:42:57. > :43:07.anticipation of a kick, but Cardiff Blues have to clear the ball from
:43:07. > :43:41.
:43:41. > :43:47.to half-time. Leinster will be very satisfied indeed if they go in with
:43:47. > :43:51.any sort of lead, having played into the wind. Yeah, they will be
:43:51. > :43:54.happy with the scoreline. But they have slackened off a bid midway
:43:54. > :43:58.through the second half. Interesting what their approach is
:43:58. > :44:03.going to be for the second half because they're no means out of
:44:03. > :44:07.sight. 13-6 is not a huge lead. It will be easier for Cardiff in terms
:44:07. > :44:12.of what they're going to do. You know they're going to keep the ball
:44:12. > :44:22.in hand, so it will be a lot easier for them tactically. Here is a role
:44:22. > :44:22.
:44:22. > :45:28.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:45:28. > :45:33.from the Cardiff Blues for words. closing moments of the first half
:45:33. > :45:43.tick away, almost in slow motion at the moment, as they try to take it
:45:43. > :45:45.
:45:45. > :45:51.the wrong side there. A bit of an exchange of opinions on the ground.
:45:51. > :45:56.Healy didn't appreciate the hit when he was in the offside position.
:45:56. > :45:59.That's all handbags though. Cardiff are taking the ball very deep.
:45:59. > :46:03.Leinster are taking the ball right on the game line. That's how
:46:03. > :46:07.they're getting in behind the Cardiff defence. Cardiff are
:46:07. > :46:11.finding it very difficult to get moment. They are taking the ball
:46:11. > :46:21.deep. Also they're not able to get numbers to support the ball carrier
:46:21. > :46:34.
:46:34. > :46:44.but... He's just reminded not to get where he shouldn't be.
:46:44. > :47:06.
:47:06. > :47:16.and Sweeney with the chance to reduce the deficit two out of three
:47:16. > :47:18.
:47:18. > :47:23.Macpherson. Sweeney sends it high between the
:47:23. > :47:26.uprights. 13-9, Leinster lead. What will Cardiff Blues have to do
:47:26. > :47:30.differently in the second half? They will have to support the ball
:47:30. > :47:34.carrier. They have to hope they get a bit of ball. When they get it,
:47:34. > :47:38.they'll have to hold onto. It they have to support the ball carrier
:47:38. > :47:41.and submit numbers to rucks when they're defending. Leinster are
:47:41. > :47:45.going to get ball. It will be interesting, the temptation will be
:47:45. > :47:55.to kick the ball away. Leinster have got a bit sloppy in the second
:47:55. > :48:01.
:48:01. > :48:08.half. They won't want that to whether it was safe to get the ball
:48:08. > :48:18.off the park. Now it will be. Maybe he didn't know that time is
:48:18. > :48:22.
:48:22. > :48:32.Blues to concede now having had the chance to get the ball off the
:48:32. > :48:42.
:48:42. > :48:46.paddock. Maybe someone else fancies Madigan eventually finding touch.
:48:46. > :48:55.That is the last action of the first half. Leinster having the
:48:55. > :49:03.four points advantage here on Scrum V Live. Let's cross to the touch
:49:03. > :49:07.The Blues players coming in behind us. Tom James has done well in the
:49:07. > :49:11.first half. Are the Blues still in this? Or is it going to be a long
:49:11. > :49:15.second half? I think it could be a very long second half. I was
:49:15. > :49:18.watching the line out there, all the Cardiff pack are walking to the
:49:18. > :49:22.line out. They have to take every minute. They could do without
:49:22. > :49:26.miskicks. They have to take their opportunities. It could be a long
:49:26. > :49:28.second half. How would you play it if you were the Blues in They have
:49:28. > :49:32.to do what Leinster did, take their opportunities in the first half.
:49:32. > :49:36.They are going to have to run it now. The wind is getting worse.
:49:36. > :49:40.They are going to have to have the patience, wait for the gaps and
:49:40. > :49:44.take opportunities. There are big names on the Leinster bench. What
:49:44. > :49:54.impact will they have? They'll be on with about 25 to go. I think
:49:54. > :49:54.
:49:54. > :50:02.they'll all have a big effect. Ross will steady up the scrum. You'd
:50:02. > :50:08.never think he's Irish would you, In blustery conditions in Dublin,
:50:08. > :50:14.it was Leinster centre McFadden who struck first, reading the wind well.
:50:14. > :50:22.Then some patient play led to the first try. Isaac Boss awarded the
:50:22. > :50:32.score after consultation with the video ref. The Blues remained in
:50:32. > :50:32.
:50:32. > :50:37.touch, via the boot of Ceri Sweeney. Tom, we spoke during the first half
:50:37. > :50:41.about the tactics we've seen from the Blues this season. Encouraged
:50:41. > :50:45.to spread it wide early. Perhaps that's not the tactics for tonight?
:50:45. > :50:48.Probably not. The Blues like to play a wide game. It has proved
:50:48. > :50:53.pretty successful so far. It looks windy out there. Maybe they need to
:50:53. > :50:57.be a bit more direct, because there's been a few sloppy passes, a
:50:57. > :51:01.few turnovers. What they need now is a big Jamie Roberts to get them
:51:01. > :51:04.over the game line and get them into the game. The mention the
:51:04. > :51:07.sloppiness. The conditions aren't great tonight. That's led to
:51:07. > :51:11.sloppiness at the restarts as well. You know what the conditions are
:51:11. > :51:15.going to be like. Have you to make sure it's a secure ball. With the
:51:15. > :51:20.wind, they've had no momentum whatsoever. They've had no time in
:51:20. > :51:25.the opposition 22. This is after they scored the three points. It's
:51:26. > :51:30.a decent kick, but someone's got to claim it. That's one mistake. Then
:51:30. > :51:36.I don't know what it is, just very sloppy at the moment. It's a tough
:51:36. > :51:42.kick from, against the wind. Again they just leave it go. With the
:51:42. > :51:46.handling errors, with the turnovers, with the line-outs not being
:51:46. > :51:51.effective, they've got no momentum. At the moment, as we said before
:51:51. > :51:55.the game, conditions, playing against it, you carry it. They've
:51:55. > :52:00.won the battle of the gain the Leinster boys. Now in the second
:52:00. > :52:05.half, it's now, if, you know, if you're -- you've not got the wind,
:52:05. > :52:08.Cardiff have to pick up the game, carry the ball, get over the gain
:52:08. > :52:12.line. McFadden has been kicking well. Conditions are very difficult
:52:12. > :52:19.but he's reading the wind well. Very well. I don't think he's a
:52:19. > :52:23.natural kicker really. But he's done a fantastic job there, a bit
:52:23. > :52:30.like your golf shot there. What you find, when you're playing against
:52:30. > :52:34.the wind, is that you have to play a bit more. Fair play to, who were
:52:34. > :52:38.they playing now, I was going to say Ulster. Leinster! They are
:52:38. > :52:42.playing, they are keeping the ball and looking after it. People don't
:52:42. > :52:48.understand that when the wind is against you, it's pointless kicking
:52:48. > :52:53.because they're just going to kick and put it back. Unfortunately the
:52:53. > :53:00.blues don't have anything really positive it'll. One's gone too long.
:53:00. > :53:05.They haven't found touch to put pressure on the line. They have
:53:05. > :53:11.squad end -- skwaundered a lot of opportunities. There's a bit of
:53:11. > :53:16.complacency. There have been a couple of occasions where they've
:53:16. > :53:22.been ildisciplined in defence. Those three inside men are drifting.
:53:22. > :53:27.Casey comes in on a blitz. You can't have three of your inside men,
:53:27. > :53:30.right, drifting and then your outside man who is the axis,
:53:30. > :53:34.blasting it. That led to the first try. If you are going to blitz like,
:53:34. > :53:37.that have you to take man and ball. Leinster have done that three times
:53:37. > :53:43.against the Blues. There have been a couple of opportunities where
:53:43. > :53:49.they've gone over the top. That led to this try here. It's weird. We
:53:49. > :53:54.weren't really sure if the try had been scored. Someone mentioned a
:53:54. > :53:58.knock-on. The ball pops up somewhere that we miss today for a
:53:58. > :54:05.split second. But there's only one man that's important, the TMO. He
:54:05. > :54:09.gives it. It's a tough second half now for the Blues. If they're that
:54:09. > :54:14.lax defencively, it's going to be really long. I think Leinster,
:54:14. > :54:17.because they're dominant in the line-out, in the scrum, they're
:54:18. > :54:22.strong, they will kick better. Madigan now will just skim it along
:54:22. > :54:26.the ground and push pressure on and force the Blues to come from
:54:26. > :54:29.distance. Every one of those boys will have to carry ball. There is a
:54:29. > :54:39.Welsh team playing Ulster tonight, it's the scarlets. They're at Raven
:54:39. > :54:48.
:54:48. > :54:58.dearie me! Can you believe it! Softest try in the world, given
:54:58. > :55:10.
:55:10. > :55:19.going to get in? Oh, he is. that's going to go to the pocket
:55:19. > :55:29.and the yellow card is produced. The bounce is kind for him. He was
:55:29. > :55:40.
:55:40. > :55:50.away so quickly, there was nobody evening! Halftime here, at wintry
:55:50. > :56:01.
:56:01. > :56:07.stopping Stephen Ferris. Five-and- a-half minutes remaining.
:56:07. > :56:10.Is that legal or illegal? He's Is that legal or illegal? He's
:56:10. > :56:14.right through and he's got the try. The final score was 24-17. Three
:56:14. > :56:17.tries to the two for the scarlets, but not enough in the end. There's
:56:17. > :56:22.plenty more sport across the weekend on BBC television, starting
:56:22. > :56:30.with a moving tribute to Gary Speed on sport Wales.
:56:30. > :56:40.# You're just too good to be true # Can't take my eyes off you
:56:40. > :56:40.
:56:40. > :56:44.# You'd be like heaven to touch # BBC Cymru Wales has asked this song
:56:44. > :56:51.to be recorded. It's part of the tribute to Gary Speed. Sport Wales
:56:51. > :56:56.tonight at 10pm on BBC Two Wales. The PRO 12 continues tomorrow. The
:56:56. > :57:03.Ospreys welcome Munster to the Liberty Stadium. Coverage starts on
:57:03. > :57:10.S4C at 6.10pm. On Sunday the Dragons host Glasgow, also on S4C,
:57:10. > :57:15.4.10pm. On scrum five, reaction to the big one, Wales v Australia.
:57:15. > :57:18.That match will bring down the curtain on Shayne Williams'
:57:18. > :57:25.glittering Test career. There are tickets available for those of you
:57:25. > :57:35.who want to watch him take his bow. The match is live on BBC One Wales.
:57:35. > :57:55.
:57:55. > :57:59.Tom, the tributes have been flooding in all weeks to Shayne
:57:59. > :58:02.Williams. We've heard all the accolades that we will ever hear.
:58:02. > :58:09.With someone who's played with him, must be special you have someone in
:58:09. > :58:12.the same line with you who can turn the game. He was brilliant. In 2008,
:58:12. > :58:18.he won Player of the Year. Our tactics going into the Grand Slam
:58:18. > :58:22.was just give the ball to Shayne. People ask you who was the best
:58:22. > :58:28.player I played with, for me, it's Shayne. We can have a look at the
:58:28. > :58:33.Wales' team shortly. They're facing Australia. It's an interesting
:58:33. > :58:36.selection. We have Matthew Rhys not starting, the fit again former
:58:36. > :58:46.captain. Hugh Bennett rewarded for his World Cup form. He's retained
:58:46. > :59:04.
:59:04. > :59:10.opportunity, Williams has played well and deserves a chance. The
:59:10. > :59:14.midfield looks very strong. The back row butt macro it's a big test.
:59:14. > :59:21.It's kind of unusual. One random It's kind of unusual. One random
:59:21. > :59:25.test in the middle of December. But it's all to play for. It's a great
:59:25. > :59:32.opportunity to give Shane a great send-off. But the Aussies last week,
:59:32. > :59:38.the Barbarians were poor. But they showed how creative they are.
:59:38. > :59:41.Because the front fives are a kind of... Maybe not used to seeing them
:59:41. > :59:48.and he will have the upper hand there will be crucial. Maybe it
:59:48. > :59:56.will be an open game. It should be a great test. Shane Williams has
:59:56. > :00:05.been a legend. He has been a pleasure to watch and commentate on.
:00:05. > :00:11.We can nip back to the touchline in in the studio. You have played
:00:11. > :00:15.against him often enough. How is he regarded in Ireland and around the
:00:15. > :00:20.rugby world? He is a tricky one. He's broken many a heart with that
:00:20. > :00:23.sidestep of his. We know he is a try scoring machine. You'd look at
:00:23. > :00:29.him and think he was going to be easy to handle but it never was the
:00:29. > :00:34.case. He has pace, guile, he is cheeky. The game being what it is
:00:34. > :00:38.these days, will we ever see somebody like that again?
:00:38. > :00:43.Regardless how the game is, Shane was one-in-a-million. I think his
:00:43. > :00:47.own record speaks for itself. He was fantastic. Amazing try scoring
:00:48. > :00:51.record, and well deserved. It will be a long time before we find a way
:00:51. > :00:57.they like him again. The wind seems to be picking up in the second half
:00:57. > :01:01.now. Wonderful news! Dafydd Jones is with Rick O'Shea in the red zone
:01:01. > :01:11.tonight. You can get in touch with them via text and Twitter. Welsh
:01:11. > :01:17.
:01:17. > :01:21.language commentary also on the red job that this semi permanent
:01:21. > :01:31.structure that we are in in the new stand seems to be pretty well built.
:01:31. > :01:36.It is whistling around our ears as it blows in the back of the stands.
:01:36. > :01:40.It will be Ian Madigan to get the second half under way with Leinster
:01:40. > :01:50.four points to the good. The Blues having to play into the wind in the
:01:50. > :01:56.
:01:56. > :02:06.Madigan. He has barely got the measure of the wind. It's very
:02:06. > :02:06.
:02:06. > :02:48.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:02:48. > :02:58.first half, Carr taking the ball a little bit too far behind the gain-
:02:58. > :03:16.
:03:16. > :03:26.kicking into the wind in that first kicking duties in the last couple
:03:26. > :03:26.
:03:26. > :05:00.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:05:00. > :05:10.of weeks. -- kicking. He had 100 % ball in hand, as they have to be.
:05:10. > :05:24.
:05:24. > :05:28.Richie Rees getting things going legged getting back there. They
:05:28. > :05:38.have four or five men who are really just arriving on the scene
:05:38. > :06:12.
:06:12. > :06:22.now, after Tom James kicked the for a moment there. Carr stepping
:06:22. > :06:32.on the gas. Lovely inside support. What a charge from Nathan White.
:06:32. > :06:46.
:06:46. > :06:49.What a moment! Nathan White a pace on the ball at all. They
:06:49. > :06:52.forced Richie Rees to kick the ball away. They don't want to be kicking
:06:52. > :06:57.the ball away when they are playing into the wind. Cardiff have got to
:06:57. > :07:01.get momentum and into this game. If they don't get a quick ruck ball,
:07:02. > :07:10.they are not going to be able to do that. They are going to force
:07:11. > :07:18.Richie Rees course we need to kick the ball and go back a length. --
:07:18. > :07:28.Richie Rees or Ceri Sweeney need to kick the ball. 21-9 is starting to
:07:28. > :07:32.
:07:32. > :07:38.one of those that's going to get longer and longer as the night goes
:07:38. > :07:44.on, I suspect. That's a real body blow so early in the second half.
:07:44. > :07:48.Some word from the touchline. you were shaking your head in
:07:48. > :07:53.despair at the Blues their - and why? They make it all the way up to
:07:53. > :07:58.22, spent two places there and they kick the ball away. Absolutely
:07:58. > :08:02.insane rugby. It led directly to that try. Kicking the ball away
:08:02. > :08:12.when you have the wind against you like that is not the way to win the
:08:12. > :08:14.
:08:14. > :08:18.Cup match against Edinburgh next week. There are not many players
:08:18. > :08:28.demanding to be included in that game at the City stadium at the
:08:28. > :08:28.
:08:28. > :09:10.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:09:10. > :09:13.moment. You will be able to hear here? A big Heineken Cup double-
:09:14. > :09:18.header coming up for Leinster against Bath in the next couple of
:09:18. > :09:23.weeks. Leinster with that marvellous triumph back at the
:09:23. > :09:28.Millennium Stadium back in May, they really seemed to have got the
:09:28. > :09:32.hang of European rugby. They do, but I don't think you can
:09:32. > :09:37.underestimate the contribution of the likes that Joe Smith has made.
:09:37. > :09:41.He has insisted on creating a team that has got a lot of very big
:09:41. > :09:46.profile names, but that is not pandering to the big profile names.
:09:46. > :09:51.You can see the way the game plan is the same week in week out, with
:09:51. > :09:55.the rotation policy. Nobody is bigger than the team they play in.
:09:55. > :09:59.They are totally committed, they play quick, dynamic rugby and have
:10:00. > :10:03.been able to add a bit of firepower up front which, before they won
:10:03. > :10:13.their first Heineken Cup, they were bon rapport with. They really have
:10:13. > :10:13.
:10:13. > :11:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:11:34. > :11:40.on in that conversation with time at these rucks. It's just not
:11:40. > :11:48.dynamic enough. The Police was going there. The support isn't
:11:48. > :11:58.really quick enough to power through and take the defenders away.
:11:58. > :12:10.
:12:10. > :12:17.generation in there. Rush is 34, Molitika, 37, Tito, 33. They've
:12:17. > :12:22.been fined servants. But Leinster looking a bit more lively all round
:12:22. > :12:32.the park and get into these breakdowns more quickly. They are
:12:32. > :12:46.
:12:47. > :12:53.legitimately? The dice are loaded in favour of the attacking side.
:12:53. > :13:03.Pretty difficult to bring them down or get your hands on the ball until
:13:03. > :13:10.
:13:10. > :13:17.drop goal attempt. Leinster cruising through the boot of
:13:17. > :13:27.McFadden. McFadden is a super footballer. Great with the ball in
:13:27. > :13:31.
:13:31. > :13:41.the breakdown, they are forcing Cardiff to challenge illegally to
:13:41. > :13:45.
:13:45. > :13:52.viewing for Sam Warburton and the Blues players, if they are keeping
:13:52. > :14:02.a night on this at the Wales team hotel, as Leinster make another
:14:02. > :14:22.
:14:22. > :14:26.An offside decision in the visitors' favour. That's too poor
:14:26. > :14:30.reception kickoffs for Sykes. Shane Jennings will be kicking himself
:14:30. > :14:35.for that. That's a front row mistake that. He took his eye off
:14:35. > :14:45.the ball. It was a bit short for him. Can Cardiff make the most of
:14:45. > :14:45.
:14:45. > :14:52.him. Can Cardiff make the most of to give up the chance of penalty
:14:52. > :14:58.shots at goal. But at 26.9 you have to take decisive action. They have
:14:58. > :15:08.to give themselves a boost as well. They need to get the ball into
:15:08. > :15:27.
:15:27. > :15:35.hands in an attacking position. Could thb a yellow card coming?
:15:35. > :15:39.It's certainly in the danger zone. Leinster down to 14. Leo Cullen,
:15:39. > :15:48.the captain, gets a spell in the bin.
:15:48. > :15:52.Well that first half penalty, one too many for Andrew Macpherson.
:15:52. > :16:02.You'd have to say the drive deserved that. It looked as though
:16:02. > :16:32.
:16:32. > :16:42.Blues go for the scrum against the brought someone in there.
:16:42. > :17:09.
:17:09. > :17:17.Looks like they've got, is that... ten minutes when the captain is in
:17:17. > :17:23.the bin ticking away. Two replacements props on for
:17:23. > :17:31.Leinster. They had a much stronger bench than the Blues in terms of
:17:31. > :17:41.experience. Difficult to tell who went down first there. As usual,
:17:41. > :18:09.
:18:09. > :18:15.down here, playing into the wind. They reckon they have a bit of an
:18:15. > :18:18.upper hand now. It's effectively seven against eight because Dave
:18:18. > :18:28.Kearney isn't offering any weight in there. The crowd trying to
:18:28. > :18:28.
:18:28. > :19:28.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:19:28. > :19:33.provide the 15th man, since they're for them. The referee is looking
:19:33. > :19:40.for a patch of grass that hasn't been churned up. He's gone the
:19:40. > :19:50.other side of that muddy patch. think there's already about three
:19:50. > :20:22.
:20:22. > :20:27.minutes or four minutes of Cullen's with this period of play.
:20:27. > :20:33.But they've knock today forwards. The home crowd are -- knocked it
:20:33. > :20:37.forwards. The home crowd are delighted. You'd think they'd won
:20:37. > :20:47.the league with the reaction. Cardiff Blues' period of pressure
:20:47. > :20:51.
:20:51. > :20:54.is in vain. I think it was John Yapp there. That gives Leinster a
:20:54. > :20:58.potential get out of jail card. It's not over yet. They have to
:20:58. > :21:08.hold the scrum. You can bet that John Yapp will try to make up for
:21:08. > :21:26.
:21:26. > :21:36.that mistake. He's got Mike Ross into it. He was dying to get into
:21:36. > :21:36.
:21:36. > :22:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:22:21. > :22:31.Leinster really with their tails up after surviving that little spell
:22:31. > :22:31.
:22:31. > :23:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:23:31. > :23:40.in defence. They may be down to 14, defence, giving away another
:23:41. > :23:49.
:23:49. > :23:59.playing advantage. Richie Rees will an offence and a card coming.
:23:59. > :23:59.
:23:59. > :24:02.You're offside. Too many penalties. He stood right offside. Nine.
:24:02. > :24:08.was playing along advantage. The reason he played that long
:24:08. > :24:12.advantage as well, he was going to come back for the yellow card, if a
:24:12. > :24:16.try didn't accrue there. That evened things up a little bit. It
:24:16. > :24:21.makes things very difficult for Cardiff now. But they're kicking
:24:21. > :24:25.the ball away again. They're just, don't seem to have the confidence
:24:25. > :24:28.to keep the ball in hand. There's indecision when they're get pg the
:24:28. > :24:32.ball, and just giving it back to Leinster. In this situation, you
:24:32. > :24:42.just can't do that. So, we've got a change at scrum
:24:42. > :24:49.
:24:49. > :24:59.half with Louise Redknapp coming on. -- Eoin coming on.
:24:59. > :24:59.
:24:59. > :25:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:25:45. > :25:49.of the match. He's offered himself Cardiff blues cracking. 14 aside,
:25:49. > :25:55.Leinster get their third try and now they're oust sight. I really
:25:55. > :25:59.like the look of Ian Madigan. He hasn't a lot to do in the first
:25:59. > :26:03.half. He's not hanging back waiting for other people to do things. He's
:26:03. > :26:07.been doing his fair share of the hard work in terms of rucks and
:26:07. > :26:11.winning the ball etc. He's taken that chance really well. That's
:26:11. > :26:21.where you want to see an out half like that. You want to see him
:26:21. > :26:43.
:26:43. > :26:53.boot of Fergus McFadden. I think that will be his last touch, as Leo
:26:53. > :26:59.
:26:59. > :27:03.Cullen returns. Let's hear turn it into points. What was the
:27:03. > :27:07.reason? Once again a terrible turn around, a penalty within five yards
:27:07. > :27:11.of the line. I would have gone for the linout. Leo Cullen off the
:27:11. > :27:15.pitch, who's the main guy who disrupts them all. The linout had
:27:15. > :27:25.been going well, making yards every time they went into a maul. They
:27:25. > :27:25.
:27:25. > :27:29.chose to go into a scrum with two fresh props. 33 -9 down. What do
:27:29. > :27:34.they do? They are professional players. They have to have some
:27:34. > :27:38.pride in the Jersey. They have been in the Leinster 22 plenty of times.
:27:38. > :27:48.They just can't convert. They have to do it again. Leinster are off
:27:48. > :28:22.
:28:22. > :28:32.Leinster back up to 15. Macauley chance to relieve the pressure.
:28:32. > :28:32.
:28:32. > :28:41.Rees slipping when he went in there. Rob Kearney is on as well. He comes
:28:41. > :28:51.into what looks like he's coming onto the wing. Actually, he's gone
:28:51. > :28:52.
:28:52. > :28:56.in at fullback with Nacewa in the centre at the moment.
:28:56. > :29:06.Jonathan Sexton has come on for Ian Madigan. A real shuffle of the deck
:29:06. > :29:11.
:29:11. > :29:15.for Leinster. too much, surely. Can the Blues
:29:16. > :29:25.restore a bit of pride in these closing stages? Leinster have had
:29:26. > :29:26.
:29:26. > :30:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:30:34. > :30:42.the more powerful bench to play Leinster when they know that
:30:42. > :30:52.Cardiff Blues have 80 metres to go. No specialist scrum half, Richie
:30:52. > :30:52.
:30:52. > :31:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:31:40. > :31:50.There is the bonus point for the home side to complete Cardiff
:31:50. > :32:06.
:32:06. > :32:16.there. Look at the vision. He sees what he's got outside. One look up.
:32:16. > :32:27.
:32:27. > :32:30.looking for. -- the bonus. Macro they were looking for. The that is
:32:30. > :32:40.what makes an international player, the vision, the time to slow down
:32:40. > :32:52.
:32:52. > :33:02.the game and do that amid all the 12 games this season. 88 % success
:33:02. > :33:25.
:33:25. > :33:30.18 is Sam Hobbs, two replacements in the front row at hooker and prop
:33:30. > :33:36.respectively. Mark Breeze is a former Ospreys who went to London
:33:36. > :33:46.Welsh and Aberavon before the Blues picked him up. Along with Ryan
:33:46. > :34:03.
:34:03. > :34:13.make that two. The Blues are falling apart. A dynamic run there.
:34:13. > :34:17.
:34:17. > :34:22.Such place for a hooker. And kept going by Dave Kearney. Look at that.
:34:22. > :34:28.Khromin, the confidence to not panic and hold on. -- Khromin. That
:34:28. > :34:38.is a great pick-up with confidence by David Kearney, to keep that ball
:34:38. > :34:52.
:34:52. > :34:58.Sexton. This is a bad night at the three defeats against Irish
:34:58. > :35:03.opposition this weekend, will ask, is there a price to pay in terms of
:35:03. > :35:13.points in the Pro 12, for the pounds they get through the
:35:13. > :35:16.
:35:16. > :35:26.turnstiles at Wales against doesn't do Cardiff Blues players'
:35:26. > :35:37.
:35:37. > :35:47.this fixture, beating the 34-15 margin back in 2005. Davies is on
:35:47. > :35:55.
:35:55. > :35:59.at fly half for Cardiff Blues now. wasn't available this week. The
:35:59. > :36:09.Blues will be hoping that he is back fit and raring to go against
:36:09. > :36:09.
:36:09. > :37:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:37:34. > :37:44.is not getting enough support to what the Blues are looking for in
:37:44. > :37:59.
:38:00. > :38:03.Everything going wrong for the visitors. Some very tired Cardiff
:38:03. > :38:10.Blues players racing back. Thankfully for them, it's gone the
:38:10. > :38:20.whole way. They will come all the way back. There's a lot of wasted
:38:20. > :38:21.
:38:21. > :38:31.effort going on out there at the of break. It spilled in the tackle.
:38:31. > :38:31.
:38:31. > :39:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:39:16. > :39:26.O'Meley with the big boot, just a try macro to be had for Cardiff
:39:26. > :39:33.
:39:33. > :39:38.defence. Not quite the support of their to allow him to off load.
:39:38. > :39:48.It's been a real feature, hasn't it? There is not going to be happy
:39:48. > :39:59.
:39:59. > :40:03.downfield. Now will go to the touchline team. What effect will
:40:03. > :40:08.this have on the Blues' confidence with the big double-header in
:40:08. > :40:12.Europe coming up? For starters out there, there is and 15 players
:40:12. > :40:15.missing. There seems to be a few guys throwing in the towel. It's
:40:15. > :40:19.been a hard day and their backs have been against the wall, but
:40:19. > :40:24.you'd expect a bit more fight from them. A Leinster, European
:40:24. > :40:28.champions. Momentum building nicely. Joe Smith is quite happy with it.
:40:28. > :40:38.He managed to bring the subs on exactly where he wanted to, they
:40:38. > :40:38.
:40:38. > :40:46.have ticked the box has. He is touchline for Scrum V live
:40:46. > :40:56.throughout the evening. Leinster back to the top of the Pro 12.
:40:56. > :41:04.
:41:04. > :41:10.second half pressure. You have to pay tribute to the efficiency of
:41:10. > :41:14.the home side. They would. They've used the wind very effectively but
:41:14. > :41:18.Cardiff Blues have played into Leinster's hands by giving the ball
:41:18. > :41:28.back any time they run through a couple of paces. Cardiff Blues have
:41:28. > :41:28.
:41:28. > :41:34.had a big hand in their own Leinster in this second period.
:41:34. > :41:44.Four tries from White, Madigan and Kearney, to add to the first half
:41:44. > :41:44.
:41:44. > :42:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:42:31. > :42:34.Blues have had the night of all nights to forget. Lacking eight to
:42:34. > :42:39.the Wales squad, their replacements haven't been up to it on the night
:42:40. > :42:44.against a powerful Leinster outbid. Leinster have been too disciplined,
:42:44. > :42:48.too much of a team, they have been too good on the ball. Cardiff
:42:48. > :42:52.haven't been able to match them for intensity, for ball-carrying. They
:42:52. > :42:59.haven't been able to match them in the contact area. And they haven't
:42:59. > :43:04.matched them in terms of using the wind. And all areas - Matkin all
:43:04. > :43:10.let areas Leinster have been superior. This could well be the
:43:10. > :43:13.last kick of the evening from Sexton. Cardiff Blues at least have
:43:13. > :43:23.paid a heavy price for losing players to the Wales course this
:43:23. > :43:34.
:43:34. > :43:44.weekend. But Leinster have produced Leinster, this is just an added
:43:44. > :43:58.
:43:58. > :44:04.Really resounding victory for Leinster and a desperate night for
:44:05. > :44:11.Cardiff Blues. Leinster 52, Cardiff Blues 9. Philip, your summary of
:44:11. > :44:14.that second half? I was surprised the way the Blues capitulated in
:44:14. > :44:19.the second half. With only one thing in mind, that was carrying
:44:19. > :44:29.the ball and taking it two lengths, but they gave the ball back too
:44:29. > :44:36.
:44:36. > :44:40.easily. Disappointed, but that does the top of the PRO 12 table, a
:44:40. > :44:49.resounding victory. It's finished here Leinster 52 points, Cardiff
:44:49. > :44:53.The Blues suffered a body blow early in the second half when
:44:53. > :45:03.Nathan White finished off a sweeping attacking move. There was
:45:03. > :45:13.a chink of lite when Leo Cullen was binned. Ian Madigan's superb angle
:45:13. > :45:20.
:45:20. > :45:24.Then at the death, a try turned a bad night nort Blues into a
:45:24. > :45:28.miserable one. A quick look at the table and the
:45:28. > :45:38.Blues remain in fifth. Their confidence will be shattered after
:45:38. > :45:39.
:45:39. > :45:44.that massive loss. Leinster climb Tom, as we say, bad night at the
:45:44. > :45:49.office for your old team. Yeah, it was a pretty poor display. Leinster,
:45:50. > :45:54.I wish they were playing Ulster I think, outplayed the Blues in all
:45:54. > :45:58.aspects of the game. Their urgency were better. They were better in
:45:58. > :46:03.the contact area. When they made breaks, they had people in support.
:46:03. > :46:08.The Blues weren't great tonight. The region also has been hard done
:46:08. > :46:13.by, the Welsh regions, with this one-off international. No other
:46:13. > :46:17.home nation has an international. The Blues tonight, they're missing
:46:17. > :46:24.six. Ospreys missing a fair few as well. We'll discuss that in a
:46:24. > :46:29.moment. Let's go to the touch line now to Phil with Paul Tito. Paul,
:46:29. > :46:34.commiserations. A bad night at the office. Just how bad? I thought,
:46:34. > :46:44.well the wind we had the first half. We didn't use it as much as we
:46:44. > :46:45.
:46:45. > :46:50.could have. Didn't get cles to scoring too many tries. Once they
:46:50. > :46:54.went to the bin they ran a few tries in. It was a tough day at the
:46:54. > :46:58.office and pretty disappointing result. We have to put our heads up
:46:58. > :47:01.and crack on for next week. With all the players out, how
:47:01. > :47:07.frustrating is it with a captain when you have to come here with
:47:07. > :47:13.half a side? It doesn't help too much, does it? That's the way it
:47:13. > :47:18.goes. We crack on to next week now. Talking of that, how much
:47:18. > :47:23.confidence building have you got to do ahead of the double header?
:47:23. > :47:27.boys have a big match tomorrow. We look forward to having them back
:47:27. > :47:30.Monday and going back-to-back with Edinburgh and getting good results.
:47:30. > :47:34.You're confident you can draw a line under this? We're not going to
:47:34. > :47:41.dwell on this tonight. We'll lock at things we have to work on. We
:47:41. > :47:45.have to get home tonight and crack on really. Thanks for coming up.
:47:45. > :47:50.Jonathan, Paul Tito making exact lit same point as Tom, that Ireland
:47:50. > :47:55.haven't got an international. one of these things. It's a cash
:47:55. > :48:03.game tomorrow, isn't it? It is disappointing. You look at last
:48:04. > :48:09.week where the Scarlets played the Dragons. If you look at the PRO 12,
:48:09. > :48:14.there are good sides performing well in Europe. Yet it's stkruplted.
:48:14. > :48:17.People are saying why aren't the crowds going. Well you don't see
:48:17. > :48:21.the best players playing. Maybe that's something to do with it.
:48:21. > :48:27.They have to structure it properly and give the regions a fair chance.
:48:27. > :48:30.Tonight, totally outclassed in every department, as Tom said. But,
:48:30. > :48:34.that won't affect them next week. They start again. The Heineken Cup,
:48:34. > :48:37.players will be back. Forget this week. It's just a dreadful day at
:48:37. > :48:41.the office. But one thing just summed it up for me, with the
:48:41. > :48:45.conditions and everything, you know what you have got to do against the
:48:46. > :48:49.wind, so just, this is it. They're carrying the ball, not much, they
:48:49. > :48:57.don't get enough numbers in. There there's no real aggression in there.
:48:57. > :49:06.They give a penalty away. 70 yards, that's playing with the wind. Then
:49:06. > :49:14.a penalty. Gives it, Madigan an easy, not Madigan, McFadden, and he
:49:14. > :49:19.drops a goal. It was so clinical. It was just easy. They were
:49:19. > :49:23.absolutely annihilated, which was sad to see as a Cardiff Blues ex-
:49:23. > :49:27.player and as a Welsh rugby fan. But then they went on and scored
:49:27. > :49:30.lovely tries. It shows again the basics were very poor with the
:49:30. > :49:37.Blues tonight. They have gone through a couple of phases. They
:49:37. > :49:41.are doing nothing in attack. A kick is as good as a chase. Watch this,
:49:41. > :49:51.the kick's a bit too far. Look at tkhais. You have to hold the line
:49:51. > :49:53.
:49:53. > :49:59.and communicate. That is a dreadful There you go. You won't -- he won't
:49:59. > :50:03.have seen a line like that for a while, would he? You can see why
:50:03. > :50:10.they're the European champions. There's great strength in depth
:50:10. > :50:14.there as well. They broad Sexton, Reddan on. They are class players.
:50:14. > :50:17.They played a different tempo. They could go up a couple of years. As
:50:18. > :50:22.we saw in the Heineken Cup final in the second half. They're just
:50:22. > :50:26.powering over the gain line. Tito coming late to fill the gap, bang,
:50:26. > :50:30.quick feet. There's a hooker on the edge as well. Madigan spots it. He
:50:30. > :50:35.comes on a short ball. He's too quick. That's great angle and great
:50:35. > :50:40.thought. But it's all from going forward. They're going forward,
:50:40. > :50:43.going forward, quick ball and you cannot defend it, especially when
:50:43. > :50:48.you have slower forwards on the fringe. The Blues had a chance
:50:48. > :50:51.around the 50 minute mark. Leinster were down to seven men in the pack.
:50:51. > :51:01.They could have gone for a line-out or scrum. They went for the scrum.
:51:01. > :51:02.
:51:02. > :51:07.But no points. They had five or six scrums. Xavier Rush took the ball.
:51:07. > :51:11.Had the Blues been able to score a try then, they may have been in the
:51:11. > :51:16.game. Five scrums, perhaps should they have kicked to the corner and
:51:16. > :51:21.taken a line-out at that stage? Probably now, looking at the game.
:51:21. > :51:25.They had the pump in them, Tito said, so with a man short, that was
:51:25. > :51:30.an option. They were winning the scrum. It was the knock-on which
:51:30. > :51:33.caused the turnover. Thats watt story of the game. There are two
:51:33. > :51:39.things: No-one carried the ball tonight. They didn't go forward.
:51:39. > :51:43.They didn't lay a platform. Then the counter-rucking bit Leinster
:51:43. > :51:47.forwards. The body angles was wrong and the Irish boys piled in and
:51:47. > :51:51.turned the ball over. When you turn the ball over with the wind, bang
:51:51. > :51:54.it 80 yards and have you to start again. That's demoralising. But you
:51:54. > :51:58.have to do the basics well in those conditions. A lot of, it as you
:51:58. > :52:02.know, you go over to Ireland, right, when it's wet, windy and horrible,
:52:02. > :52:06.right, you've got to go there in the right frame of mind. If you
:52:06. > :52:09.don't, that's what happens. Let's turn our attention to the big Test
:52:09. > :52:19.match tomorrow, Wales versus Australia. I've been to visit both
:52:19. > :52:24.
:52:24. > :52:28.There's a buzz here already. Certainly an edge to this match.
:52:28. > :52:32.But also a sense on the outside that Wales are at the start of a
:52:32. > :52:36.renaissance. These are sciegt times for Welsh rugby. As someone who
:52:36. > :52:41.hangs around English rugby a bit, there's envy about the young
:52:41. > :52:44.players, the direction they have and this game looks like the start
:52:44. > :52:52.of the Six Nations build up for Wales. Everybody will be watching
:52:52. > :52:55.with a great sense of anticipation. Today is Shayne Williams day. So
:52:55. > :52:59.Shayne announced the team this morning to the boys. He's playing
:52:59. > :53:03.in training this afternoon. Perhaps the most obvious surprise selection
:53:03. > :53:07.today is the fact that Matthew Rhys is on the bench. I've asked for the
:53:07. > :53:12.reasoning behind that. He said he was rewarding Hugh Bennett for his
:53:12. > :53:17.form at the World Cup. We sat down as coaches and debated the
:53:17. > :53:21.selection of both hookers and then we felt that Hugh deserved the
:53:21. > :53:29.opportunity to continue, considering his form was as good as
:53:29. > :53:33.it was in New Zealand. I think it's fair to say this is
:53:33. > :53:37.one of the most surreal training sessions I've ever been to. Most
:53:37. > :53:47.teams would be terrified of the prospect of just one Shayne
:53:47. > :53:50.
:53:50. > :53:54.Williams. At the moment there's 30 The Australia coach has just named
:53:54. > :53:59.his team to face Wales. We'll have a word with some of the players.
:53:59. > :54:02.Shayne has really changed the way that the wing position is being
:54:02. > :54:07.played. Previous to him the winger was just the guy who sat out and
:54:07. > :54:12.waited for the ball to be passed across the back line or took inside
:54:12. > :54:16.passes. He's changed that role no a ball-playing, attacking threat.
:54:16. > :54:21.biggest thing will be Shayne Williams last game at Millennium
:54:21. > :54:25.Stadium. That's huge for Wales. We're aware of how much he's done
:54:25. > :54:30.for Welsh rugby and how dangerous he is as a player. So, probably
:54:30. > :54:34.keeping a close eye on him. It's going to be a special day for him,
:54:34. > :54:39.with a lot of emotion running high, I imagine. Yeah, for us as the boys
:54:39. > :54:44.we want to get behind him and make the day as special as it can be for
:54:44. > :54:49.him. He's been a great servant to Welsh rugby. He's going to be a
:54:49. > :54:57.living legend for Welsh rugby. Yeah, we want to send him off on a high.
:54:57. > :55:00.It's is Shayne Williams day, so we have pictures of Shayne, just
:55:00. > :55:05.getting stuck into him for the banter. It will be emotional, but I
:55:05. > :55:09.want to go out there and play some rugby, you know, give a big
:55:09. > :55:12.performance, permly and collectively as a side, because --
:55:12. > :55:17.personally and collectively as a side. It can be a fantastic day for
:55:17. > :55:23.Wales, not only me. Paul Hayward made the point, it was apparent for
:55:24. > :55:28.me at the Wales camp r --, a really positive atmosphere, he made the
:55:28. > :55:32.comparison to the RFU, which is in turmoil. It seems to have carried
:55:32. > :55:37.on through the World Cup. They got more positive as that went on. It's
:55:37. > :55:40.great because you need that going into this one-off game. As the TV
:55:40. > :55:43.showed, emotions will be high. Everyone's going to want to win
:55:43. > :55:50.because it's Australia. But also to do it for Shayne as well. Because
:55:50. > :55:55.he's a ledge end. A lot of these play -- playing now will have grown
:55:55. > :56:03.up watching Shayne. I hope they can give him a good send off. Now we
:56:03. > :56:09.speak to Phil with Blues's coach. (inaudible)... 13 points to nine at
:56:09. > :56:13.half time, we think we were in the game. Then second half we just give
:56:14. > :56:17.them too many easy opportunities. We missed a lot of tackles. We
:56:17. > :56:20.didn't take our opportunities and lost our shape completely, to be
:56:20. > :56:24.honest with you. Boys in the studio making the point how difficult it
:56:24. > :56:28.is to come over with half a side. What are your feelings on it all?
:56:28. > :56:32.It's frustrating, isn't it. We're paid to did a job from day to day
:56:32. > :56:36.with the rugby players. You've got Heineken Cup next week. We're going
:56:36. > :56:40.from aspect of working together with certain players. We realistic
:56:40. > :56:44.to the fact that other players have to come in, but I think the boys in
:56:44. > :56:48.the studio are 100% correct. It had a massive bearing on it. That's
:56:48. > :56:52.life. We have to get on with things like that. Going back to the
:56:52. > :56:56.Australia game. How do you see this one going tomorrow? There's a daink
:56:56. > :57:02.ter might turn into an exhibition - - danger it might turn into an
:57:02. > :57:05.exhibition match. I don't think so. To beat Australia it's a great
:57:05. > :57:09.scalp to have. You have the mentality where they want to win.
:57:09. > :57:13.They've set standards now, the Welsh side. Their performance in
:57:13. > :57:17.the World Cup were fantastic and their defence and the set piece was
:57:17. > :57:22.soiled, maybe more solid than we've seen in previous seasons. Then you
:57:22. > :57:25.have Jamie, George North Down the middle and you recycle it, right.
:57:25. > :57:30.Expectations are high. Everyone saying oh, yeah, Wales for the Six
:57:30. > :57:34.Nations and all this. So, they have to recapture that form of the World
:57:34. > :57:39.Cup. If they do that, they have a great chance of winning. I think
:57:39. > :57:42.they will win. If they drop below it, then Australia are a side on
:57:42. > :57:47.the up as well. These two sides are maybe, with New Zealand, are the
:57:47. > :57:51.most improved and the most exciting sides to watch, OK. So tomorrow,
:57:51. > :57:56.could be a fan of theic game, but Wales have to try to recapture the
:57:56. > :58:01.World Cup formment Tom, briefly, is Shayne going to get a winning send-
:58:01. > :58:04.off? I think he should. I think he will. Two attacking sides. I think
:58:04. > :58:09.Wales' defence is better and hopefully that will tell tomorrow.
:58:10. > :58:13.But there's two teams that want to play some rugby. We have to go.
:58:13. > :58:16.Thanks for your company tonight on a night Leinster have gone to the
:58:16. > :58:26.top of the league. Good luck tomorrow to Wales and to Shayne.
:58:26. > :58:33.
:58:33. > :58:38.Thanks for watching tonight. Have a ARCHIVE: Drama that began when a
:58:38. > :58:45.mysterious stranger came in to play a decisive role in the lives of