The Cardiff Blues have named their team to take on the Ospreys in Saturdays big Welsh derby match.  The big news is the welcome return of star flanker Martyn Williams – in time for game time before the autumn internationals.
Paul Tito also returns from injury and is selected on the bench.  Promising young flanker Sam Warburton is selected on the blindside with ‘nugget’ returning whilst Gareth Cooper regains a starting spot from Richie Rees at scrum half.
With the Welsh squad for the autumn internationals being named the day after a …

Following on from the earlier announcement of the Scarlets team for the Welsh rugby derby game – Llanelli Scarlets vs the Dragons, the Newport Gwent Dragons have also announced their side.
Dragons Captain and hooker Tom Willis returns to the side that features the likes of Welsh hopefuls Luke Charteris, Richard Fussel and Martyn Thomas. Jason Tovey has to make do with a place on the bench with Martyn Thomas as fullback and James Arlidge (the Kiwi Japanese) continuing at outside half.
Dragons team vs Scarlets
Martyn Thomas, Aled Brew, Tom Riley, …

The Scarlets have named their team to take on the Newport-Gwent Dragons this weekend.  No major surprises in the squad with Dafydd Jones continuing at openside flanker as one of the many players with Welsh hopes ahead of the Welsh squad for the autumn internationals being named on Sunday.
Other players with Welsh rugby hopes include Martyn Roberts the scrum half, who with Mike Phillips injured, Dwayne Peel potentially unavailable for the New Zealand game and the poor form of Gareth Cooper must certainly be in the thoughts of the Welsh …

No France Move for James Hook
James Hook has spoken to the Ospreys website and has assured fans that the rumoured move to France is based on nothing, and that, far from being unhappy with playing 12 he is happy to do his bit for the team.
Good news for Ospreys fans who were worried that next season might see the team without two of their most creative players – with Gavin Hensons future also uncertain.  Obviously you need to be aware of a certain level of spin, this is Hook talking …

The Cardiff Blues have made a late change to their team to take on Glasgow, with Leigh Halfpenny coming in for Ben Blair at 15. Halfpenny played a lot of his junior rugby at fullback, and a couple of Magners League games, so there are no major concerns about his ability to fit in there.
Good news for the Blues is that Ben Blair should be back for the Harlequins game in the Heineken cup, so no major concerns about his injury.
Have to admit that backline isn’t looking especially creative. …

The Ospreys have announced their starting team and bench to take on Edinburgh this Saturday.  The good news is that they have started with the backline many have been desperate to see – including Bowe replacing Sonny Parker at 13.  No disrespect to Sonny who has been a great servent to the Ospreys so far but recently he has become even more contact hungry than normal, not passing much or hitting the gaps as well as he used to… though perhaps linked to having a lack of creative 12 inside …

The Cardiff Blues have named their side for the Welsh rugby derby match vs the Scarlets, including Sam Norton-Knight – which should cheer up a lot of cardiff fans (not).


That half back combination is enough to make a grown man cry.

The Ospreys have named their side to take on Glasgow in the Magners league, including James Hook at 12 and Dan Biggar at 10, whilst Jerry Collins has to bench.


Likely to wind Hook up but personally this side intrigues me, will be very interested to see what it can do

Anyone got a nice pair of heavy size 12′s? If so please line up to give Welsh rugby a kick – smug attitude essential.



At least that is how ex British Lions and Irish lock Donal Lenihan comes across in this interview. He feels the need to tell us he is worried by Welsh rugby and that he is confused by Welsh rugby.



Fair enough, me too. But to then smugly go on about the preseason games for the Irish regions and how well they are doing at bringing in youngsters without actually addressing some other facts is a little naughty (for which read, being smug pillock).



What am I going on about? Read this rugby blog post to find out

The only game that I caught in the Magners League this weekend was the Cardiff Blues vs Edinburgh game


To be honest I almost wish I hadn’t!


Gareth Cooper and Sam Norton-Knight were both especially awful but few can claim to have any sort of form.


But not every player had a bad game, not everything is negative. Read on to see why I think there are positives for Cardiff Blues