u/Colemanation777

We’re two from two in the league, currently sitting top on 9 points. I feel that I (we?) really should be happy with the start. Tough job out West opening night, and then a delayed pre-season game against Zebre (yes, I said it).
Not to linger on the Scarlets game, job done. I’m happy we strangled a win out there. Zebre however. For the first 5 or so minutes of that game, they had all of the ball. The referee set his stall out quite early. If you hadn’t won the ball quickly at the breakdown, you weren’t having it at all. After Mann rag dolled Domingez we proceeded to give away two daft pens. Not learning quickly enough. Zebre missed one, collected the other.

After that we finally get the ball after the kick off. Time for the Taine Basham show. I’ve been lucky to see some great 8’s play for Cardiff, and some great performances to go along with them. I can only think of one better 8 performance in my time, and that was Rush v Wasps in 2010(?). I just wanted to mention it. This isn’t a positivity post (sorry, BigT).

Plenty will be wrote about the next 40 minutes of rugby for Cardiff. Sheedy going viral for more Rayer-esque play. Bowen collecting a brace. Evan Lloyd becoming Cardiff’s own Deon Fourie. 18 year old Space Marine Tom Howe making his debut. But. . .

The rugby we played after the changes was just rubbish. Lads went into their shell. Jarrod looked unfit. Bevan’s kicking was poor. Steff looked lost. Barratt started throwing in daft (also dangerous) daisy cutter tackles. It wasn’t just poor rugby, we looked leaderless out there. Zebre’s pack set about bullying us and the lads on the park allowed it to happen. I know that the reality of it is that we’ve taken 5 points and (still waiting on what happened to Sio), no injuries*. I just think a team that wants to be at the top table needs to be delivering more than that.

In some ways I think it could be a good thing. You wallop a team by 40/50 points, have 8 days until your next fixture. Maybe you get an extra day off? Maybe you don’t look at the footage as hard for areas to improve? Maybe you believe the hype, you’re top of the league*, why not?! Not to be a Debbie Downer, I hope that the team get a roasting from Gethin in the week. I suspect we’ll rotate for Leinster, and that they’ll churn out their 1’s. But I still think there are points on offer out there. They’ve not sent a full squad to SA, we have the chance to catch them cold if we don’t throw a full B/C squad at them.

More than anything, this is just cope for frustration that I don’t feel I (we?) should be feeling. There is so much positivity about the club that I feel that last 25 minutes shouldn’t be happening. I said yesterday that professionals have standards. Toulouse, Sarries, Leinster, et al, do not turn out performances like that. That’s the bar we should be looking at.

Firstly, a really good crowd for a pre-season game. We've had thinner crowds than that for league games in the past. Great to get both terraces open. Quite a few Exeter fans up for the game as well.

The first 15 minutes were what most of us would have hoped to see. Both tries came off of lineout plays. The line from Ben was ace. Timing and direction bang on. I felt the lineout was good all day. It's come along a lot from where it was two or three seasons ago.

Couldn't see what Sebastian was being pinged for from the NT, but a pal in the ST said that the ref was giving him the raw end of the stick. Sio looked good. High standard operator.

Back three were decent enough. Basham looks great. Better footwork than Big Al (in my opinion), and always seems to get that extra step and meter. Not sure Mann lived up to his usual quality. But who wants to be a miserable niggley bastard in pre-season? Kane James, that's who. He was excellent for them. Threw his body at everything.

Aside from the try, I didn't feel our centres offered a lot. Millard had a nice outside break in the second half, but there isn't enough punch there for my liking. Could see Malan there for the Turks due to his ability to go direct.

Bowen didn't stop all day. I thought that Beetham looked assured back there. Some glimpses from Grady, but still prone to switching off. Unlucky not to be clear through late in the game if not for an un-noticed trip.

Not sold on Lloyd Lucas' distance kicking from hand. Needs to find another 10m at least. Bevan looked good off the bench. Thornton continues to develop into a gnarly old sod (not even old). Put in a few big hits and is happy to try and rag doll smaller lads in contact now.

Hard not to be disappointed with the result after the first 15, but there was enough there to see glimmers of what we're looking to do this season. A bit of work to do for the Scarlets who have beaten Exe this pre-season. But also shipped 80 to the Dragons.

Excited for next weekend. See you on the bus!