NOOOOO Get well soon

Huh are u sure cant c it on BBc Website or Cardiff blues website :/

Not on the IC Wales site either.

If it is true I think we should promote Warburton straight through to the first team it worked with Jamie Roberts who made a massive impact last year. Give the kid a chance and lets see how good he is. Nothing like being dropped in the deep end to see how a guy can swim.

Going to Gloucester and Biarritz without Xav would be a huge challenge but the biggest one however is Sale with Chabal.

Is Warburton more a seven than an 8..?

Is he big enough..?

He played 8 for Wales a couple of games in the Junior World Cup.

Isn't there a gymn in the training camp where he could bulk up a bit. Whats the alternative Andy Powell who doesn't have a clue what a straight line is when he runs and has dodgy shoulders or Lewis who for me is better than Powell but not good enough for a regular first team spot.

Yer i think Warburton would be good but u no Andy Powell would be gd at 8

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alfie said it perfectly.

Bad news

I'm worried about who can replace him. None of the three behind Xav have even half the influence, talent and power that Xav has is his left arm!

Unfortunately, 8, 9 and 10 are our areas of weakness should we encounter injuries, its just a matter of time until Spice and Robinson get crooked, and yet another season is wrecked through injury and lack of depth.

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Powell is the only real option for us. Walburton is not big or good enough as an 8 to play in either the Magners or HC.

Provided he remembers how to run in a straight line and is somewhere near the form he had 3 seasons ago just before Xav joined Powell may do ok. That said......

If you watch Powell just after he picks the ball up at a scrum for example he always goes across the field before straightening up. Perhaps not too much of a problem if your number 9 plays like an extra Number 8 as Mike Phillips does but now Phillips isn't here playing Powell will slow us up no end and give the defence time to set themselves for the tackle. Dan Baugh has to work on this aspect of his play before the season starts.

Three years ago when we first signed Powell I thought he could break into Wales plans so although he is no Xav in that form he isn't a bad 8. I'm also more than a little worried about his shoulders. A number 8 relies on great upper body strength to break through defences. Think of Dan Baugh or Emyr Lewis as proof. I'm not certain Powell has that because of his injuries.

As I said earlier on get Warburton in the gymn and put some extra muscle on him and then see how he does. I've only seen him on Telly for Wales U20 so I can't judge his physical size or strength until I've seen him in the flesh. I don't think height is a problem for a 8.

I dnt belive this , Where does it show that he is injuredno where just here ?????

Quote:

ellist7
I dnt belive this , Where does it show that he is injuredno where just here ?????

its been confirmed by the bbc

[news.bbc.co.uk]

I'm just wondering how long he is our for as on Radio wales earlier they said he would be out 2-3 months, meaning he may be back for the H.Cup?

Confirmed 2-3 months

First heineken game 19 Oct so may well be back by then

[www.cardiffblues.com]

Fingers crossed

If the treatment goes exceptionally well he may be back for the EDF as well although not the Sale game. I wouldn't risk him against Chabal if they play a full strength side. His first home game back would put him against Martin Corry which could also be risky.

Frankly i wouldnt risk him until completely nessecery, which for me is the Gloucester home match on 19th October. If it goes very ell, he'll be out for 2-3 months, so it's possible he could be back for that. But in truth, its the away games we'll really need him for.

Let's just hope there's no more bad news any time soon.

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Quote:

theArmsPark.co.uk Admin
Frankly i wouldnt risk him until completely nessecery, which for me is the Gloucester home match on 19th October. If it goes very ell, he'll be out for 2-3 months, so it's possible he could be back for that. But in truth, its the away games we'll really need him for.
Let's just hope there's no more bad news any time soon.

Cheers Doc!
Thanks for the advice!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:07:25:10:57:23 by amstel.

I would consider the EDF games very important. With 2 home games we have a more than realistic chance of at least a Semi and hopefully a weekend in London for a Twickenham final.

I think as Leicester have Bath at Welford Road this year the week before we play them they will be unbeaten so they would be somewhere near Full Strength in Cardiff. If we can win in Stockport this is a very important game and a much more realistic chance if we win it of bringing silverware back to Cardiff than the HC.

We need to be as close to full strength as possible for the game.If Rushie is anywhere near ready give him at least a half to bring up his match fitness. Being fit and being match fit are 2 different things. Remember Nicky last year. Put Xav straight in against Gloucester and it would increase the odds on him breaking down in the same way We should also give him a half in Italy against Calvisano then Rushie should be ready for Gloucester.

Or he could have a few games for the RFC

If he makes a quick recovery I'd agree with that option as preperation for the Tigers.

It's a huge blow, but I think Mark Lewis has shown before that he can do a good job, he's a good strong ball carrier IMO

-----
Cymru am Byth...

We've got OK cover. Rush's boots are hard to fill.

I'm going against the common theme here and state that i thought Rush was the weakest member of our backrow last season, Molitika was fantastic and Williams was still the best openside in the UK.
Forget Warburton, too small, he needs to be in the gym for at least a season, watched him a couple of times last season, on a few occasions he was dominated physically by his opposite, that's the Premiership!
Powell is a back in a forward's body, he never does any donkey work, watch to see if he ever enters a ruck or a maul! He is a fantastic athlete though and always has at least one storming run per game, but that's not enough.He should join the Celtic Crusaders.
Mark Lewis is our best alternative. He's a dog, a strong runner and tackler and does all the hard work. I predict he will surprise everyone and he'll be in the Welsh squad for the Autumn tests.

Big call London Rugby. I have to agree with you largely re: Andy Powell, but i'm not sure Lewis is anywhere near international standard. Admittedly, we have few other choices in Wales, so may be in with a shout, but i can't see him making a big enough impression against the big boys.

Other thing i found whilst watching Lewis last season, his handling was awful. He quite often made the break, or burt, but would lose the ball too often in contact. He'll need to work on that in time for teh big KO.

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Both Lewis and Powell are show ponies