Blues Forwards 2003/2004

By Lestyn (20/07/03)
July 20 2003

BLUES FORWARDS 2003/2004
Name
Position
Age
Height
Weight
Nathan Thomas
Number Eight
27
6ft 3ins
15st 7lbs
A surprise signing, with the Blues already looking so strong in the back row, and how weak other regions are in that department. Bath's player's player of the season, has a lot to prove in Wales.
 
Dan McShane
Number Eight
23
6ft 3ins
16st 7lbs
An unbelievable season saw the relatively unknown back row man become an automatic choice by the end of it. Has all the attributes to push for Welsh honours. Always looking for work, in both defence and Attack. Will have to up his game even more with Thomas and Baugh to compete with.
Dan Baugh
Flanker
28
5ft 11ins
15st 9lbs
"Crazy" was another victim of the Cardiff injury epidemic last season. The Canadian has in the past proved to be a catalyst for Cardiff, so when Dan's on fire the rest of the team usually follow.
Jim Brownrigg
Flanker
26
6ft 4ins
15st 0lbs
Unfortunate to miss most of last season with a shoulder injury, but in the few games he did feature in, he did more than enough to secure a place in the squad. A very useful option in the back five. Unfortunately capped at A level for England.
 
Rob Appleyard
Flanker
30
6ft 1ins
16st 1lbs
Lucky to be given a contract, offers little other then experience. Returning from injury that saw him miss half last season.
 
Robin Sowden Taylor
Flanker
21
6ft 1ins
15 0lbs
After considering a move to Caerphilly last summer, Sowden-Taylor was persuaded to stay on at the Arms Park, where he went onto have his best season so far. Quickly becoming one of the best in slowing up opposition ball.
 
Martyn Williams
Flanker
28
6ft 1ins
15 5lbs
Best Welsh forward by a long way last season, continuing as captain for a second season, will be hoping that the rest of the pack will match his commitment and high work rate.
 
Heino Senekal
Lock
27
6ft 6ins
17st 0lbs
Impressed since signing last October from provincial rugby in South Africa, the big Namibian began to build a reputation based on tackling like a demon.
Andy Moore
Lock
29
6ft 6ins
17st 2lbs
Completely disappeared from the international scene after captaining Wales to Japan two years ago. Did Nothing at Bridgend last season, a risky signing from Young in attempt to solve Cardiff's lineout woe's
 
Luke Tait
Lock
22
6ft 7ins
16st 7lbs
Sacked for turning up for pre-season training late, the Blues will be looking for another player to take up a development contract.
 
Craig Quinnell
Lock
28
6ft 6ins
20st 2lbs
Like Moore, Young really is taking a massive risk on bringing back the player who left only a year ago. Short on first class match practice, it may take him a few appearances from off the bench to get back to full fitness. Needs to go looking for work and not wait for it too come to him, should add his significant weight to strengthen up the pack.
 
Ben Evans
Prop
26
6ft 3ins
18st 9lbs
Went from average to awful in the course of last season. With a good hooker to play alongside, in the form of Lewis or Williams, Evans should have more support in the front row than at the end of last season.
Ken Fourie
Prop
26
6ft 1ins
18st 8lbs
Dreadful last year, including a shocking amount of yellow cards and a red for that nasty "attack" on Robert Sidoli. Can do a few useful thing's in the lose, but has a lot of work to do on his scrummaging.
John Yapp
Prop
20
6ft 2ins
19st 0lbs
Young prop who put in several assured display's before the end of last season. Yappy's aggressive style has earned him much praise, but an unorthodox scrummaging technique has seen him struggle against more experienced opponents.
 
Darren Crompton
Prop
30
6ft 2ins
18st 0lbs
Described by Bristol fans as "Not the most mobile of players, but big and strong" will beef up a front row desperately short on weight and experience.
 
Gareth Williams
Hooker
24
5ft 9ins
15st 6lbs
Gareth Williams joined Cardiff following the Bridgend & Pontypridd region to opt for Mefin Davies as their first choice hooker. Williams played himself into Steve Hansen's squad by carrying his impressive Wales Sevens form into Bridgend's fifteen a side team. Likely to be first choice over Andrew Lewis
 
Rhys Thomas
Hooker
21
    
Promising Wales under 21 player, made a big impression with with Cardiff at the end of last season on permit from Newport. Unlikely to see much action, with two experienced hookers ahead of him in the pecking order.
 
Andrew Lewis
Hooker
30
5ft 10ins
18st 8lbs
ALP was unlucky to get injured when he did last season, after having something of an Indian summer that saw him called into Wales's Autumn squad. Could only feature when Gareth Williams is on international duty.


 

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