Cardiff Blues back row forward Andy Powell will be on the bench when the Blues take on European Cup champions Leinster this Sunday in the Magners League, 4pm kick off
David Young has named a strong team with only two changes from the side that beat Glasgow by 30 points to 7 at Firhill a fortnight ago. Scott Morgan starts in the second row in place of Deiniol Jones, while Sam Warburton returns from Wales duty and starts at 7.
Speaking ahead of the match Young said, "Our last three home matches in the Magners League are against Irish opposition, starting with Leinster, followed by Ulster at the end of the month and Munster in May. We know all of these matches will be tough challenges with Irish rugby on a high following last season's achievements. So we know we have a difficult run in, starting with Sunday's game. While our Cup form has been good this season our Magners League form has not been up to standard. With only a few games left in the League and important qualification for the Heineken Cup at stake, every point is important for us. Obviously we were all pleased with our last League performance and result with our win up in Glasgow. We completely dominated the game and with 10 minutes left we were 30-0 up, having scored three tries. Our record against Glasgow has not been brilliant, having not won there since 2005, so perhaps it is greedy to have wanted a bonus point."
The Cardiff Blues will also be launching their first ever Ladies Day at the Cardiff City Stadium for the match. Women's tickets cost from just £2 for season ticket holder's guests and £5 for general sales.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair; 14 Tom James; 13 Casey Laulala; 12 Tom Shanklin; 11 Chris Czekaj; 10 Ceri Sweeney; 9 Gareth Cooper; 1 Taufa'ao Filise; 2 T Rhys Thomas; 3 Gary Powell; 4 Scott Morgan; 5 Paul Tito (c); 6 Maama Molitika; 7 Sam Warburton; 8 Xavier Rush
Replacements: 16 Huw Dowden 17 Scott Andrews 18 Andries Pretorius 19 Andy Powell 20 Lloyd Williams 21 Sam Norton-Knight 22 Dafydd Hewitt
Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey; 14 Andrew Conway; 13 Eoin O'Malley; 12 Fergus McFadden; 11 Isa Nacewa; 10 Shaun Berne; 9 Eoin Reddan; 1 Stan Wright; 2 Bernard Jackman; 3 CJ van der Linde; 4 Devin Toner; 5 Malcolm O'Kelly; 6 Kevin McLaughlin; 7 Shane Jennings (c); 8 Stephen Keogh
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss; 17 Mike Ross; 18 Trevor Hogan; 19 Rhys Ruddock; 20 Paul O'Donohoe; 21 Ian Madigan; 22 Simon Keogh
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU)
Following Cardiff RFC all over from sunny Bournemouth in Blue and Black
Live stream anywhere?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/default.stm
Tackling optional, error strewn, no game control, no discernable positives to be taken from today. If you didn't watch it, consider yourself fortunate, I found myself wishing we were redecorating then I could watch the paint drying !
Our light grasp on Heineken Cup qualification is being prised loose, we have played 13 and have 23 points, the Scarlets have a game in hand having played only 12 but they have 21 points and are closing fast, looks like we are could be in the Amlin Challenge Cup next year and frankly based on today's performance even in that we'll struggle.
Couple of other points, I thought Sweeney's yellow carded tackle a trifle harsh, Gary Powell looks seriously injured with Achilles Tendon damage a possibility
Cardiff Blues report: http://www.cardiffblues.com/37_4943.php
BBC Sport Wales report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8548058.stm
Thomson House report: to come
Exactly the sort of clueless performance that lead me to not renew my Blues season ticket over two years ago. No leadership (is Tito really the captain?) and no clear game plan. Yet again the ability of the coach to motivate the team for a crucial match must be questioned.
Supporter since the 70s
Big Al from sunny Bournemouth: Our light grasp on Heineken Cup qualification is being prised loose, we have played 13 and have 23 points, the Scarlets have a game in hand having played only 12 but they have 21 points and are closing fast, looks like we are could be in the Amlin Challenge Cup next year and frankly based on today's performance even in that we'll struggle.
Just like the B'Lose will struggle even more to sell season tickets if the team does not qualify for the top level tournament.
I imagine the next survey wil go something like ......
If you have not renewed your season ticket this year is it because:
a) You are dis-illusioned with the move to SdR?
b) You think the much vaunted better facilities were someone pipe dream?
c) You think the season ticket has been devalued by by freebies/discounts etc?
d) You have no desire to go and watch your team play in another second rate tournament, Magners being the other
e) You can only see the "we want more of you to arrive earlier ...." as more banal chat with Mr Shouty (no personal offense Rob)
f) This club has ignored key position areas in the team for year after year
continue on a separate ream of paper if necessary :)
Big birds flying across the sky,
Throwing shadows on our eyes.
Leave us Helpless, helpless, helpless
agree with all that. saved me typing it out. regarding point f. i work in a printers, so how many reams will you require
Thomson House appear to have just given up completely on the shambles that is Cardiff Blues
Scarlets v Ulster report: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/llanelli-scarlets/2010/03/06/welcome-magners-league-win-for-scarlets-91466-25973195/
Dragons v Munster report: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/newport-gwent-dragons/2010/03/08/dragons-duo-outshine-the-munster-stars-91466-25982487/
Edinburgh v Ospreys: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/swansea-ospreys/2010/03/08/ospreys-rue-seven-minutes-of-defensive-hell-91466-25982486/
Cardiff Blues v Leinster: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/cardiff-blues/2010/03/08/wales-shouldn-t-worry-over-sam-warburton-91466-25982517/
The report gives the merest mention to the loss against Leinster but it's mainly about Sam Warburton's fitness