Preview: Cardiff Blues v Gloucester
Following the record 56-20 win over Calvisano last weekend David Young has selected an unchanged twenty-two for the Heineken Cup match against Gloucester at the Millennium Stadium this Sunday.
Following the record 56-20 win over Calvisano last weekend David Young has selected an unchanged twenty-two for the Heineken Cup match against Gloucester at the Millennium Stadium this Sunday.
The Blues have sold over 18,000 tickets so far for the match, with the Welsh record for a Heineken Cup pool match set at 26,645 when the Cardiff Blues took on the Leicester Tigers two seasons ago. David Young and his men are calling on all the supporters to get behind the team and try to break that record.
“Selection is difficult because of the improved quality in our last performance, but it's a nice problem to have,” said Young.
“With displays like that against Calvisano it's difficult to take the shirt from the players in possession. The boys that are consistent in their performances are the ones that will keep their jerseys. We have communicated this to the players.
“This principle has certainly worked in the Welsh set up and something we are trying to bring in with our improving squad. People can't afford to have a poor game or they are out of the team for a few weeks.
“The level of competition in the Heineken Cup never changes year on year, you have to win your home games to have a chance of progressing. We know how important the match is to us and to the supporters. Hopefully it will be a great occasion with a big attendance and our fans getting right behind us.”
As with Cardiff Blues, Gloucester have also named an unchanged twenty-two from last weekend, as coach Dean Ryan looks for a second win on the bounce.
“I think we know and understand we can play better than we did last weekend but at the same time our approach was first class,” Ryan said.
“We know our game will get better from the foundation we produced against Biarritz but it was vital we had that against top quality opposition and we will need that again on Sunday.
“It is about getting the balance right. Sometimes, in big games, perhaps we have been guilty of over-playing at times but are striving to get it right. We have exposed ourselves to too much risk – it's about playing but in the right areas.
“We did a lot of things right at the weekend and hopefully that can make us play more – we want to build on that performance this weekend.”
Form: Both sides have come into the season well, although both have also lost games they would normally be expected to win. Last week's displays served only to reinforce the chances that these matches here and in Gloucester will be the Pool deciders.
Prediction: Almost impossible to call. Erm… it could be Cardiff… or Gloucester! We'll go for home advantage – even if it's only 25,000 people in a 75,000 stadium – to win it for Cardiff by three.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Tom Shanklin, 11 Gareth Thomas, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Jason Spice, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Maama Molitka, 5 Paul Tito (c), 4 Deiniol Jones, 3 Gary Powell, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Taufa'ao Filise, 17 Gareth Williams, 18 Scott Morgan, 19 Robin Sowden Taylor, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Jamie Roberts.
Glocuester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Iain Balshaw, 13 Mike Tindall (c), 12 Olly Barkley, 11 James Simpson-Daniel, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Alasdair Strokosch, 6 Peter Buxton, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Marco Bortolami, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Jack Forster, 18 Adam Eustace, 19 Andy Hazell, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Willie Walker, 22 Lesley Vainikolo.
Date: Sunday, October 19
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: Colin Stanley (Ireland), Dudley Philips (Ireland)
Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)