Preview: Cardiff Blues v Leinster
Dai Young has named a refreshed Cardiff Blues line-up for their clash with Leinster at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.
Dai Young has named a refreshed Cardiff Blues line-up for their clash with Leinster at Cardiff City Stadium.
With eight players ruled out by injury and Richie Rees and Bryn Griffiths suspended, John Yapp, Scott Andrews and Dan Parks make a welcome return from international duty.
Yapp immediately takes his place in the front row while Andrews and Parks are forced to make do with a spot on the bench.
Young has made three further changes in the pack, with Xavier Rush, Deiniol Jones and Gareth Williams promoted to the staring XV having formed part of the replacements last time out.
The Cardiff boss heads into the clash well aware that the game could be decided by one moment or brilliance or a single mistake.
“In quite a few games this year I think we have been by far the better team, and been on top for most of the match, but with only ten minutes to go we've only been five points in front,” he explained.
“So, one score, one converted try, would mean we lose a game against a team we have totally dominated.”
“It's always going to be thin margins against the better opposition and we know we are not going to kill these teams, but when you get three or four opportunities, you have got to score.”
“Obviously matches are quite tight at this stage of the season and you know every game is important to everybody.”
“No team is going to forsake a game because the next one is more important.”
Meanwhile, the Leinster team to face the Cardiff Blues will see Leo Cullen enter the history books when he becomes only the fifth player in the province's history to reach 150 caps.
In achieving this milestone, the Newmountkennedy second row follows Shane Horgan (198 caps), Malcolm O'Kelly (188), Gordon D'Arcy (183) and Girvan Dempsey (175) in Leinster's all time roll of honour.
Cullen leads the team and is one of five Ireland internationals named in the panel for the meeting of the league's second and third placed teams. Isaac Boss links up with Ian McKinley at half-back with former St. Patrick's Classical School Navan centre Eamonn Sheridan making his second senior appearance – and his first start for the province – alongside Eoin O'Malley.
Isa Nacewa, Andrew Conway and Niall Morris – a try-scorer in the 21-16 victory over Aironi last time out – make up the back three. Kevin McLaughlin starts in the back-row alongside Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock.
Stan Wright is named in the panel amongst a strong replacements bench for the first time this season, with the bench also including Ireland international Eoin Reddan and Scotland's Nathan Hines.
Form: Leinster are unbeaten in their last seven clashes with the Blues since 2007. Cardiff Blues have won their last three games in the Magners League since the 9-16 reversal at Munster on 4 December. Blues only win over an Irish side so far this season was at home to Connacht on 30 September. Leinster have won their last seven matches in all competitions. The Leinstermen's only Magners League defeat since round four was 15-19 at Ospreys on 28 November.
The teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Gavin Evans, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Tom Slater, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Andries Pretorius, 5 Paul Tito (c), 4 Deiniol Jones, 3 Fau Filise, 2 Gareth Williams, 1 John Yapp.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Ben White, 20 Ma'ama Molitika, 21 Rhys Downes, 22 Dan Parks, 23 James Loxton.
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Eamonn Sheridan, 11 Niall Morris, 10 Ian McKinley, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Rhys Ruddock, 7 Dominic Ryan, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Clint Newland, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Stan Wright, 19 Nathan Hines, 20 Stephen Keogh, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Michael Keating.
Date: Saturday, February 19
Kick-off: 18:30
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Assistant referees: James Jones (Wales), Phil Connett (Wales)
Television match official: Tony Rowlands (Wales)