Preview: Cardiff Blues v Scarlets
Dwayne Peel will lead the Scarlets against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on Friday when the two clash in the Magners League.
Dwayne Peel will lead the Scarlets against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on Friday when the two clash in the Magners League.
Both sides are looking to finish as the best placed Welsh team in the league, with Leinster all but crowned as champions. The Blues hold a one-point advantage over their rivals, but will be smarting from the 35-17 defeat at Stradey Park three weeks ago.
Peel is joined at half-back by fellow Welsh international, Stephen Jones, whilst Mark Jones and Dafydd James make up the remainder of the international contingent in the Scarlets back division.
In the pack Alix Popham spearheads a powerful back row which includes Gavin Thomas at seven and Dafydd Jones in the number six jersey.
The Blues field a side showing nine changes from that which lost to Toulouse in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals last weekend.
Gareth Thomas shifts from centre to wing, allowing for Marc Stcherbina to make his first league start of the season. The Robinson brothers also return, Nicky at fly-half and Jamie at outside centre, meaning Dai Flannigan drops down to the bench.
In the pack there is an all-new front row, Gary Powell, T Rhys Thomas and John Yapp all getting starts, along with Scott Morgan in the second row and Mark Lewis at number eight.
Form: Cardiff Blues have won seven of their last eight games at the Arms Park in all competitions, but the Blues recent form in the Magners League has seen them gain just ten league points from their last six matches. The Scarlets have not won away from home since a 52-23 victory over table-topping Leinster at the RDS in October. The last seven clashes between the two regions have all gone the way of the home side on the day, whilst the only previous occasion that the Scarlets have won at the Arms Park was 6-0 in March 2004.
The Teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Gareth Thomas, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Marc Stcherbina, 11 Tom James, 10 Nick Robinson, 9 Jason Spice, 8 Mark Lewis, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Mamma Molitika, 5 Scott Morgan, 4 Deiniol Jones, 3 Gary Powell, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 John Yapp.
Replacements: 16 Taufa'o Filise, 17 Gareth Williams, 18 Paul Tito, 19 Xavier Rush, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Dai Flannigan, 22 Tom Shanklin.
Scarlets: 15 Ceiron Thomas, 14 Dafydd James, 13 Regan King, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Mark Jones, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel (c), 8 Alix Popham, 7 Gavin Thomas, 6 Dafydd Jones, 5 Scott MacLeod, 4 Vernon Cooper, 3 Bruce Douglas, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Phil John, 17 Mahonri Schwalger, 18 Nathan Thomas, 19 Simon Easterby, 20 Gavin Cattle, 21 Rhys Priestland, 22 Morgan Stoddart.
Date: Friday 11 April, 2008
Kick-off: 19:10 BST, 18:10 GMT
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park
Match officials: tba