Preview: Castres v Cardiff Blues

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Castres have made wholesale changes to their line-up for the visit of Cardiff Blues in the Heineken Cup on Friday.

Castres have made wholesale changes to their line-up for the visit of Cardiff Blues in the Heineken Cup on Friday.

Having seen a largely second string side across to Franklin's Gardens for the opening game of the competition, the Top 14 outfit have recalled a number of frontline players to face the Blues.

Five of the changes come in the backs, with only the half-back pairing of Cameron McIntyre and Sébastien Tillous-Borde retaining their places from the side that only lost 18-14.

Seremaia Bai and Marc Andreu are among those who comeback in the line-up. But the expected change is at full-back were Romain Teulet returns to provide a little bit more accuracy with the boot.

Castres have avoid major changes in the pack, although Benjamin Kayser, Luc Ducalcon and Matthias Rolland are recalled.

While it is all change for Castres, the Blues have opted to stick with the majority of the side that edged out Edinburgh 18-17.

Suspension means Martyn Williams loses his place to Sam Warburton, while Deiniol Jones comes off the bench to switch places with Paul Tito.

In the backs free-scoring fly-half Dan Parks is missing, so Ceri Sweeney will don the number ten jersey.

The teams:

Castres: 15 Romain Teulet, 14 Vincent Inigo, 13 Yoan Audrin, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Cameron McIntyre, 9 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Yannick Caballero, 6 Ibrahim Diarra, 5 Matthias Rolland, 4 Joe Tekori, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Yannick Forestier.
Replacements: 16 Mathieu Bonello, 17 Akvsenti Giorgadze, 18 Daniel Saayman, 19 Scott Murray, 20 Jannie Bornman, 21 Thomas Sanchou, 22 Pierre Bernard, 23 Pierre-Manuel Garcia.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Tom Shanklin, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Deiniol Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Faao Filise, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 John Yapp, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Paul Tito, 20 Andries Pretorius, 21 Lloyd WIlliams, 22 Dafydd Hewitt, 23 Tom James.

Date: Saturday October 15
Venue: Stade Pierre Antoine
Kick-off: 20:00 (19:00 BST)
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

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