Cardiff Blues name side to face Leinster

Posted on Oct 26, 2012

Phil Davies has picked his team to take on the Heineken Cup champions in Dublin on Saturday, 6.30pm kick off.

Cardiff Blues travel to Dublin to play a Leinster side whose only defeat in any competition since the opening weekend of the new season came at Connacht in round four of the RaboDirect PRO12.

The Heineken Cup champions’ only defeat at the RDS in their last ten regular season PRO12 fixtures was to Ospreys on 23 March.

The Blues have won both of their away games in the competition, so far this season, at Connacht and the Dragons, but have slipped to back-to-back defeats in the PRO12 to Ulster and Glasgow.

There are two changes in the backs from the team that started against Toulon last Sunday. Dafydd Hewitt starts at centre in place of Gavin Evans who took a knock against the French side and Jason Tovey starts at outside half in place of Ceri Sweeney who moves to the bench.

There are also two changes in the pack. Scott Andrews starts in the front row in place of Benoit Bourrust who left the field on Sunday with a calf injury while James Down replaces Lou Reed in the second row, who also moves to the bench.

Speaking ahead of the match, Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby Phil Davies said,

“To win a Heineken Cup, like they have in the last four years, their strength speaks for itself.

“They’ve got a pretty multi faceted team.

“Their kicking game is well established, their set-piece and their ability to be direct is well established, as is their wide game. So they’ve got a pretty much all round game.

“That is what you need, to be as successful as they’ve been in Europe over the last three or four years.

“So, we’ve got a big job on our hand and for me the break down is going to be the main area of battle.

“We’ve got to be red hot both in attack and defence.”

Cardiff Blues 15 Leigh Halfpenny 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Dafydd Hewitt 12 Jamie Roberts 11 Tom James 10 Jason Tovey 9 Lloyd Williams

8 Andries Pretorius (c) 7 Sam Warburton 6 Josh Navidi 5 James Down 4 Bradley Davies 3 Scott Andrews 2 Marc Breeze 1 Tafa’ao Filise

16 Rhys Willimas17 Nathan Trevett 18 Campese ma’afu 19 Lou Reed 20 Robin Copeland 21 Lewis Jones 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Tom Williams

Not available for selection

Harry Robinson – joining the Wales team

Benoit Bourrust – calf – mid November

Jake Cooper-Woolley: ACL reconstruction expected return in April

Chris Czekaj – foot – expected return December/January

Ryan Harford – neck surgery first game back playing for Cardiff RFC on 27 October

Michael Paterson – recovering from shoulder injury – available for LV matches

Rhys Patchell- shoulder injury – available for LV matches

Sam Hobbs – injured ACL available for the Munster match

Tom Davies – ACL reconstruction 1 week ago – expected return 6 months

Rory Watts-Jones – MCL injury – expected return 4-6 weeks

Blues make five changes for Ospreys derby

Posted on Apr 13, 2012

Cardiff Blues have made five changes ahead of their big Welsh derby match against the Ospreys.

There are three changes in the backs to the team that lost to Leinster, with Harry Robinson returning from Wales 7’s duties to start on the wing in place of Tom James, who is out with a neck injury. Gavin Evans, who this week announced he has signed a new two year deal with the Blues, starts at outside centre with Casey Laulala moving to the bench. Ceri Sweeney starts at 10 with Dan Parks also moving to the bench.

There are two changes in the forwards with John Yapp replacing Gethin Jenkins who is out with shoulder injury and Luke Hamilton, who makes his RaboDirect debut, starting at Number 8 instead of Xavier Rush who is out with a neck injury. There is no place for Chris Czekaj in the 23.

The Blues will be looking to get back to winning ways and take on an Ospreys side that have won their last two games in the RaboDirect PRO12 against Leinster and Treviso.

Speaking ahead of the match Cardiff Blues Backs Coach, Gareth Baber, said:

“This weekend’s match is sure to be another heated Welsh derby with the Ospreys looking to get a win that will keep them in the top two of the RaboDirect PRO12 table.”

“Knowing this and the frustration from not having a long run of wins behind us has really motivated the team this week to play a good game.”

“The Ospreys have a great group of players and we know it will be a tough battle.”

“However, we will be looking for a big response from the Blues players.”

CARDIFF BLUES v OSPREYS

At Cardiff City Stadium, 6.30pm.

15 Leigh Halfpenny 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Gavin Evans12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Harry Robinson 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Lloyd Williams

8 Luke Hamilton 7 Martyn Williams 6 Michael Paterson 5 James Down 4 Bradley Davies (c) 3 Sam Hobbs 2 Marc Breeze 1 John Yapp

Replacements

16 Kristian Dacey 17 Nathan Trevett 18 Ryan Harford 19 Josh Navidi 20 Maama Molitika 21 Richie Rees 22 Dan Parks 23 Casey Laulala

Not available for selection

Gethin Jenkins – shoulder

Tom James – neck

Xavier Rush – neck

Ryan Tyrrel – neck

Jamie Roberts – knee

Sam Warburton – shoulder

T Rhys Thomas – neck

Paul Tito – head

Richard Mustoe – hip

Fau Filise – shoulder

Andries Pretorius – knee

Deiniol Jones – shoulders

Blues name side to face Treviso

Posted on Mar 2, 2012

The Blues have made five changes to the team that narrowly lost to Munster last Friday.

There are two changes in the backs with Ben Blair starting at fullback and Ceri Sweeney at inside centre. Chris Czekaj moves to the wing from 15 in place of Tom James who moves down to the bench.

There are three changes in the forwards. Xavier Rush has recovered from illness and will start at Number 8 with Molitika moving to the bench. In the front row T Rhys Thomas and Sam Hobbs start with Ryan Tyrell and John Yapp also moving to the bench.

The Blues face a Benetton Treviso side that have lost their last four matches in the RaboDirect PRO12 since their 37-14 home win over Aironi on New Year’s Eve.

Cardiff Blues have never lost to an Italian opponent in any competition and have beaten Treviso in all three previous encounters. However, the Italians are unbeaten in their last three home games against Welsh regions in all competitions.

Benetton Treviso V Cardiff Blues

At Stadio Monigo, 4.30pmlocal time (3.30pmUK & Ireland)

Cardiff Blues 15 Ben Blair 14 Richard Mustoe 13 Gavin Evans 12 Ceri Sweeney 11 Chris Czekaj 10 Dan Parks 9 Richie Rees

8 Xavier Rush 7 Martyn Williams 6 Michael Paterson 5 Paul Tito (c) 4 Cory Hill 3 Scott Andrews 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 Sam Hobbs

16 Ryan Tyrell 17 John Yapp 18 Ryan Harford 19 Macauley Cook 20 Maama Molitika 21 Lewis Jones 22 Harry Robinson 23 Tom James

Not available due to injury:
Casey Laulala – hamstring
Fau Filise – shoulder
Dafydd Hewitt – hamstring
James Down – ankle
Andries Pretorius – knee
Deiniol Jones – shoulders

Sweeney starts for Cardiff vs Aironi

Posted on Jan 6, 2011

Cardiff Blues outside half Ceri Sweeney will start when the Blues take on Aironi this Friday, 7.30pm kick off.

Sweeney last started for the Blues on the 27th of November when they recorded a 38-6 victory over Glasgow. Tom Slater starts at scrum half, while Tom Shanklin is paired with Jamie Roberts at Centre for the first time this season. Leigh Halfpenny starts on the wing having come off the bench in last Friday’s win over the Ospreys.

In the forwards Tom Brown starts at Number 8 for the first time in the Magners League, his other two starts being in the LV=Cup. There is one other change in the forwards with John Yapp starting at tighthead in place of Fau Filise.

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Blair gets first start for Blues vs Dragons

Posted on Sep 17, 2010

Ben Blair has been selected to start for the first time this season, and goes in search of a landmark 1000 points for Cardiff Blues.

Cardiff Blues’ nine game winning run came to an end at the hands of Leinster at the RDS on Saturday evening and they now face another difficult battle against local rivals Newport Gwent Dragons. Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby, David Young has selected his side and said,

“We welcome a few senior players back which is good news ahead of a big derby match.”

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