News

Preview: Cardiff Blues v Connacht

September 23 2008

Connacht have been boosted by the return from injury of wing Mike Roberts and lock Michael Swift for their Magners League clash with Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on Friday.

Former London Wasps finisher Roberts will make his competitive debut for the Irish side when he starts on the left wing, while Swift returns to the side having missed the 15-8 victory over Glasgow at the weekend and will partner Andrew Browne in the second row.

Johnny O'Connor, introduced as a replacement against Glasgow having recovered from injury, which kept him out of the first two Magners League games of the season, will start in the back row alongside captain John Muldoon and Colm Rigney.

Meanwhile, Gavin Duffy, Keith Matthews and Ray Ofisa were not considered due to injuries picked up in last week's win as coach Michael Bradley hands out an opportunity for others to stake a claim.

"It gives the guys who did not start last week a chance to put down a marker ahead of the European Challenge Cup campaign," said Bradley.

Cardiff Blues are boosted by the news that Xavier Rush will make his first appearance of the season from the bench on Friday.

Having injured his knee in pre-season it was feared Rush would miss the opening rounds of the Heineken Cup. However after extensive work with the Cardiff Blues strength and conditioning team he has recovered in time to feature on Friday.

"Rushy has been training very hard with us," Cardiff Blues conditioning coach Chris Tombs told Planet Rugby.

"He has, as always, impressed us with his attitude and drive to be back in contention by the time the Heineken Cup came around.

"We are two weeks away from that now, so with this game and the trip to Sale still to come, he should hopefully be back to full fitness in time for the trip to Italy."

Elsewhere the two Jamie's, Roberts and Robinson, team up in the centres and Leigh Halfpenny has recovered from a head injury and will start at full-back.

In the pack Bradley Davies takes a deserved break from the squad, having started the opening four games to date. Deniol Jones comes in to partner captain Paul Tito instead.

Form: Cardiff Blues' last defeat at the Arms Park in any competition was 10-11 to Edinburgh in the Magners League on 4 January. The Blues' last reversal at home to an Irish side was when Leinster visited the Arms Park on 28 September 2007. Connacht broke their season's duck on Friday in Galway with a 15-8 defeat of Glasgow Warriors. Connacht's last away win was also in Wales against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on 18 April. The west Irishmen's only previous victory at the Arms Park was 6-3 against Cardiff RFC in the league on 18 August 2001. Connacht have won just one of their ten previous encounters with the Blues: 13-9 in Galway on 3 September 2005.

Prediction: It is set to be a dry day in Cardiff on Friday, but the Blues will be hoping it rains points as they look to get their season back on the road. Cardiff Blues by 15.

The Teams:

Cardiff Blues: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Gareth Thomas, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Richard Mustoe, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Jason Spice, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Robin Sowden-Taylor, 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Paul Tito (c), 4 Deniol Jones, 3 Gary Powell, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Taufa'ao Filise, 18 Scott Morgan, 19 Xavier Rush, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Nicky Robinson, 22 Tom Shanklin.

Connacht: 15 Fionn Carr, 14 Aidan Wynne, 13 John Hearty, 12 Mel Deane, 11 Michael Roberts, 10 Andy Dunne, 9 Frank Murphy, 8 Colm Rigney, 7 Johnny O'Connor, 6 John Muldoon (c), 5 Michael Swift, 4 Andrew Browne, 3 Robbie Morris, 2 Adrian Flavin, 1 John Lyne.

Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Andrew Farley, 19 Michael McCarthy, 20 Kieran Campbell, 21 Ian Keatley, 22 Liam Bibo.

Date: Friday, September 26

Venue: Arms Park, Cardiff

Kick-off: 19.05 (18.05 GMT)

Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)

Touch judges: Neil Ballard (Wales), Leighton Hodges (Wales)