James boost for Cardiff Blues
Powerhouse Cardiff Blues winger Tom James has recovered from his groin injury and has been named in the No.11 shirt for Sunday’s Magners League clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Blues Director of Rugby Dai Young has assembled a powerful matchday squad for this all-Welsh clash; with the likes of Tom Shanklin and Jamie Roberts teaming up at centre and Wales loosehead prop Gethin Jenkins leading a pack that also includes openside ace Martyn Williams.
Kiwis Ben Blair and Xavier Rush are two more familiar faces in the Cardiff starting line-up, but the bench is where this side’s real strength lies; with the likes of Paul Tito, Andy Powell, Gareth Cooper, Ceri Sweeney and Gareth Thomas – all of thom are amongst the replacements – good enough to make most starting XVs in Europe.
The Dragons, meanwhile, will once again be skippered by New Zealand hooker Tom Willis, who will be propped up by Hugh Gustafson and Patrick Palmer in the front row.
Having just this week announced that coach Paul Turner’s contract would be extended by a further two years, the Dragons players will no doubt be hoping to prove that it was, indeed, the right decision.
Sunday’s match, which will take place at the Cardiff City Stadium, kicks-off at 6pm.
The teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tom James, 10 Sam Norton-Knight, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Sam Warburton, 5 Scott Morgan, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Taufa’au Filise, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain).
Replacements: 16 Gareth Williams, 17 Gary Powell, 18 Paul Tito, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Gareth Cooper, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Gareth Thomas.
Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Jason Tovey, 14 Aled Brew, 13 Rhodri Gomer-Davies, 12 Tom Riley, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Danny Lee, 8 Lewis Evans, 7 Gavin Thomas, 6 Joe Bearman, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Hoani MacDonald, 3 Patrick Palmer, 2 Tom Willis (captain), 1 Hugh Gustafson.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Peter Bracken, 18 Adam Jones, 19 Grant Webb, 20 Will Harries, 21 Matthew Watkins, 22 Gareth Williams.
Date: Sunday, December 27
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Kick-off: 18.00
Referee: James Jones
Assistant referees: Hugh Watkins, Huw David
Television match official: Tony Rowlands
