Lions star returns for Welsh derby
Saturday’s Magners League clash between the Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys looks set to be a fantastic event with ticket sales for the all-Welsh fixture already approaching record numbers.
Over 11,500 tickets have already been sold for the game and the Blues are on course to break the 12,198 mark, set when the Blues beat the Scarlets by 19 points to 15, in a hugely entertaining game in September.
There is a long awaited return to action for Lions flank Martyn Williams for the Blues. The dynamic loose forward has finally recovered from the shoulder injury which he sustained while in South Africa during the summer.
No.8 Robin Sowden Taylor picked up a knee injury last weekend in Sale and was not considered for selection but Xavier Rush is back and on hand to take his spot.
Andy Powell unfortunately is still sidelined with flu.
Scott Morgan and Deiniol Jones start at second row, while Bradley Davies is expected to be fit for selection against Leinster next weekend. Paul Tito has been given the all clear to play but only trained with the team at the latter end of the week and now takes his place on the bench. Gethin Jenkins continues as Captain.
In the backs Gareth Thomas has not recovered from his groin injury but is expected to be fit for selection for next weekend’s away match at Leinster. Gareth Cooper starts at Scrumhalf.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Ospreys coach Jonathan Humphries said he was looking for a complete performance from his side.
“We are pleased with the results of the last four games, if not the overall performances during those matches. We will take a great deal of satisfaction from putting together four games without loss but we realise that there is still some way for us to before we can say we are the finished article. We’ve seen at times during each one of those games signs of what we are capable of, but we need now to start turning those 40-minute performances into 80 minutes if we are going to achieve what we want to as a group this season.
“In the last two games we’ve played the English champions and the French league leaders, and now we are facing a very formidable team in the shape of Cardiff Blues. I think it’s fair to say that over the last couple of years they’ve improved out of sight on and off the field. They’ve got facilities that are now probably among the best in Europe, if not the best, they have a very good, very competitive squad with more Lions than any region, so they really are looking good on and off the field. If you were looking a team to do well you’d have to put your money on the Blues.
“Our supporters will be excited about the prospect of the first local derby of the season. We know how much it means to them to get one over the neighbours, and these games bring excitement to the players and coaches as well. We want to put on the kind of performance on Saturday that will make our fans proud to be an Osprey, but we know that we will need to be on top of our game if we are to achieve that.”
The Teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tom James 10, Sam Norton-Knight, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Sam Warburton, 5 Scott Morgan, 4 Deiniol Jones, 3 Taufa’ao Filise, 2 Gareth Williams, 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain)
Replacements: 16 T Rhys Thomas, 17 Gary Powell, 18 Paul Tito, 19 Ben White, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Richard Mustoe
Ospreys: 15 Barry Davies, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Shane Williams (captain), 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhodri Wells, 8 Tom Smith, 7 Steve Tandy, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Alun-wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Ed Shervington, 17 Paul James, 18 Jonathan Thomas, 19 Filo Tiatia, 20 Ryan Jones, 21 James Hook, 22 Nikki Walker.
Date: Saturday, 24 October
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Time: 18.30 (17.30 GMT)
