Sarries Side Selected

Shanks with cup
By Andrew Collins
October 7 2006

The starting line-up shows just two changes to that which beat Wasps in last weeks Anglo-Welsh Cup match.

Tom Rieley suffered an injury during the stunning victory last Saturday, and is replaced by the now fit Marc Strchbina. He makes up a very attack-minded set of backs, with many now preferring the Aussie to gifted home-grown centre Jamie Robinson. That comes following great performances from Stitch, rather than Robinson doing any wrong.

 

Elsewhere, Gary Powell comes in to the side, in place of Tongan, Filise.

 

On the bench, Xavier Rush is deemed fit again, but a great display by Mark Lewis last week keeps him out of the side. John Yap replaces Powell, with Filise dropped from the squad, Wayne Evans swaps with Ed Fairhurst and finally Brdley Davies returns to the squad following injury.

 

Last seasons fixture at the Arms Park saw one of the Blues finest on-pitch displays. A 37-20 win over Saracens lifted hopes, and kicked off what went on to be a fairly successful year. A repeat of that result would be even bigger for Young, who would see his side almost definitely through to the semi-finals with a home tie against London Irish to follow.

 

Cardiff Blues
Blair; Czekaj, Shanklin, Stcherbina, Luveitasau; Robinson, Phillips; Jenkins, T Rhys Thomas, Powell, D Jones, Sidoli, Morgan, Williams (capt), Lewis.

Yapp, Goodfield, Davies, Rush, Evans, Macleod, Flannigan.

 

The big news from London is of course that of where Andy Farrell plays, for this weekend at least, it will be bench.