Team for Borders

Saturday evening
By Andrew Collins
April 12 2006

Dai Young has announced his line up to play the Borders on Saturday night. The team shows a number of changes from the side thats won the last 3 games, though on paper still looks very strong.

The Borders come to the Arms Park on Saturday evening with very little to play for and little chnace of winning. It may well be a deadwood this weekend, but with the Blues needing 5 points and to maintain their fantastic run, this is still a big game for Young's men.

He's made 4 changes to the starting line-up, with the big news of Jonah Lomu's return. The big man has had to watch from the bench in recent weeks, and for last Fridays win at Edinbourgh, Lomu wasn't even taken. However, he gets his reward with a chance to bag a few tries as he bids to regain his fitness.

Craig Morgan is the casualty for Lomu's return, with Czeakj in such fine form switching to 11 for Lomu to wear 14.

Other changes see Kort Schubert move to the back row, in place of suspended flanker Maama Molitika. Both players are set to leave the Arms Park at the end of the season, but Schuberts 2nd game in a row, having played at lock last week, may well save the American yet.

He's partnered in the back row by Martyn Williams and Andy Powell, with Xavier Rush having a well earned rest. Powell makes his first start for the Blues since the embarrasing loss at Leeds. At 8, Powell is reverted back to his favoured position, as he gets a chance to stake his claim over Xavier.

Deiniol Jones returns at lock with Schuberts move, while Sidoli and the front row or Yapp, Goodfeild and Genkins all remain.

The backs are then unchnaged apart from Lomu, Phillips starts with Nick Robinson, on hot form of late, with Stitch Jamie and Rhys Williams making up the numbers.

On the bench, either Martin Jones or Scott Roberts will cover prop, Rhys Thomas is yet to oust Duane Goodfeild, Chris Dicomidis awaits his first Blues appearance and Robin Sowden-Taylor still not seleceted since his impressive 7's triamph. Ryan Powell, Nick Macleod and Craig morgan cover the backs.

Team
Rhys Williams (c), Jonah Lomu, Jamie Robinson, Marc Stcherbina, Chris Czekaj, Nick Robinson, Mike Phillips, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Kort Schubert, Rob Sidoli, Deiniol Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Duane Goodfield, John Yapp

Martin Jones / Scott Roberts, T. Rhys Thomas, Chris Dicomidis, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Ryan Powell, Nick Macleod, Craig Morgan