Blues Vs Ospreys

Blues Vs Ospreys
By Andrew Collins
August 29 2007

The sides have been officially announced by both Cardiff Blues and The Ospreys, so click here to see the 30 men who will kick of their respected 07/08 seasons at Cardiff Arms Park this Friday, in a 19.40 kcik off...

Dai Young, missing 7 players through World Cup duty, names quite a strong side for the visit of The Ospreys, who are increasingly becoming the Blues biggest rivals!

The Swansea based side finished the season in 1^st place, just 1 point above Young's Blues side, meaning the Liberty Stadium outfit lifted their second Magner's Trophy. Not only that, but The O's knocked Cardiff out of the EDF Cup with a convincing victory at the Millennium Stadium, plus finally, the controversial high paid transfer of Mike Phillips from the Arms Park, to Friday nights visitors!

All in all, it makes for an incredible way to kick off a new campaign.

Young is missing new signing Gareth Thomas, Tom Shanklin, Martyn Williams, Thomas Rhys Thomas, Gethin Jenkins and Jamie Robinson to Wales, with prop Filise on duty with Tonga. As for injuries, Chris Czekaj will miss the entire season and some, while flanker Scott Morgan is unavailable due to a broken hand.

So the side looks like this, the impressive John Yapp has a chance to stake a claim during Felise and Jenkins' absence, the 25 year old prop failing to meet his hype as a youngster, now wants to get his career back on track, and to do so against the Ospreys.

Gareth Williams and Gary Powell join Yappy to make up the front row, while new signing Paul Tito makes his league debut along side Deiniol ones. Rob Sidoli, who was in the extended Welsh World Cup Squad, has to make do with a spot on the bench.

Cardiff's wealth in the back row is made apparent this week, Maama Molitika, Robin Sowden-Taylor and Xavier Rush complete an awesome back row, who still have Martyn Williams and Scott Morgan to return, as well as selection headaches in the form of Andy Powell, Rhys Shellard, Mark Lewis and Ben White.

Jason Spice is given a chance to start against his old club. The Kiwi scrum half is chosen ahead of Ritchie Rees as he's been given the opportunity to show Lyn Jones that letting him go for Mike Phillips, was actually a big mistake.

Nicky Robinson starts at 10, with Dafydd Hewitt and another former Osprey, Tal Selley, in the centre. Hewitt gets the nod after scoring in 2 of Cardiff's friendly matches, while Selley too has the same feat to his name. There's no room for fan favourite Marc Stcherbina, who takes a seat on the bench.

As for the wings, Rhys Williams is joined by Cardiff RFC starlet Jamie Roberts. The huge full back is drafted to the number 11 shirt to cover Czekaj and Tom James' absence, there's been no news on James' health concerns. That leaves Ben Blair at full back.

And that completes a very good looking side for Cardiff, who's strength in depth is already looking apparent.

So here's the side again from 1 to 15;

John Yapp, Gareth Williams, Gary Powell; Deiniol Jones, Paul Tito; Maama Molitika, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Xavier Rush; Jason Spice, Nick Robinson; Dafydd Hewitt, Tal Selley; Rhys Williams, Jamie Roberts; Ben Blar.

The Ospreys side has also been announced as this (but knowing Lyn Jones, is very likely to change!);

Lee Byrne; Stefan Terblanche, Mark Taylor, Andrew Bishop, Aled Brew; Shaun Connor, Justin Marshall; Paul James, Richard Hibbard, Andrew Millward, Brent Cockbain (capt), Mike Collins, Andy Lloyd, Richard Pugh, Filo Tiatia.

Barry Williams, Cai Griffiths, Mike Powell/Tom Smith, Ben Lewis, Martin Roberts, Jonathan Spratt, Jonathan Vaughton.