Czekaj waits in the wings

CC for the Blues
By Andrew Collins
June 8 2005

Mike Ruddok is set to name his Wales side who will face Canada on Saturday and 2 young Blues are expected to get the nod. Mike Ruddok names his side at 5.00pm on Wednesday, and Chris may well make the line-up.

Czekaj is expected to get his first cap on Saturday starting on the wing for the injured Craig Morgan, the Cardiff winger suffering an arm injury following the record wing over the USA last week.

The call-up would end a remarkeable year for the talented youngster who has scored 11 tries for Cardiff RFC, won the U21 grand Slam with Wales and started the 2 final games of the Blues season, earning himself a contract for next year.

Despite only making 2 appearences for the Blues, Ruddok believes he has seen enough of CC to start him in Toronto.

In more good news for the Welsh Blues, Thomas Rhys Thomas is also expected to start ahead of fit-again Mefin Davies and Scarlett Matthew Rees. TR wouls make his first start in a Wales shirt, having got his first cap coming on as a sub against the US on the weekend.

In team Canada, former Cardiff player and brother of Cardiff legend John, Luke Tait is expected to start, despite 4 years ago making himself openly available for Wales.

Canada are a better outfit than the USA, but Wales will be looking to put them away in similar fashion, especailly without the likes of Cardiff's Dan Baugh, Ex-Dragon Rod Snow, ex-Scarlett John Thiel and Stade Francais Mike James who are all missing with injury.

Other Blues expected to make the team are Mike Phillips, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Nick Robinson, Rob Sidoli and Rhys Williams with Morgan missing through injury. If so, there would be a total of 7 Blues in the line-up with another 3 out with the lions, showing the quality of the team cannot be underestimated, and that this Cardiff side can atchieve a lot and have masses of potential.

In other news, the Lions won their 2nd tour match this morning with a 36-14 victory over Tarinaki. Martyn Williams stayed on the bench, but Gethin Jenkins came on with good effect. Geth will have been pleased with the poor performance by John Hayes, making his test start almost a garentee.