Strong Blues Start Season

Celtic League 05/06
By Andrew Collins
September 1 2005

The Blues kick off their Celtic League season with a strong squad selection despite having 8 players unavailable. The three Blue-Lions are unavailable, as are Kort Schubert, Jamie Robinson, Marc Sterchibina, Dean Dewdney and Xavier Rush.

But Cardiff proudly boast 8 of Wales' tourists in the starting line-up, along with new-cap Rhys Thomas on the bench.

Debut starts are given to former Llanelli pair, Mike Phillips and Andy Powell, while Mama Molitika starts after completing his long-term move from Harlequins.

Rhys Williams makes his first competeative start as captain since being handed the armband from Martyn Williams following starts in both friendly games earlier this month. He'll be hoping to get the his team off to the best possible start win an away win in Galway, the place where they picked up their only win on the road last season.

Nicky Robinson starts this seasons opener, unlike last year when he was struck down by a mystery virus until christmas, however brother Jamie makes it a full year since his last match and is still sidelined.

Last season's opener was also an away match in Ireland, when the Blues travelled to Dublin top face a weak Leinster side. The score in that one was a dissapointing 9-9, but the Blues will hope to come away with a minimum four points this weekend.

Last Friday's match at Bristol ended 24-22, with poor performances from alot of players starting this week. Following a unproffesional pre-season, alot of the players will go into Cannacht game with less than a full game under their belt since the Wesh tour.

Despite last seasons major underachievements, there are still high hopes for this year at the Arms Park. A good start is key to how the rest of the season goes, and 5 pount start would go a long way to easing the mounting pressure on head coach Dai Young.

The match kicks off at 2.30pm on Saturday 3rd September and is not televised, however BBC's ScrumV will cover highlights on Sunday.

Team
Nick Macleod; Chris Czekaj, Rhys Williams (capt), Tristan Davies, Craig Morgan; Nicky Robinson, Mike Phillips; John Yapp, Gareth Williams, Martin Jones, Deiniol Jones, Robert Sidoli, Maama Molitika, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Andy Powell.

Ryan Powell, Lee Thomas, Matthew Nuthall, Ben Evans, Rhys Thomas, Craig Quinnell, Mark Lewis.