Team for Royal Dublin

By Andrew Collins
October 14 2005

New boy Marc Stcherbina is on the bench as he aims to make his long-awaited debut, he's one of 7 changes to the squad from the Wasps defeat last week. USA captain Kort Schubert also hopes to make his first appearence of the season following a knee injury, he too is amoungst the subs.

The Cardiff Blues will be hoping to put the loss in London to the back of their minds, as the Celtic League resumes this weekend and they travel to Dublin and play Leinster.

The impressive Irish province can boast their Lions Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan and Gordon D'Arcy, and also have Argentine legend Fellipo Contapomi in their starting XI.

In the Blues camp however, only Martyn Williams remains from the Capitals tourists, Gethin Jenkins and more recently Tom Shanklin declaring themselves unfit.

Tristan Davies comes in for Shanklin along with Mike Phillips, whose impressive display last week earns him a place over Ryan Powell.

As for the forwards, Gareth Williams replaces hot prospect Dwain Goodfeild and Ben Evens props for Martin Jones.

In the second row, Rob Sidoli keeps his record of starting every match, but Deiniol Jones takes over from Craig Quinnell.

Mamma Molitika's recent displays have landed him a place in the back row over Andy Powell, Kort Schubert and Robin Sowden-Taylor, while Martyn Williams and Xavier Rush wear 7 and 8 respectively. Molitika also shares the try scorers lead, with he Craig Morgan both totalling 3 tries in all Celtic and Powergen matches.

On the bench, Ross Johnsen keeps his place despite Goodfeild being dropped and Schubert and Stitch both pass fitness tests.

Leinster have moved the match to Royal Dublin Showgrounds, which is the first time the region will have appeared there. It may have a slight bearing on the match, with the home advantage not being as evident with the sides equally alian to the pitch.

Last year, the Blues started the season with a 9 all draw, but Martyn Williams belives they can go one better this year,

"Leinster have world-class players and are a tough nut to crack out there, but we can sneak a win,"

Rhys Williams (capt); Chris Czekaj, Jamie Robinson, Tristan Davies, Craig Morgan; Nicky Robinson, Michael Phillips; John Yapp, Gareth Williams, Ben Evans, Deiniol Jones, Robert Sidoli, Maama Molitika, Martyn Williams, Xavier Rush.

Martin Jones, Ross Johnson, Kort Schubert, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Ryan Powell, Marc Stcherbina, Lee Thomas.