Dai's Gunned Up

Xavier Rush
By Andrew Collins
January 26 2006

Head coach Dai Young name his side for Fridays clash with Scottish side Edinburgh Gunners. The team shows many changes, some forced, from the one that lost heavily to Leeds last weekend.

The Blues have also named a new captain for the match, with Rhys Williams absent from the squad.

 

As many fans have been calling for, Xavier Rush wears the armband becoming the 3^rd player to do so this season, after Williams and Sowden-Taylor.

 

Williams is not part of Wales’6 nation’s squad, and it’s not thought he’s injured, meaning Young has dropped his captain following a string of poor performances and results.

 

Rhys Thomas, Rob Sidoli and Martyn Williams have all been withdrawn by Mike Ruddock in preparation for next weekend’s showdown in Twickenham, but Mike Phillips, injured Nick Robinson, John Yapp and shockingly Gethin Jenkins have all been released.

 

Yapp and Jenkins both prop for Cardiff with the former stealing Mark Jones’ spot after last week’s disaster. Their joined by ever-impressing youngster Duane Goodfeild, with TR’s call-up, although it’s thought Thomas would’ve been dropped anyway.

 

Craig Quinnell takes Deiniol Jones’ spot at 4, while James Goode is promoted at 5 to cover Sidoli.

 

In the back row, Mamma Molitika takes Andy Powell’s shirt with Powell one of the poorer players in the last 2 weeks. Martyn Williams, who is thought to be signing for Biarritz, is replaced by Robin Sowden-Taylor. Xavier Rush retains his shirt being one of the only players who gave anything like 100% last week, he also captains the side.

 

Mike Phillips is dropped and Ryan Powell gets given his chance after a good substitute appearance last week.

 

At 10, Lee Thomas who looked in fine form last week comes straight in for Nick Macelod. Despite 2 disastrous matches, he goes to full back.

 

Stitch is dropped as youngster Dafydd Hewitt coming in, and Jamie Robinson who battled very hard all match on Sunday is one of just a few survivors from that starting line-up.

 

On the wings, Jonah Lomu stays at 11, Chris Czekaj too keeps his shirt.

 

The changes show some bold moves by Dai, with Rhys Williams, Deiniol Jones and Andy Powell all dropped from the squad, and Mike Phillips and Stitch dropped to the bench.

 

It’s clear something had to be done, and the late team announcement comes after last night’s emergency meeting with the players. However, fans won’t just be looking for a result in this game, we’ll all be needing for the kind of dominance Leeds had over us, and the 100% commitment that Dai Young possess’ if no-one else.

 

Young spoke out about his team selection saying,

 

"We have made several changes to the team for this Friday’s match against the Edinburgh Gunners due to the unacceptable performance against the Leeds Tykes last Sunday. We are looking for a reaction from the players an if I was totally honest if we had more options we would have made more changes."

 

It will take a very long time top forget what happened on Sunday 22^nd January 2006, and a result on Friday won’t go far in compensating fans for that performance, but it may be enough to keep the Blues from being the bottom Welsh side in the Celtic League, because that’s all we have left to fight for.

 

The Blues have now gone 2 whole games without scoring a try, fans will be hoping for them in abundence from 19.10 onwards.

Team:
Nick Macleod, Chris Czekaj, Jamie Robinson, Dafydd Hewitt, Jonah Lomu, Lee Thomas, Ryan Powell, Xavier Rush (c), Robin Sowden-Taylor, Maama Molitika, James Goode, Craig Quinnell, Gethin Jenkins, Duane Goodfield, John Yapp

Ben Evans, Ross Johnson, Bradley Davies, Mark Lewis, Mike Phillips, Craig Morgan, Marc Stcherbina

 

In a plea from theArmsPark.co.uk, I beg all fans to turn up on Friday. Everyone hurt after the 48-3 result, and there are still many people calling for Dai to go, but staying away won’t help anyone. This is your Cardiff Blues, stick with them, being there through these bad times will make the great times feel so much better.