Ben Blair

By Andrew Collins
November 27 2008

The Magner’s league gets back under way this weekend, as Cardiff Blues take on Glasgow warriors at Furhill Arena on Friday. Dai Young picks a strong team, but is without his Welsh contingent while Leigh Halfpenny is rested.

It's the Blues first league match for over two months, following the 58-0 hammering of Connacht back on September 26^th. Since then, the Blues have racked up 5 massive wins, including victories over Leicester, Bath and Gloucester, meaning a win on Friday will become the regions longest unbeaten run since their formation. The current record of 6, which the current squad are already matching, was set back in 2003, but featured a far less impressive set of names in our wake

With Gethin Jenkins, John Yapp, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin all involved in Wales' attempts to beat Australia on Saturday, Young has had to pick the XV from a hugely depleted squad.

Add to that Xavier Rush, Sam Warburton and Bradley Davies are all injured, plus Leigh Halfpenny has been rested following 3 back to back Wales matches and it's impressive that the capital can field as strong a side as this one.

Tao' Felise, Rhys Thomas and Gary Powell make up a very able front row, while Paul Tito and Deiniol Jones continue their formidable lock partnership. In the back row, Maama Molitika remains at 6, Robin Sowden-Taylor returns from Wales duty at 7, while Mark Lewis fills in for new Welsh star Powell and inured Rush at number 8.

In the backs, Ceri Sweeney makes his first start at 12 since signing from the Dragons in the summer, outside the familiar half back pairing of Spice and Nicky Robinson, brother Jamie plays outside centre.

On the wings, Tom James continues his recovery from long-term injury, having also trained with Wales recently, with Gareth Thomas on the opposite wing after scoring 4 tries against Glamorgan Wanderers last Tuesday. Ben Blair is, as ever, at full back.

Even the bench is remarkably strong given the amount of players unavailable. Scott Roberts is perhaps one name people won't be familiar with, although the young prop has featured a handful of times over the past three seasons, while Gareth Williams, Scott Morgan and Ben White make up the reserve forwards.

Ritchie Rees is accompanied on the bench by Daf Hewitt and Chris Czekaj, neither of whom have featured for some time for the region, with Richard Mustoe getting the final reserve spot.

So here's the squad in full for Friday's 7.30pm kick off;

Blair, James, J. Robinson, Sweeney, N. Robinson, G. Thomas, Spice; Felise, TR. Thomas, Powell, Jones, Tito, Molitika,  Sowden-Taylor, M. Lewis.

S. Roberts, G. Williams, Morgan, White, Rees, Hewitt, Czekaj and Mustoe.

In other news, Cardiff RFC head coach Alex Coding has quit after just one month in charge of the Welsh Premiership side, citing personal reasons for his departure. The former Ebbw Vale and London Welsh coach was trying to juggle a part time role at the Blue and Blacks whilst continuing his job as a teacher in England. Chairman Malcolm Childs said,

"Alex was hoping that he could balance the twin responsibilities of his role as Director of Sport at Trinity School in Croydon with his appointment. Unfortunately he has found the amount of travelling... as well as the responsibilities of both jobs too much. We have reluctantly accepted his decision to stand down."

It's not yet known who will replace him on a full time role, but player/coach Lee Jarvis and former Head Coach Howard Stone will lead the side until a successor is found, likely to be after the new year.