By Andrew Collins
October 28 2005

Dai Young names an unchanged side from the one that displayed both the best and worst of the Cardiff Blues. The smash and grab second half against Leeds, taking all 5 points, was in the end a great result, but a similar 1st half performance will simply not do against French giants Perpignan.

7 of the eight Blues chosen for Wales' autumn internationals start, with hooker Rhys Thomas on the bench. Captain Rhys Williams today revealed his dissappointment at missing out, but will to improve. Saying,

"I have to focus on what I do with the Blues and earn my way in to Mikes 6 Nations team."

So a good match in France would be a huge boost for the 25 year-old. Undoubtably, Rhys' form has not meritted a Welsh call up, with some beliving the full back has been playing with an injury for the last few weeks, but having played wing, center and full back this year, its no suprise he's all out of sorts.

He starts at 15, captaining the side for 11th time since taking the arm band.

Elsewhere, Craig Morgan and Chris Czekaj join the Robinson brothers, Mike Phillips and Sky's Man of the Match vs Leeds, Marc Strchebina. The backs will be looking to make more of their possession against a Perpignan, with all 4 of last weeks tries comming from the forwards, 3 from the front row.

Gareth Williams' 2 tries last week are enough to keep out Welsh International, Rhys Thomas. The former Bridgend hooker 3rd start since from the last 3.

The 2nd row partnership of CQ and Sid has been working excellantly over recnt weeks, with their 2nd half against Leeds one of the highlights of the game.

The back row features 2 Welsh squad members, one of which the Blues top try scorer, and a player not chosen, but in incredible form. Robin, Martyn and Andy start knowing they need to be on top form against one of the best packs in European rugby.

Xavier Rush is unavailable, as it's been revealed he needs to have an opperation on his shoulder following an injury against Leinster. He will miss Fridays match and Munster the following week, but fortunately for the Blues, matches stop during the Autumn internationals and so will be back in time for Lomu's arrival.

Mamma Molitika is fit however and replaces Trystan Davies on the Blues bench in an elsewhere unchanged squad.

Dai has gone for the unorthadox 5 forwards 2 backs on the bench, giving a clear indication of how the game will go.

On the match, he said

"We want to move the ball around and play an expansive game and we feel we have the mobility to do this. It will be a huge test for the team out in France and obviously the challenge will be up front as they will try to out muscle us but we will have to gain parity at least if we are to play the type of game we want to play.”

Blues
R. Williams; Czekaj, J. Robinson, Stcherbina, Morgan; N. Robinson, Phillips; Yapp, G. Williams, M. Jones, Quinnell, Sidoli, Sowden-Taylor, M. Williams, A. Powell.

Evans, R. Thomas, Jones, Molitika, Schubert, Powell, L. Thomas.

Perpignan
Laharrague; Naulu, Marty, Grandclaude, Manas; Laharrague, Durand; Freshwater, Konieck, Mas, Gaston, Hines, Vaki, Goutta (capt), Tonita.

Tincu, Debaty, Porcu, Robertson, Dupuy, Pez, Hume.

The game kicks off 7.30 on Friday, and is played at the Stade Aime Giral in France.