Leinster v Cardiff: Teams

At RDS, Saturday October 31, kick-off 6.30pm

Last updated: 30th October 2009  

Leinster v Cardiff: Teams

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Cardiff chief David Young has seen his preparations for the clash against Leinster hampered by illness and international call-ups.

Ten of the Blues squad - including the Wales contingent of Leigh Halfpenny, Tom James, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins, Andy Powell and Martyn Williams - have been released to train with their countries.

T Rhys Thomas, Gareth Williams and Robin Sowden-Taylor are also missing through injury, meaning Young has had to make a number of changes.

Young hooker Rhys Williams will make his Blues debut, while Ben White is included for the first time this season.

Ireland hopeful Sexton will partner Eoin Reddan for the visit of the Welsh in a back-line including Shane Horgan, who has been named alongside Luke Fitzgerald and Isa Nacewa.

Leo Cullen captains the team and lines up alongside Malcolm O'Kelly in a pack that includes South African prop CJ van der Linde who starts his first game of the season having appeared as a substitute in the province's last two games.

Cian Healy lines up alongside John Fogarty and van der Linde in the front row, with Nathan Hines, Bernard Jackman, Girvan Dempsey and Mike Ross named on a strong replacements bench.

Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Fogarty, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Bernard Jackman, 17 Mike Ross, 18 Nathan Hines, 19 Stephen Keogh, 20 Simon Keogh, 21 Shaun Berne, 22 Girvan Dempsey.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Gareth Thomas, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Sam Norton Knight, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Ben White, 6 Scott Morgan, 5 Paul Tito (capt), 4 Deiniol Jones, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Rhys Williams, 1 Darren Morris.
Replacements: 16 Rhys James, 17 Gary Powell, 18 James Down, 19 Josh Navidi, 20 Darren Allinson, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Dafydd James.