Blues v Connacht: Teams
Cardiff Blues welcome back fit-again Casey Laulala to their line up for the visit of Connacht.
Last Updated: 30/09/10 9:39pm
Cardiff Blues welcome back fit-again Casey Laulala to their line up for the visit of Connacht.
Laulala has been passed fit to partner Dafydd Hewitt in the centres, however Richie Rees, Lloyd Williams, Martyn Williams and Maama Molitika have both been ruled out.
Gareth Cooper will wear the No.9 shirt for the first time this season, with Rhys Williams, John Yapp and Xavier Rush also starting.
Ireland flanker Johnny O'Connor will return to the Connacht squad for the trip to the Blues.
O'Connor will replace Shane Connelly on the bench on Thursday, with coach Eric Elwood making just two changes to his starting XV.
Andrew Browne comes in for Bernie Upton in the second row, while Adrian Flavin starts at hooker in place of the rested Sean Cronin.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Xavier Rush (c), 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Michael Paterson, 5 Deiniol Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tafa'ao Filise, 2 Rhys Williams, 1 John Yapp>
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Paul Tito, 20 Andries Pretorius, 21 Kristian Baller, 22 Ceri Sweeney, 23 Tom Shanklin
Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Troy Nathan, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Keith Matthews , 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy (capt), 1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Adrian Flavin, 3 Jamie Hagan, 4 Michael Swift, 5 Andrew Browne, 6 Michael McCarthy, 7 Ray Ofisa, 8 Mike McComish.
Replacements: 16 Dermot Murphy, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Rob Sweeney, 19 Bernie Upton, 20 Johnny O'Connor, 21 Cillian Willis, 22 Miah Nikora, 23 Darragh Fanning
