Cardiff Blues v Ulster: Teams
Cardiff Blues will be buoyed by a return of their internationals for the visit of Ulster on Friday.
Last Updated: 25/03/10 11:55am
Cardiff Blues will be buoyed by a return of their internationals for the visit of Ulster on Friday.
The Blues, who desperately need points to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Heineken Cup, welcome back Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin, Tom James, Richie Rees, Martyn Williams and Gethin Jenkins to their line-up.
Fellow Wales stars Jamie Roberts and Sam Warburton have been rested, though, with director of rugby David Young expecting a tough encounter.
"They are a very hard team to beat, very dogged up front, with a lot of flair behind, so we know it will be difficult to get the win," said Young.
"However, victory is crucial for us."
Ulster are also able to call on their internationals - with Paddy Wallace, Tom Court, Stephen Ferris, Rory Best, Andrew Trimble and Simon Danielli available again after the Six Nations
However coach Brian McLaughlin is without the injured Justin Fitzpatrick, Matt McCullough, Cillian Willis, Ian Porter, Adam Macklin, Bryn Cunningham and Willie Faloon.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Tom Shanklin, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Andy Powell, 5 Paul Tito, 4 Scott Morgan, 3 Taufa'au Filise, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Scott Andrews, 18 Andries Pretorius, 19 Maama Molitika, 20 Gareth Cooper, 21 Sam Norton-Knight/Dai Flanagan, 22 Dafydd Hewitt.
Ulster: 15 Jamie Smith, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Niall O'Connor, 9 Paul Marshall, 1 Tom Court, 2 Rory Best, 3 Brendan Botha, 4 Dan Tuohy, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 David Pollock, 8 Chris Henry (capt).
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Declan Fitzpatrick, 18 Ed O'Donoghue, 19 Robbie Diack, 20 Michael Heaney, 21 Ian Humphreys, 22 Timoci Nagusa
