After an encouraging start for Cardiff Blues last weekend against Zebre, the first of their four successive matches on Irish soil will prove to be a far tougher proposition. With only one win in the last 17 games against this opposition, and only one win in Dublin back in 2004, there will be nothing easy about this encounter.
Cardiff Blues Coach Danny Wilson this week spoke of his desire for a good performance, and positive results to boost his team for the rest of the season.
Recognition of the size of the task was evident though. “We go this weekend full of confidence after a good home win, scoring 11 tries, but we also know that going to the RDS is a big challenge and a very different one, no disrespect, to the home game against Zebre.”
He continued this theme today when announcing his team. “Whichever way you look at it we go there as underdogs, even though we come from a good win and they come from a loss.”
The team contains a couple of changes. Kristian Dacey, fresh from the Wales training camp, starts at hooker. The other two changes are injury enforced. Tight head, Craig Mitchell replaces Taufa’ao Filise, and Owen
Jenkins replaces Tom James.
The battle up front will be vital for Cardiff Blues. Last week Hoeata was one of the standout performers, as was hat-trick hero Josh Turnbull, and both need to be on top of their games again.
It will be a huge test of their front-row, and pack as a whole, as securing and maintaining possession from the Leinster 8 is no mean feat. Behind the scrum, centre Ben T’eo can be a disruptive force, and along with Noel Reid
will be a handful for Tom Isaacs and Gavin Evans.
All told, I would think most Cardiff Blues fans would be more than happy with a losing bonus point, but can see their team on the end of a heavy defeat. It’s the first real test of the season, were to get that bonus
point this side will need to be playing at the top of their game.
Danny Wilson seems to be a realistic coach. “We are missing a few players with bumps and knocks, but we are fairly settled and we go into the game with a little bit of momentum from the win and confidence.”
This Cardiff Blues team will need all of that momentum and confidence and more besides, to end up winners here, but it won’t be a shock for me if this game is much closer than expected.
TEAMS
Leinster: Isa Nacewa (capt); Garry Ringrose, Ben Te’o, Noel Reid, Fergus McFadden; Cathal Marsh, Luke McGrath; Michael Bent, Aaron Dundon, Jamie Hagan; Ross Molony, Mike McCarthy; Dominic Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Peter Dooley, Royce Burke-Flynn, Tadhg Feirne, Daniel Leavy, Isaac Boss, Ross Byrne, C Kelleher.
Cardiff Blues: Dan Fish; Aled Summerhill, Tom Isaacs, Gavin Evans, Owen Jenkins; Rhys Patchell, Tavis Knoyle; Sam Hobbs, Kristian Dacey, Craig Mitchell; Jarrad Hoeata, James Down; Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi (capt), Manoa Vosawai
Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Thomas Davies, Scott Andrews, Lou Reed, Ellis Jenkins, Lewis Jones, Gareth Davies, Garyn Smith
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Assistant Referees: Eddie Hogan-O’Connell, Jonathan Peak (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (IRFU)
TMO: Seamus Flannery (IRFU)
“Main Photo”
