Cardiff Blues’ six match winning streak ended with a 17-26 defeat against Ulster at Ravenhill last weekend. This is the first time the Blues have played a Celtic League home game away from the Arms Park as Millennium Stadium hosts its second Celtic League match: it was the venue for the 2003 final between Neath and Munster.
The Blues’ defeat to Ulster last weekend means that although they still have a mathematical chance of winning the title, all other results must go their way for them to follow in the footsteps of the Ospreys last season.
“The title is beyond us now without doubt,” said Blues coach Dai Young. “But nobody could say we didn’t play in Ulster and we met the physical battle head on and were courageous. They were just a bit more clinical than us.”
Leinster are in top form in the Celtic League with five straight victories since losing 18-31 to the Dragons on 18 February. Three of Leinster’s five defeats in the competition this season have come in the Principality and they will be anxious to avoid a “whitewash” in Wales this season. Leinster have the upper hand in matches between the two with four wins to Cardiff’s two and one match drawn.
Blues: Nick Macleod; Chris Czekaj, Jamie Robinson, Marc Stcherbina, Craig Morgan; Nick Robinson, Mike Phillips; John Yapp, Rhys Thomas, Gethin Jenkins, Deiniol Jones, Rob Sidoli, Maama Molitika, Robin Sowden-Taylor,Xavier Rush (capt) Replacements: Scott Roberts, Duane Goodfield, Kort Schubert, Martyn Williams, Ryan Powell, Tristan Davies, Matthew Nuthall
Leinster Squad: W Green, R Corrigan, R McCormack, E Byrne, B Jackman, B Blaney, M O’Kelly, A Byrnes, D Toner, N Ronan, K Gleeson, J Heaslip, E Miller, G Easterby, B O’Riordan, F Contemponi, J Sexton, G Dempsey, B O’Driscoll, K Lewis, S Horgan, D Hickie, G D’Arcy, R Kearney, J Hepworth Referee: Rob Dickson (SRU)
