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Blues ready for powerful Ospreys

Blues ready for powerful Ospreys

Phil Davies says his Cardiff Blues side will face the best pack in the RaboDirect PRO12 when they take on the Ospreys at Judgement Day tomorrow.

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The Blues will be looking to get back to winning ways after last weekend’s defeat away to Treviso but face a tough ask against an Ospreys side who ran in seven tries against the Dragons last Friday.
 

Welsh forwards Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Ian Evans and Justin Tipuric were all in action that night and start again tomorrow.

And Davies knows his Blues side face a huge challenge to compete with the grunt the Ospreys pose upfront.

“Facing the Ospreys is a challenge and we are coming up against arguably the best pack in the competition,” he said.

“It’s not going to be easy but it’s a challenge we are looking forward to and we will be making it a challenge for the Ospreys as well.

“We have to work well as a collective unit. There will be some outstanding players on display and there will be some intriguing battles all over the pitch.

“A lot of players know each other well but at the end of the day it’s about Cardiff Blues against the Ospreys.”

The most talked about of these individual battles is between Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric in the respective back rows. The two teamed up for Wales at the Millennium Stadium as Wales retained their Six Nations title but go head-to-head against each other at the same venue tomorrow.

Fellow Welsh international Leigh Halfpenny also starts for the Blues with Rhys Patchell and Lloyd Williams combining at half back. Jamie Roberts and Alex Cuthbert are both out injured with Gavin Evans skippering the side from centre.

The Blues are undefeated in their last three games at the home of Welsh rugby and according to Davies, they will be looking to dent the Ospreys’ play-off hopes

He added: “We’ve got plenty to play for and playing at the Millennium Stadium just gives it that extra edge.

“Coming off the back of Wales winning the Six Nations championship is great and hopefully it’s an occasion that can showcase the regional game in Wales.”

With the Ospreys boasting eight Welsh internationals in their starting XV, they won’t lack for big game experience. Alun Wyn Jones skippers Steve Tandy’s side who currently sit in fourth place in the PRO12 table.

“We’ve only got four games left in the regular season and it’s vital we are on the top of our game,” said Tandy.

“It’s a big occasion for regional rugby in Wales on Saturday and it’s going to be great to play at the Millennium Stadium with a big Ospreys crowd behind us.

“Overall we can be pleased with last week against the Dragons but despite the margin of the win, we know there is plenty of room for improvement this weekend.”

Tickets for Judgement Day are still available right up until kick-off. Visit the Ticket Office at Cardiff Arms Park tomorrow to get yours.

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