Blues v Munster: Teams
Cardiff Blues will be buoyed by the return of their international contingent for the clash with the Magners League leaders Munster.
By Tony Curtis - Twitter: @SkySportsTC
Last Updated: 24/03/11 1:12pm
Cardiff Blues will be buoyed by the return of their international contingent for the clash with the Magners League leaders Munster.
Munster have lost their last five visit to Wales, but they currently have a nine-point lead at the top of the table.
And the Blues will welcome John Yapp, Leigh Halfpenny, Bradley Davies, Jamie Roberts and Dan Park back for the encounter, while Lloyd Williams makes his first appearance since November.
"Munster will always focus the minds of our squad and with or without their international players Munster are always formidable," said Blues boss David Young.
"They are very physical, they do the basics really well and I think they have a squad that is as strong as anyone's in the league.
"That's why they are always at the top. There is competition for places in their team and that keeps everyone on their toes.
"They have a great tradition and fight for everything that goes with the shirt."
Impressed
Munster boss Tony McGahan is made a big call by preferring Conor Murray at scrum-half.
Murray gets the nod ahead of Ireland international Peter Stringer, with McGahan saying: "Conor has been a consistent member of the senior squad in training over the past 12 months because of international call ups and injuries to our half-back position.
"In this time he has gathered valuable training experiences from the more senior players in the squad which allowed him to play off the bench in last Six Nations window and start against the Dragons in our last Magners League game this year.
"He impressed the coaching staff and fellow players with a enthusiastic and mature display in his first professional start and deserves to be in the mix competing with Peter and Duncan for game time with Tomas's unfortunate bout of injuries."
Munster do welcome back a number of their Ireland internationals - including Ronan O'Gara, Keith Earls, Denis Leamy and Paul O'Connell.
Felix Jones, Wian du Preez, Damien Varley, Tony Buckley and Niall Ronan also return for Munster.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Chris Czekaj, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 Leigh Halfpenny, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Andries Pretorius, 5 Paul Tito (c), 4 Michael Paterson, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Rhys Williams, 1 John Yapp.
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey 17 Nathan Trevett 18 Sam Hobbs 19 Bradley Davies 20 Mamma Molitika 21 Tom Slater 22 Dan Parks 23 Jamie Roberts
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Johne Murphy, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Connor Murray, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 J Couglan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll,4 Paul O'Connell (c), 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements:16 Mike Sherry, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donnacha Ryan, 20 P O'Mahony, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Sam Tuitupou, 23 Danny Cusack.
