“The squad has been decimated by injury after playing four games in seventeen days during the Christmas period and we are sweating on a number of players to be fit for the Perprignan game,” said David Young, Blues director of coaching. “We picked up a number of injuries in the match against Scarlets with Nicky Robinson injuring his shoulder as did Andy Powell. Rob Sidoli and Roger Warren suffered rib damage, Rhys Williams picked up a groin injury and Jamie Robinson broke his nose.
“Martyn Williams is also suffering from fluid on the knee, Gethin Jenkins has a multitude of bumps and bruises and Mike Phillips is still recovering from ankle ligament damage,” added Young.
Cardiff Blues’ four match winning run in all competitions was snapped by the Scarlets at Stradey Park on 2 January, but the capital side have won on their only previous visit to Scotland this season: 28-23 against Glasgow on 24 September.
Border Reivers’ 24-13 win over Glasgow at Hogmanay means that they have already gained more wins this season in the Celtic League (four) than they did in the entire 2004/05 campaign. The Reivers have gained back to back victories at Netherdale over Brive and Glasgow but have not won three in a row at home in all competitions since early 2004. All four previous matches between the two have been won by the home side on the day.
CARDIFF BLUES: 15 Craig Morgan 14 Chris Czekaj 13 Marc Stcherbina 12 Tristan Davies 11 Jonah Lomu 10 Nick Macleod 9 Ryan Powell 8 Kort Schubert 7 Robin Sowden-Taylor (C) 6 Maama Molitika 5 James Goode 4 Deiniol Jones 3 Ben Evans 2 Duane Goodfield 1 John Yapp REPS: 16 Rhys Thomas 17 Martin Jones 18 Craig Qunnell 19 Mark Lewis 20 Wayne Evans 21 Lee Thomas 22 Roger Warren / Dean Dewdney
BORDER REIVERS: TBC
