Blues ring the changes for Heineken Cup rugby

Ex-All Blacks No 8 Rush is out with a groin injury, while Wales wing Williams will also miss Saturday’s trip to Bourgoin after the Cardiff flier tore the muscle off his thigh bone in last weekend’s defeat at Ulster.

British Lions’ flanker Martyn Williams captains the side which shows eight changes from the side who lost in Belfast with ex-All Blacks full-back Ben Blair and Wales internationals Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins, Mike Phillips and Robert Sidoli back in.

Bourgoin are targeting Cardiff as the easier team in pool 4 – which also boasts defending champions Munster and Euro giants Leicester Tigers – but Young is hoping his side will pull off a surprise win in France.

He said: “Bourgoin has said we are a weakness in the group.

“Their coach has said that we will probably be the easiest game, but after seeing our recent results they have been surprised, they won’t underestimate us.

“They think our main strength is our forwards and will take us on in the pack as they don’t rate our backs, which is probably a double bluff.

“We know it is going to be a hostile environment, but we know what to expect we have to stand up to the French physically, they always bring a tough edge to their game.

“We have to make sure we are more than a match for them.”

Cardiff Blues: B Blair, C Czekaj, T Shanklin, M Stcherbina, M Luvietasau, N Robinson, M Phillips, G Jenkins, R Thomas, G Powell, D Jones, R Sidoli, M Williams, S Morgan, M Lewis
Replacements: T Filise, G Williams, B Davies, B White, E Fairhurst, N Macleod, J Robinson