Gethin forced to sit out Cup derby

The Lions and Wales prop, a key figure in Wales’s 27-18 victory over England at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday, is ruled out with a shoulder injury suffered in the Six Nations match.

“Gethin has had a scan on the injured shoulder and, although he does not require surgery, he will be out for two to three weeks,” said Blues Head Coach Dai Young. “It is not the same injury that he has had in the past, and not as serious, and although he wanted to play on Saturday it is not possible.”

Gary Powell and Taufa’ao Filise will pack down as the props with Young admitting “we had one or two selection headaches”. Yet he has no worries over Wales’s second choice scrum half Mike Phillips going in against the region he will join in the summer in a major transfer.

“There has been a lot of media talk that this semi-final is a grudge match but to me it is more about a tremendous rivalry and an important game that both set-ups want to win,” said Young.

“Mike’s move to the Ospreys at the end of the season is high profile and has had a lot of attention but I know he will go out there and give it his best shot, as he has always done for Cardiff.

“Overall this is a game that could go either way between two evenly matched teams. The one that makes the least mistakes and takes their opportunities will come out on top and it would be lovely for us to achieve something this season.”

Cardiff Blues:
15. B Blair
14. T James
13. J Robinson
12. T Shanklin
11. C Czekaj
10. N Robinson
9. M Phillips

1.T Filise
2. R Thomas
3. G Powell
4. D Jones
5. R Sidoli
6. S Morgan
7. M Williams
8. X Rush (Captain)

Replacements:
S Roberts
G Williams
B Davies
M Lewis
W Evans
N Macleod
M Stcherbina