Wales U21 wing Chris Czekaj will make his Blues’ debut. Rhys Williams also returns after shaking off a leg injury. He will play at outside centre alongside Tom Shanklin with Nick Macleod continuing at full-back. Gethin Jenkins passed a fitness test Thursday morning and will play at prop.
Mark McCall has named an unchanged back-line from the team that defeated The Borders last week while up front Rod Moore is drafted in to the starting XV with Simon Best switching to loose-head and Ronan McCormack dropping to the bench. Gavin Pfister replaces Neil Best who will be out of rugby for 4-6 weeks having sustained a broken jaw against The Borders. David Humphreys was a late withdrawal due to a slight hamstring strain. Gary Longwell, will win his 150th cap on Friday night.
Blues Team: Nick Macleod; Chris Czekaj, Rhys Williams, Tom Shanklin, Craig Morgan; Nick Robinson, Ryan Powell; John Yapp, Gareth Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Craig Quinnell, Robert Sidoli, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Kort Schubert, Martyn Williams (captain)
Replacements: Ben Evans, Rhys Thomas, Nathan Budgett, Nathan Thomas, Maama Molitika, Dean Dewdney, Tristan Davies/Jonny Vaughton
Ulster Team: 15. Bryn Cunningham; 14. Tommy Bowe; 13. Kevin Maggs; 12. Paul Steinmetz; 11. Tyrone Howe; 10. Paddy Wallace; 9. Kieran Campbell; 1. Simon Best; 2. Paul Shields; 3. Rod Moore; 4. Gary Longwell; 5. Matt McCullough; 6. Andy Ward (Captain); 7. Gavin Pfister; 8. Roger Wilson
Replacements: 16. Nigel Brady; 17. Ronan McCormack; 18. Rowan Frost; 19. Campbell Feather; 20. Neil Doak; 21. Adam Larkin; 22. AN Other
Saturday 9 April – SCARLETS v GLASGOW RUGBY
At Stradey Park, 5.30pm live on S4C
Referee: Simon McDowell (IRFU)
The Scarlets still have an outside chance of a home draw for the Celtic Cup, something they will dearly be wishing for as they have won their last five home matches. Glasgow’s 19-14 win against Cardiff Blues last time out ended a seven-match winless run in all competitions. They are the only Scottish team to have won at Stradey Park when they did so 16-10 in the Welsh-Scottish League in January 2001. The Scarlets have grown stronger and stronger as the season has gone on, and should find this match easy enough.
Scarlets Team: 15. Barry Davies; 14. Aisea Havili; 13. Matthew J Watkins; 12. Salesi Finau; 11. Tal Selley; 10. Gareth Bowen; 9. Dwayne Peel; 1. Phil John; 2. Matthew Rees; 3. John Davies; 4. Vernon Cooper; 5. Chris Wyatt; 6. Simon Easterby (C); 7. Gavin Thomas; 8. Andy Powell;
Replacements:
16. David Maddocks; 17. Robin McBryde; 18. Adam Jones; 19. Gavin Quinnell; 20. Mike Phillips; 21 Steve Thomas; 22. Garan Evans
Saturday 9 April – EDINBURGH v GWENT DRAGONS
At Murrayfield, 7.30pm live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Donal Courtney (IRFU)
The Dragons have made three changes to the team that lost to Munster last time out with Gareth Wyatt having recovered from a groin injury taking his place on the right wing. In the centre Jon Bryant replaces Sione Tuipulotu and Gareth Baber has recovered from a head injury to take over from Wales U21 scrum half James Ireland. Gareth Cooper has not recovered from an ankle injury so Sione Tuipulotu provides scrum half cover.
Edinburgh have won five of their last six matches at Murrayfield, a trend that must continue if any possibility of a home tie is to exist. The Dragons have lost back to back matches against the top two in the Celtic League but have won on their last four visits to Scotland. Edinburgh have won just one of the five previous games they have played against the Dragons – 17-16 in the Celtic League at Rodney Parade earlier this season.
Edinburgh TBA
Dragons Team: Kevin Morgan, Gareth Wyatt, Percy Montgomery, Jonathan Bryant, Ben Breeze, Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Baber, Adam Black, Steve Jones, Rhys Thomas, Ian Gough, Luke Charteris, Jamie Ringer, Jason Forster (C), Michael Owen
Replacements: James Richards, Rod Snow, Chris Anthony, Peter Sidoli, Rhys Oakley, Sione Tuipulotu, Craig Warlow
Sunday 10 April – CONNACHT v OSPREYS
At the Sportsground, 4.45pm live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Ian Heard (SRU)
Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named a squad of 23 for Sunday¹s clash with The Ospreys. Centre, Darren Yapp (hamstring) remains the main injury concern ahead of the game but James Downey has been confirmed fit and available for selection having missed over two months with a broken collarbone.
Connacht Squad:
Forwards: Adrian Clarke, Ray Hogan, Stephen Knoop, John Fogarty, Bernard Jackman, Christian Short, Mick Carroll, Andrew Farley, Matt Lacey, Brendan O’Connor, John O’Sullivan, Michael Swift. Backs: Matt Mostyn, Conor McPhillips, Ted Robinson, David Slemen, James Downey, Mark McHugh, Darren Yapp, Paul Warwick, Eric Elwood, Chris Keane, Mike Walls.
