The Blues team shows only one change from the side that beat Ulster last week. With Tom Shanklin resting a twisted knee, Tristan Davies steps into the number 12 position. Changes on the replacements’ bench see the inclusion of Nick Walne and Deiniol Jones.
Blues: Nick Macleod; Chris Czekaj, Rhys Williams, Tristan Davies, 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, Deiniol Jones, Maama Molitika, Nathan Thomas, Dean Dewdney, Nick Walne
Borders: TBA
Friday 15 April
ULSTER v SCARLETS
At Ravenhill, 7.05pm live on Setanta Ireland & BBC Wales
Referee: Andrew Ireland (SRU)
Mark McCall has named an unchanged Ulster side, the only switch in the squad comes with Rory Best drafted as hooker cover ahead of Nigel Brady.
Scarlets Director of Rugby Gareth Jenkins said: “Training has gone well this week, but as we’ve learnt in recent weeks our training must be transferred into our game.”
Ulster: 15 Bryn Cunningham; 14 Tommy Bowe; 13 Kevin Maggs; 12 Paul Steinmetz; 11 Scott Young; 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 Rory Best; 17 Ronan Mccormack; 18 Rowan Frost; 19 Campbell Feather; 20 Neil Doak; 21 Adam Larkin; 22 Andrew Maxwell
Scarlets: 15. Barry Davies; 14. Garan Evans; 13. Tal Selley; 12. Steve Thomas; 11. Lee Byrne; 10. Gareth Bowen; 9. Mike Phillips; 1. Phil John; 2. Matthew Rees; 3. John Davies; 4. Vernon Cooper; 5. Adam Jones; 6. Simon Easterby ( C ); 7. Andy Powell; 8. Jonathan Mills
Replacements: 16. Ricky Davies; 17. Aled Gravelle; 18. Chris Wyatt; 19. Ian Boobyer; 20. Dwayne Peel; 21. Aled Thomas; 22. Ifan Evans
Saturday 16 April
DRAGONS v CONNACHT
At Rodney Parade, 5.30pm live on S4C
Referee: Alan Williamson (SRU)
The Dragons have made two changes to the team that lost last weekend. Rod Snow replaces Adam Black in the front row and Chris Anthony comes in for Rhys Thomas. Michael Owen has recovered from a knee injury to start the match. Gareth Cooper is ruled out with an ankle injury.
Connacht have named a 24 man squad for Saturday’s game. John Fogarty (back) and Brendan O’Connor (achilles) are carrying knocks and await fitness tests. Meanwhile it has been confirmed that John Muldoon will miss the remainder of the season with a thumb injury sustained against Sale Sharks.
Dragons: Kevin Morgan, Gareth Wyatt, Percy Montgomery, Jonathan Bryant, Ben Breeze, Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Baber, Rod Snow, Steve Jones, Chris Anthony, Ian Gough, Luke Charteris, Jamie Ringer, Jason Forster (c), Michael Owen
Replacements: TBA
Connacht (Squad) Forwards: Peter Bracken, Adrian Clarke, Michael Carroll, Andrew Farley (Captain), John Fogarty, Ray Hogan, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Knoop, Matt Lacey, Paul Neville, Brendan O’Connor, John O’Sullivan, Christian Short, Michael Swift
Backs: James Downey, Eric Elwood, Chris Keane, Mark McHugh, Conor McPhillips, Matt Mostyn, Dave Slemen, Michael Walls, Paul Warwick, Darren Yapp
