Having lost 25-18 in Cardiff last season, Munster will be eager to reverse that result on the Arms Park’s 3G pitch as the province go in search of their first away victory since April.
GUINNESS PRO14: Friday, September 21
CARDIFF BLUES (6th, Con A) v MUNSTER (2nd, Con A), Cardiff Arms Park, 7.35pm (live eir Sport 1&2/TG4/Premier Sports)
Team News: There are six changes to the Munster team that beat the Ospreys last weekend, as Ireland international CJ Stander makes his first appearance of the season in a strong back row that also includes captain Peter O’Mahony and Chris Cloete, the man-of-the-match last time out.
JJ Hanrahan comes into the starting back-line at full-back and there is an all-changed centre partnership with Jaco Taute, who was sprung from the bench against Glasgow Warriors and the Ospreys, making his first start since returning from a long-term knee injury, alongside Rory Scannell.
Hooker Mike Sherry and second row Jean Kleyn are the only two alterations to the pack. Hanrahan joins Andrew Conway and Darren Sweetnam in the back-three as Joey Carbery, who tallied up 15 points in round 3, and Duncan Williams continue their half-back partnership.
James Cronin and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Sherry, and Kleyn joins Tadhg Beirne in the engine room. O’Mahony, Cloete and Stander make up the back row, but two notable absentees from the matchday squad are Keith Earls and Rhys Marshall who reported knocks during the week.
Three Greencore Munster Rugby Academy players are among the replacements. Hooker Diarmuid Barron, scrum half Jack Stafford and winger Shane Daly are all included with Barron, the 20-year-old Tipperary native, in line to make his senior debut.
Meanwhile, Ellis Jenkins will make his 100th appearance when he leads Cardiff Blues out against Munster. The Wales flanker sat out last week’s last-gasp loss to Zebre in Parma but is one of seven changes for the Arms Park encounter.
Three of those changes come in the backs with Jarrod Evans starting at out-half and Gareth Anscombe switching to full-back. Willis Halaholo returns to partner Rey Lee-Lo in the centre and Blaine Scully makes his comeback from ankle surgery.
In the pack, Jenkins forms a familiar back row combination with Nick Williams also returning alongside Josh Navidi. Josh Turnbull reverts to the second row, while Rhys Gill and Dmitri Arhip are back to pack down either side of hooker Kristian Dacey. Macauley Cook, listed as a replacement, is in line to make his 150th Cardiff Blues appearance.
CARDIFF BLUES: Gareth Anscombe; Blaine Scully, Willis Halaholo, Rey Lee-Lo, Jason Harries; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Rhys Gill, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, George Earle, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins (capt), Nick Williams.
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Rhys Carre, Scott Andrews, Macauley Cook, Olly Robinson, Lloyd Williams, Garyn Smith, Matthew Morgan.
MUNSTER: JJ Hanrahan; Andrew Conway, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam; Joey Carbery, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Darren O’Shea, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack Stafford, Bill Johnston, Shane Daly.
Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Rhys Thomas, Gareth John (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Ian Davies (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Cardiff Blues to win: 7/5; Draw: 14/1; Munster to win: 4/7
Pre-Match Quotes: Mike Sherry (Munster) – “Cardiff had a great end to last season with a trophy (winning the European Challenge Cup against Gloucester in Bilbao). They’ve got a bit of a fortress going in the Arms Park on Friday nights.
“The first three games this season they’ve lost by two points, two points and one point so they’ll definitely be hurting and probably saying to themselves what better way to kick-start their season than by taking a big scalp at home in front of a big crowd. They’re definitely going to be gunning for it.
“I’m trying to grab every chance I get with both hands, so whatever way it goes this week I’ll try to do it again. I’d love to play those games (coming up), play in the Champions Cup. I haven’t played a European game in a long time, so I’m obviously gung-ho to do that.”
John Mulvihill (Cardiff Blues) – “It is an awesome achievement for both Ellis (Jenkins) and ‘Macca’ (Macauley Cook) personally and we want to help them celebrate with a performance that is worthy of a win. They are two local boys, who have progressed right through our player pathway to become established first team members and in Ellis’ case club captain.
“It’s also good to have Blaine Scully back. He provides a real aerial threat and is another quality leader, who has a presence on the field. It has been a difficult start to the season (with three defeats) but we are determined to put in a performance that our supporters can be proud of on Friday.
“Munster are a quality side and it will be a big challenge but we are back at Cardiff Arms Park and want to kick off our season. We certainly expect a big reaction and hopefully you will see that in our physicality and intensity through the entire 80 minutes.”
Top Scorers – 2018/19 GUINNESS PRO14: Cardiff Blues – Points: Gareth Anscombe 23; Tries: Rey Lee-Lo, Jason Harries 2 each; Munster – Points: Joey Carbery 17; Tries: Rhys Marshall 3
2018/19 TEAM FORM: Cardiff Blues – Played 3, Lost 3, 4 Points; L 33-32 v Leinster (home), L 27-25 v Benetton Rugby (away), L 26-24 v Zebre (away); Munster – Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, 10 Points; W 38-0 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), L 25-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 49-13 v Ospreys (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, October 17, 2015 – Munster 35 Cardiff Blues 27, Irish Independent Park
Friday, March 18, 2016 – Cardiff Blues 37 Munster 28, Cardiff Arms Park
Friday, September 9, 2016 – Munster 23 Cardiff Blues 24, Irish Independent Park
Saturday, March 4, 2017 – Cardiff Blues 13 Munster 23, Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday, September 30, 2017 – Munster 39 Cardiff Blues 16, Thomond Park
Saturday, February 17, 2018 – Cardiff Blues 25 Munster 18, Cardiff Arms Park
MATCH FACTS:
– Cardiff Blues have slipped to four successive GUINNESS PRO14 defeats since beating the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth last April
– The Blues’ single point defeat at home to Leinster in round 1 ended a run of five successive victories in all competitions at the Arms Park
– Munster’s last five games in the Championship have all been won by the home side on the day, the Munstermen’s most recent way win being on a trip to Bloemfontein to face the Toyota Cheetahs in April
– Munster’s only defeat in their last seven fixtures against Welsh regions was against the Blues at the Arms Park in round 15 last year
– Each side won its respective home game when they clashed last season, while Munster have been victorious on four of their last six visits to the Arms Park
This website uses cookies.
Read More