Anglo-Welsh Cup
Cardiff Blues v Leicester Tigers
Scrum.com
October 25, 2008
Wales utility back Jamie Roberts photographed during training for the Six Nations clash with Scotland, February 9 2008.
Jamie Roberts returns to the Cardiff midfield against Leicester © Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: Anglo-Welsh Cup

Cardiff Blues boss Dai Young has made six changes for this weekend's crunch Anglo-Welsh Cup match against Leicester Tigers at the Arms Park on Saturday.

In the backs, centre Jamie Roberts and wing Richard Mustoe return to the starting line up. In the back row, Robin Sowden Taylor comes in at open-side, with Martyn Williams moving down to the bench. There is also a new front row with Taufa'ao Filise, Gareth Williams and John Yapp all starting.

Seru Rabeni will make his first start of the season for Leicester Tigers. The Fijian, who returned from suspension to appear as a second-half replacement in last weekend's nine-try win over Benetton Treviso in the Heineken Cup, is named on the wing by head coach Heyneke Meyer.

Johne Murphy, who scored a hat-trick of tries in Italy last Saturday, moves to full-back, while Derick Hougaard returns at fly-half and Toby Flood moves to inside centre.

George Chuter and Boris Stankovich return to the front row and Richard Blaze is named in the second row as Ben Kay moves to the replacements' bench.

"We made a good start to the competition with the away win against Bath," said Meyer. "Now we have another tough game."

Cardiff Blues are on an impressive run of four straight wins in all competitions since their 20-28 defeat at Munster in the Celtic League on 20 September 2008. The Blues are unbeaten at home since a 10-11 reversal to Edinburgh at the Arms Park on 4 January. The Welshmen's only defeat in their last four Anglo-Welsh ties was 20-42 at Leicester on 3 November 2007. The Blues are unbeaten in their last six matches against English teams.

Leicester Tigers have lost just one game this season, 19-28 at home to Wasps in the Premiership on 26 September. The Tigers have won their last five away games since the 25-28 defeat at Newcastle in the Premiership on 4 May. Leicester last loss to Welsh opposition was in the final of last season's Anglo-Welsh Cup.

Leicester have won all three previous encounters between the two sides, but have never won at this particular ground in eight previous visits since it was opened in 1970.

Cardiff Blues: Ben Blair, Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Robinson, Jamie Roberts, Richard Mustoe, Nick Robinson, Jason Spice, Andy Powell, Robin Sowden Taylor, Maama Molitika, Paul Tito (c), Deiniol Jones, Taufa'ao Filise, Gareth Williams, John Yapp

Replacements: Gary Powell, T. Rhys Thomas, Scott Morgan, Martyn Williams, Richie Rees, Ceri Sweeney, Tom Shanklin

Leicester Tigers: Johne Murphy, Seru Rabeni, Danny Hipkiss, Toby Flood, Matt Smith, Derick Hougaard, Harry Ellis, Boris Stankovich, George Chuter, Julian White, Richard Blaze, Marco Wentzel, Martin Corry (c), Tom Croft, Jordan Crane

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Dan Cole, Ben Kay, Brett Deacon, Julien Dupuy, Ayoola Erinle, Tom Varndell

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