Heineken Cup
Cardiff Blues v Gloucester
Scrum.com
October 19, 2008
Dai Young, the Coach of Caridff Blues pictured during the EDF Energy Cup match between Leicester Tigers and Cardiff Blues at Welford Road on November 3, 2007 in Leicester, England.
Cardiff boss Dai Young has gone for consistency in his selection for the key clash with Gloucester © Getty Images
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Following the record 56-20 win over Calvisano last weekend Dai Young has selected an unchanged twenty-two for Cardiff Blues' Heineken Cup match against Gloucester at the Millennium Stadium this Sunday.

The Blues have sold over 18,000 tickets so far for the match with the Welsh record for a Heineken Cup pool match set at 26,645 when the Cardiff Blues took on the Leicester Tigers two seasons ago

Speaking ahead of the game Dai Yong said, "Selection is difficult because of the improved quality in our last performance, but it's a nice problem to have. With displays like that against Calvisano it's difficult to take the shirt from the players in possession. The boys that are consistent in their performances are the ones that will keep their jerseys. We have communicated this to the players

"This principle has certainly worked in the Welsh set up and something we are trying to bring in with our improving squad. People can't afford to have a poor game or they are out of the team for a few weeks."

"The level of competition in the Heineken Cup never changes year on year, you have to win your home games to have a chance of progressing. We know how important the match is to us and to the supporters. Hopefully it will be a great occasion with a big attendance and our fans getting right behind us."

Gloucester travel to the Milennium Stadium in search of their second successive Heineken Cup and name an unchanged side for the trip.

Head coach Dean Ryan has kept faith with the entire 22 that got off to a victorious start with a 22-10 win over Biarritz last Saturday. There is no place for Nick Wood, who has not recovered from a groin strain, Matthew Watkins or Andy Titterrell as Ryan names an unchanged side for the first time this season.

Olivier Azam, the Heineken Cup man of the match last weekend, will be partnered in the front row by props Alasdair Dickinson and Carlos Nieto. Marco Bortolami and Alex Brown share the second row positions for the fifth successive match, while the back row is made up of Peter Buxton, Alasdair Strokosch and Luke Narraway.

"I think we know and understand we can play better than we did last weekend but at the same time our approach was first class," Ryan said. "We know our game will get better from the foundation we produced against Biarritz but it was vital we had that against top quality opposition and we will need that again on Sunday.

It is about getting the balance right. Sometimes, in big games, perhaps we have been guilty of over-playing at times but are striving to get it right. We have exposed ourselves to too much risk - it's about playing but in the right areas.

"We did a lot of things right at the weekend and hopefully that can make us play more - we want to build on that performance this weekend."

In the three-quarters, Ryan is able to name scrum-half Gareth Cooper and stand-off Ryan Lamb as his half-backs. Mike Tindall will skipper the side from the number 13 position, while Olly Barkley will wear 12 for the second successive game and fourth time in total this season. The back three of Olly Morgan, Iain Balshaw and James Simpson-Daniel is also intact. Simpson-Daniel scored Gloucester's only try last Saturday and now has 18 in the Heineken Cup.

Cardiff Blues: Ben Blair, Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Robinson, Tom Shanklin, Gareth Thomas, Nicky Robinson, Jason Spice, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Maama Molitka, Paul Tito (c), Deiniol Jones, Gary Powell, T Rhys Thomas, Gethin Jenkins

Replacements: Taufa'ao Filise, Gareth Williams, Scott Morgan, Robin Sowden Taylor, Richie Rees, Ceri Sweeney, Jamie Roberts

Gloucester: Olly Morgan; Iain Balshaw, Mike Tindall (capt), Olly Barkley, James Simpson-Daniel; Ryan Lamb, Gareth Cooper; Alasdair Dickinson, Olivier Azam, Carlos Nieto, Marco Bortolami, Alex Brown, Peter Buxton, Alasdair Strokosch, Luke Narraway.

Replacements: Scott Lawson, Jack Forster, Adam Eustace, Andy Hazell, Rory Lawson, Willie Walker, Lesley Vainikolo.

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