Cardiff Blues v Ulster:ULSTER'S GOOD start to the Magners League has dissipated somewhat in recent times, with their most recent outing, a home defeat to Munster, arguably the biggest disappointment.
The flat nature of the performance, coupled with a huge error rate, will have been dispiriting for coach, Brian McLaughlin who'll be demanding a positive reaction.
The Irish province has lost the last seven matches against today's hosts so there's little succour in the history books. Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble's involvement in the Ireland camp means they are among the replacements as McLaughlin keeps faith with a young backline.
Tom Court, Rory Best, Stephen Ferris and Ruan Pienaar are on international duty, while Darren Cave continues to be hampered by a hamstring issue. There is plenty of experience up front, though, in a team that will be led by Johann Muller, with promising young loosehead prop Paddy McAllister bringing down the average age of the Ulster eight.
The Blues have won four of their last five matches and despite missing several internationals welcome back players like Chris Czekaj, Casey Laulala, Ceri Sweeney, Taufa'ao Filise and hooker T Rhys Thomas. Cardiff coach Dai Young is nevertheless expecting a tough encounter.
"Ulster have spent a lot of money and obviously are a team that want to get back to the top where they were a couple of seasons ago," says Young. "I don't think they are burdened with a lot of international withdrawals, so we know we are up against a very strong team and they will probably feel it's a good time to come to Cardiff with so many of our internationals away. Ulster are always strong up front and the players they have brought in have only added to that.
"They also have plenty of flair behind and strike me as a very determined outfit. I've been very impressed with the way they play and it will take a good team to beat them. They've had some good performances and one or two narrow losses as well, but they've always been in every game they've played."
Young's gracious appraisal of the visitors shouldn't distract from the expectation that his side will be good enough to prevail.
Cardiff Blues v Ulster Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Kick-Off: 3.45, Sunday
CARDIFF: C Czekaj; R Mustoe, C Laulala, D Hewitt, T James; C Sweeney, T Slater; T Filise, T Rhys Thomas, S Andrews; J Down, P Tito (capt); M Paterson, M Molitika, X Rush. Replacements: G Williams, T Davies, S Hobbs, B Griffiths, B White, D Fish, G Davies, G Evans.
ULSTER: A D'Arcy; C Gilroy, N Spence, I Whitten, S Danielli; I Humphreys, P Marshall; P McAllister, N Brady, BJ Botha; J Muller (capt), Dan Tuohy; P Wannenburg, C Henry, R Diack. Replacements: A Kyriacou, B Young, J Cronin, T Barker, W Faloon, I Porter, P Wallace, A Trimble.
Referee: George Clancy(Ireland)
