Jones tipped to shine in Blues starting berth

Mar 1 2008 by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo

CARDIFF Blues boss Dai Young is backing his young outside-half Rhys Jones to shine against Munster in the Magners League clash at the Arms Park tonight (5.30pm).

Jones will make his first start for the region against the former Heineken Cup champions following his loan move from Sale last December.

The 20-year-old was drafted in by the Blues region following injuries to Nicky Robinson and Dai Flanagan and has been forced to bide his time by deputising for Nick Macleod.

Robinson and Flanagan are expected to be fit by the end of the month, but for now Jones has his chance to press his claims for a permanent position as he partners Richie Rees in a new-look half-back pairing.

“He has got a lot of talent and we are all looking to see it this weekend,” said Young.

“He came at a time where we were down to our bare bones and he took a while to become used to our patterns.

“It has always been our intention to introduce him from the start at one point “But if you look at our last couple of games it has not quite happened because of the stage of the match and circumstances.

“Now he has his chance.”

As well as giving some rare game time to his half-backs, Young has handed starts to hooker Rhys Thomas and Gary Powell in the front-row and wing Tal Selley, while Wales trio Deiniol Jones, Jamie Roberts and Robin Sowden-Taylor are also included in the starting line-up after being released by Warren Gatland.

The Blues league defeat by leaders Leinster a fortnight ago in Dublin has left them struggling in their bid for Magners League honours.

But Young has vowed not to throw in the towel for the Celtic competition.

“We have put ourselves under a bit of pressure,” said Young.

“We were hugely disappointed by the Leinster game because it is a game we should have won.

“With seven games left we are certainly behind the eight-ball at the minute and we have put ourselves under some pressure.

“There are still a lot of points to do and I think some teams are going to have to do us a favour.

“It is important we keep that challenge going because the last thing we want to do is to slip down the table.

“We want to be challenging at the end of the season.”

Munster will be led by Ireland lock Paul O’Connell who is looking to prove his fitness ahead of the Triple Crown showdown with Wales at Croke Park next Saturday.

The Irish province also include internationals Anthony Foley, Peter Stringer and Alan Quinlan in their line-up.

Cardiff Blues: B Blair; T Selley, J Robinson, G Thomas, J Roberts; R Jones, R Rees; J Yapp, R Thomas, G Powell, D Jones, PTito, M Molitika, X Rush (capt), R Sowden-Taylor.

Reps: T Filise, G Williams, S Morgan, B White, J Spice, N Macleod, D Hewitt.

Munster: S Payne; B Carney, K Lewis, L Mafi, D Howlett; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, T Buckley, D Ryan, P O’Connell (captain), A Quinlan, N Ronan, A Foley

Reps: D Fogarty, E McGovern, M Melbourne, John O’Sullivan, J Coughlan, T O’Leary, J Manning.

gareth.griffiths@mediawales.co.uk