19 Blues in Action v Azzuri This Weekned

U21's Dai Flannagan
By Andrew Collins
March 9 2006

Blues players from all age groups are in action this weekend, Wales U19’s, U21’s and main squad all host players from around the region, with the Under 19s still in the hunt for a Grand Slam.

Wales Under 19’s
The hugely successful Under 19’s squad already have a ‘Triple Crown’ in the bag, but they have their sights firmly set on doing what the main squad did last year, and claiming a huge Grand Slam as well as taking the 6 Nations title.

 

2 Blues make the starting line up against Italy, with a further 4 on the bench.

 

Team:
Martyn Thomas (Scarlets), Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), Gareth Maule (Dragons), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jimmy Norris (Dragons), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Darren Allinson (Scarlets), Hugh Gustafson (Scarlets, captain), Marc Jones (Exiles), Jamie Corsi (Dragons), Adam Brown (Dragons), James Down (Blues), Sam Kiley (Ospreys), Daniel Franks (Blues), Lewis Evans (Dragons)

 
Keiron Jenkins (Blues), Nicholas Eaves (Blues), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Ashley Smith (Dragons), Robert Lewis (Dragons), James Lewis (Dragons), Matthew Larsen (Blues), Marc Breeze (Ospreys)

 

Wales Under 21’s

Current Grand Slam champions Wales have felt the heat of defending their title this year. The side are still in with a shout at the title, but Grand Slam or Triple Crown honours are already out of reach following the loss to England in the first test.

 

The Blues boys make up 7 of the first team, with regular starter Jamie Roberts on the bench for the visit of the Italians. Outside half Dai Flannagan (right) takes impressive Osprey’s number 10 James Hook’s place, as he joins Rhys Williams and Robin Sowden-Taylor for the Olympics.

 

Team:
Aled Thomas (Newport/Dragons Academy), Aled Brew (Neath/Ospreys Academy), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom Riley (Pontypridd/Blues Academy), Chris Czekaj (Cardiff Blues), David Flannigan (Pontypridd/Blues Academy), Martin Roberts (Neath/Ospreys Academy), Rhys Gill (Cardiff/Blues Academy), Duane Goodfield (Pontypridd/Blues Academy), Phil Osborne (Newport), Will Jones (Newport / Dragons Academy), Dominic Day (Carmarthen Quins/Scarlets Academy), Adam Powell (Pontypridd/Blues Academy), Rhys Shellard (Pontypridd/Blues Academy), Tom Smith (Neath/Ospreys Academy, captain)

 

Ed Shervington (Neath), Craig Mitchell (Neath/Ospreys Academy), Chris Dicomedis (Pontypridd), Ben Lewis (Swansea/Ospreys Academy), Tom Cheeseman (Bath Rugby), Liam Davies (Llanelli/Scarlets Academy), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff/Blues Academy)

 

Wales Full Squad

And finally, Wales full national squad. The side has found this season very rough, missing seasoned internationals as well as numerous key players. Sitting 5th with just 2 points from their 4 games, Wales welcome Italy, a place below them, yet to register a win, but with 4 outstanding performances.

 

6 Blues are in the Wales squad, 3 of whom start in the forwards against a strong Azzuri pack. Rhys Thomas, Rob Sidoli and Martyn Williams all start, with just one change from the Ireland loss two weeks ago, Shane Williams returns in place of Dafydd James. Nicky Robinson's great display against the Ospreys last week have earnt him a place on the bench.

 

Team:
L Byrne; M Jones, H Luscombe, M Watkins, S Williams; S Jones, D Peel; D Jones, R Thomas, A Jones; I Gough, R Sidoli; C Charvis, M Williams, M Owen (capt).

M Davies, G Jenkins, J Thomas, A Popham, M Phillips, G Henson, N Robinson.