Cardiff Blues 38 - 53 Worcester Warriors
Sat 04 February 15:00 Cardiff Arms Park Att: 1,370 Ref: Steve Lee Anglo Welsh Cup

Preview: Cardiff Blues v Worcester Warriors

Fri 3 Feb 2017 13:27 Preview: Cardiff Blues v Worcester Warriors
The Blues are yet to win a game in the competition, instead using it as an opportunity to give young players opportunities and others much-needed game-time.

Despite defeats to Exeter Chiefs, the Ospreys and Sale Sharks, there have been plenty of positives in the performances.

Richard Hodges, who has taken charge of the team through the competition, has made six changes to the side that faced Sale Sharks, with four first team regulars returning to the starting line-up.

Kirby Myhill, Tau’fa’ao Filise, James Down and Tomos Williams all come into the starting line-up with Marc Thomas and Pontypridd’s Jake Thomas also starting.

Steve Shingler also comes onto the bench where he is joined by Wales’ Sevens international Sion Bennett, who has joined the region from Northampton Saints for the remainder of the season.

What they said: 

Richard Hodges said: "There's some new faces coming back into the group from the first team and they will want to knock on the door going into a big month with Connacht, Benetton Treviso, Edinburgh, Munster and Gloucester. 

"There's loads to play for at this time of year but the spotlight now is on Worcester Warriors and getting a win on Saturday



"We have a bit more of a spine to our team this week but there will be a lot of the same youngsters.

"It's a home game and we pride ourselves on getting the best possible home record we can and it's the last game of the competition.

"Worcester lost on the weekend to Quins but they will come down loaded up and ready to get some momentum back into the Premiership."


Cam Dolan added: "We've want to finish off with a win, we can't take anything less than that. To go 0-4 would not sit very well with us.

"We've had a couple of games where we've been quite competitive throughout, and just haven't had that last little bit that fell off for us.

"This week the boys are getting up for it. We'll definitely have to show up and play a good game if we want to compete with Warriors.

"It makes it a bit tougher playing slightly changed, younger sides. Especially with the Premiership sides, they have such big squads that they could change completely from week to week.



"There's more to pick from, so it's hard to play, but with every team the structures are pretty similar throughout the squad - just player-wise it's a bit different.

"But at the end of the day you've got to play your own game and execute that plan to be successful."

Cardiff Blues: Aled Summerhill; Teri Gee, Cory Allen, Garyn Smith, Harri Millard; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Marc Thomas, Kirby Myhill, Taufa'ao Filise, Ben Edwards, James Down, Seb Davies, Jake Thomas, Cam Dolan (capt).

Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Corey Domachowski, Ben Leung, Sion Bennett, James Sheekey, Pele Cowley, Steve Shingler, Gavin Dacey

Worcester Warriors: Josh Adams; Bryce Heem, Wynand Olivier, Jackson Willison, Dean Hammond; Ryan Mills, Francois Hougaard; Val Rapava Ruskin, Jack Singleton, Nick Schonert, Darren Barry, Will Spencer, Chris Vui, Sam Lewis, Dewald Potgieter (capt).

Replacements: Jaba Bregvadze, Ryan Bower, Biyi Alo, Andrew Kitchener, Alafoti Faosiliva, Luke Baldwin, Tom Heathcote, Perry Humpheys