Leinster v Blues

CELTIC LEAGUE Live on S4C

Donnybrook
Sunday, 5 September
Kick-off: 1715 BST

Blues coach Dai Young says his strengthened squad can compete for the Celtic League this year ahead of their opener with Leinster in Donnybrook.

"I'm looking forward to seeing our new guys playing, I think we've got a squad to challenge," he told BBC Sport.

"We've got real strength in depth and competition for places, something we've been missing for a few years.

"But there are no easy games in the League, whether the Irish sides play their internationals or not."

LAST SEASON'S LEAGUE RESULTS 10 October: Blues 22-3 Leinster 5 March: Leinster 18-22 Blues

Young added: "The end of last year showed how competitive the League is.

"We've strengthened our squad, but so have the other regions in Wales."

Blues hooker Andrew Lewis has suffered a reaction to the jaw injury he picked up in a pre-season friendly against Leicester and is unavailable.

Gareth Williams plays his first competitive game since suffering a neck injury in January, with Cardiff RFC hooker Michael Leaman on the bench.

Summer recruits Tristan Davies, Kort Schubert, Deiniol Jones and Robert Sidoli make their competitive debut for the Blues, with Gethin Jenkins, Mark Lewis and Lee Thomas on the bench.

Nicky Robinson and Freddie Tuilagi are missing with injury.

Leinster coach Declan Kidney has kept faith with the same side that drew 11-11 with Worcester in the final warm-up game.

Ireland lock Leo Cullen, who spent last season recuperating from shoulder surgery, will again lead the side in place of Reggie Corrigan, one of 10 Leinster players engaged in Ireland's pre-season conditioning programme.

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Leinster: J Norton; J McWeeney, C Warner, D Quinlan, G Brown, D McAllister, B O'Riordan; E Byrne, G Hickie, P Coyle, L Cullen (capt), B Gissing, A McCullen, S Jennings, D Dillon.

Replacements: A O'Donnell, D Blaney, C Potts, V Costello, B O'Meara, K Lewis, C Kilroy.

Blues: R Williams; N Walne, J Robinson, T Davies, C Morgan; N Macleod, R Smith; J Yapp, G Williams, B Evans, D Jones, R Sidoli, N Thomas, M Williams (capt), K Schubert.

Replacements: G Jenkins, M Leaman, C Quinnell, M Lewis, D Dewdney, L Thomas, T Shanklin.

Referee: David Changleng (Scotland)

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