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Page last updated at 11:53 GMT, Saturday, 3 April 2010 12:53 UK

Ulster v Blues (Sat)

MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Ravenhill Date: Sat, 3 April Kick-off: 1930 BST
Coverage: Live on S4C and on BBC Radio Ulster medium wave, score updates on BBC Sport website, highlights on Sunday's Scrum V


Ulster scrum-half Issac Boss
Issac Boss is back in the Ulster line-up after injury

Ulster coach Brian Mclaughlin has made three changes for Saturday's Magners League encounter against Cardiff Blues at Ravenhill.

Scrum-half Isaac Boss returns in place of Paul Marshall, Declan Fitzpatrick comes in for the injured Tom Court and Ed O'Donoghue replaces Dan Tuohy.

The Blues were forced to make a late change at full-back with Chris Czekaj coming in for father-to-be Ben Blair.

Jamie Roberts, Sam Warburton, Maama Molitika and Deiniol Jones all start.

But it is a game too soon for prop John Yapp who has been out since tearing a bicep against Harlequins on 10 October.

The Blues lie seventh in the table on 27 points, with Ulster two points behind with a match in hand of their Welsh rivals.

Blues ready for Ulster return

Court, who has a neck problem, joins a growing injury list which already includes the likes of Willie Faloon, Cillian Willis and Bryn Cunningham.

Ulster will be looking to quickly turn the tables after that reverse, which could have been by a wider margin had Ben Blair converted a number of kickable penalties.

"Discipline will be key on Saturday evening - we need to read the breakdown much quicker and make intelligent decisions as to how we defend or attack the opposition ball," said McLaughlin.

"We must keep the ball in hand and play some strong and smart running rugby.

"If we are going to come away with the win we really need, we'll have to play out of our socks and be mentally prepared for a real fight.

"We were very disappointed with our performance last Friday so it is great to have this early opportunity to play Cardiff again.

"We have done plenty of good work this week and must make our home advantage count."

The Blues have won their last six games against Ulster and are the last Welsh side to triumph at Ravenhill, but they have lost on all three of their league trips to Ireland this season.

606: DEBATE

"We weren't pleased with the way we played last week," said Blues coach Dai Young.

"But we got a win and results are more important than performance.

"The pleasing thing is that we can play a lot better so we won't fear going to Ravenhill.

"But we expect them to be a lot better as well."


Ulster: Jamie Smith, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Simon Danielli, Niall O'Connor Isaac Boss Declan Fitzpatrick, Rory Best, BJ Botha, Ed O'Donoghue, Ryan Caldwell, Stephen Ferris, David Pollock, Chris Henry (capt ).
Replacements: Andi Kyriacou, Bryan Young, Dan Tuohy, Robbie Diack, Paul Marshall, Ian Whitten, Timoci Nagusa.

Blues: Chris Czekaj; Leigh Halfpenny, Casey Laulala, Jamie Roberts, Tom James; Ceri Sweeney, Richie Rees; Gethin Jenkins, T Rhys Thomas, Taufa'au Filise, Deiniol Jones, Paul Tito, Maama Molitika, Sam Warburton, Xavier Rush.
Replacements: Scott Andrews, Gareth Williams, Andries Pretorius, Martyn Williams, Darren Allinson, Dai Flanagan, Dafydd Hewitt.

Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU)



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see also
Blues 19-9 Ulster
26 Mar 10 |  Welsh
Rush quits Blues but Blair stays
08 Feb 10 |  Cardiff Blues
Magners Celtic League 2009/10
14 Jul 09 |  Rugby Union
RaboDirect Pro12 table
09 Aug 06 |  Tables
Regional rugby archive
07 Jul 03 |  Welsh
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales
BBC Sport NI coverage
03 Jul 08 |  Northern Ireland


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