The Cardiff Blues’ team to play Connacht in the Celtic League on Friday evening shows four changes in the starting line-up from last week’s match against the Ospreys.

Nick Macleod and Dean Dewdney form a new half-back partnership and Nick Walne returns to the right wing. The only change in the pack sees Nathan Thomas play at number 6 in place of the injured Mark Lewis.

Captain Martyn Williams will be playing his 100th game for Cardiff and the Blues. He made his debut in November 1999 when Cardiff won 34-25 at Swansea.

Director of coaching David Young said, “Our options this week have been limited by a growing list of injuries and illnesses and we know we face a tough match against Connacht. However, everyone in the squad is keen to kick-start our season again after the disappointments against the Ospreys.”

The players unavailable for selection were: Dan Baugh (ankle), Nathan Budgett (neck), Ben Evans (hand), Mark Lewis (finger), Ryan Powell (shoulder), Craig Quinnell (calf), Jamie Robinson (hamstring), Nick Robinson (illness), Fereti Tuilagi (influenza) and John Yapp (thigh). Budgett expects to have fully recovered from his neck injury by next week.

Blues’ team: Rhys Williams; Nick Walne, Tom Shanklin, Tristan Davies, Craig Morgan; Nick Macleod, Dean Dewdney; Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Williams, Martin Jones, Deiniol Jones, Robert Sidoli, Nathan Thomas, Kort Schubert, Martyn Williams, capt
Replacements: Ken Fourie, Andrew Lewis, Heino Senekal, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Richard Smith, Lee Thomas, Jonny Vaughton

Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)