Danny Wilson and his Cardiff Blues have been given a flattering introduction by Leinster, who hope to give them a battering in Dublin on Friday night. The Blues were left numb after their Guinness Pro 14 opening 20-10 home defeat to Edinburgh last week, which prompted head coach Wilson to wield the axe and make six changes. Only Friday, Wilson also agreed to send former Wales prop Scott Andrews out on loan to Bath for the next month.

Danny Wilson admitted his Cardiff Blues team got what they deserved after their opening Guinness Pro14 fixture ended in defeat. The Blues’ optimism from encouraging pre-season results was put sharply into context by Edinburgh who won comfortably, 20-10 at the Arms Park. There was even a dismissive slap in the face from the Scots’ new head coach Richard Cockerill, who claimed afterwards his squad had worked much harder in pre-season training than anything they were made to suffer from a limited Blues side.

Rey Lee-Lo returns to action as Cardiff Blues kick-off their new Guinness Pro 14 season with a home clash against Edinburgh on Friday night (7.35pm). The 2016-17 Peter Thomas Player of the Year did not feature during the pre-season victories over London Scottish and Exeter Chiefs after he was given an extended break following his summer exploits with Samoa. But he has been training with the squad and goes straight into a starting team which includes 10 internationals and Nick Williams, who also returns.

Continuing our countdown to the new Guinness Pro 14 season, Geraint Powell looks at the Cardiff Blues and assesses whether or not astute coaching and promising youngsters can overcome financial constraints and shifting priorities. The Cardiff Blues are always the most difficult Welsh region to analyse pre-season and far more so than the Ospreys (http://www.dai-sport.com/ospreys-ready-fly-back-shadows/) or the Scarlets (http://www.dai-sport.com/scarlets-bloodline-williams-halfpenny-will-keep-pumping-top-pro14/). Unlike the recently failed Newport Gwent Dragons, now the Dragons under WRU member club ownership, they have not been operating on a shoestring budget over many years thanks in particular to the benevolence of chairman Peter Thomas.

Leigh Halfpenny will be wearing a Scarlets shirt this season, much to the disappointment of his former region, the Cardiff Blues. Robin Davey believes his choice should be respected and that any draft system – for both older and younger players – would be a mistake. It’s August and it’s holiday time for many, so that means it’s the silly season when it comes to news – and rugby is no different. Hot topic this week is the draft system and whether it’s a good idea or not. Not a silly subject for sure, but silly thinking it could work in Wales.

Leigh Halfpenny will be wearing a Scarlets shirt this season, much to the disappointment of his former region, the Cardiff Blues. Robin Davey believes his choice should be respected and that any draft system – for both older and younger players – would be a mistake. It’s August and it’s holiday time for many, so that means it’s the silly season when it comes to news – and rugby is no different. Hot topic this week is the draft system and whether it’s a good idea or not. Not a silly subject for sure, but silly thinking it could work in Wales.

The Welsh Rugby Union has agreed to loan defence coach Shaun Edwards out to Cardiff Blues on a consultancy basis this season. Hot on the heels of their take-over of the Dragons, the WRU have stepped in to help the cash-strapped Blues following the loss of skills coach Paul John and rugby general manager Billy Millard. Edwards is the current Wales and former British & Irish Lions defence coach and he has already started working alongside head coach Danny Wilson and backs coach Matt Sherratt as the Blues prepare for the newly expanded Guinness PRO14 season.

The Welsh Rugby Union has agreed to loan defence coach Shaun Edwards out to Cardiff Blues on a consultancy basis this season. Hot on the heels of their take-over of the Dragons, the WRU have stepped in to help the cash-strapped Blues following the loss of skills coach Paul John and rugby general manager Billy Millard. Edwards is the current Wales and former British & Irish Lions defence coach and he has already started working alongside head coach Danny Wilson and backs coach Matt Sherratt as the Blues prepare for the newly expanded Guinness PRO14 season.

Danny Wilson has admitted his Cardiff Blues side face a massive challenge if they are to make next season’s European Champions Cup. The Blues finished the Guinness Pro12 season in seventh place – earning themselves a play-off spot to lift themselves out of the European Challenge Cup and into the premier tournament.

The days of reckoning for rugby coaches are upon us as clubs, regions and their backers start to start to compare the win-loss ledger with the budgets that were given. Gareth Hughes says rugby is going down a familiar road taken by other sports. Given the ridiculous opprobrium heaped on Warren Gatland when he revealed the British and Irish Lions squad last week, it does beg the question, ‘Who would want to be a rugby coach?’, particularly at the pinnacle of the game. Sackings, political chicanery and leaving before being pushed are now part and parcel of the game. Certainly, the financial recompense would be an inducement but the lack of job security, stress and public criticism has to be a consideration.

Danny Wilson paid tribute to his Cardiff Blues side for the battering they gave the Ospreys in their 35-17 derby demolition at the Principality Stadium on Saturday. The Blues coach saw his team score five tries but it was the bullying nature of their first victory over their rivals for seven years that really impressed him. “We were certainly the mote physical of the two sides,” said Wilson.

Sam Warburton has been backed to still make the Lions tour, despite facing the next six weeks out of action. Cardiff Blues coach Danny Wilson insists his skipper will not suffer further setbacks after Warburton was ruled out for the rest of the Blues’ season due to a knee injury. Warburton is not expected to […]