Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby Phil Davies has called on his side to regain some pride when they take on Leinster in their RaboDirect PRO12 re-match on Friday night. Earlier in the season the Welsh region went the RDS Arena and were put to sword by the Irish giants in a 59-22 victory. Since then the Blues have struggled somewhat in the league, currently sitting seventh in the table while Leinster have pushed on into the top four and the play-off battle. The Blues have however won their last two RaboDirect PRO12 contests while Leinster have won their last four in all competitions and have only lost one of their last 12 clashes with the Blues. But with the Irish region coming to Wales on Friday shorn of a number of big name internationals Davies has called on his side to gain a measure of revenge. "I have no doubt that we will be stronger going into the end of this season than we were last year. Next season we will be stronger again,” he said. "Leinster are ahead of us in this process but we are heading in the right direction. "For me, tomorrow's game has a bit of pride attached to what we have to deliver. Over in Dublin it was not a good performance. "The second half was creditable but the first half we got hammered. I didn't enjoy that. I didn't enjoy the game or what happened afterwards. "We have to lay a strong marker down on Friday. We have to put in a massive performance against one of the top squads in Europe. "It is a great challenge for the team. We want to try and win the game and the next few games so we can keep pushing towards the top four." Jason Tovey will be at full-back for the Blues on Friday as up and comer Rhys Patchell continues in the fly-half role, Dafydd Hewitt and Gavin Evans pairing up in the centres. And in the forwards Rhys Williams, Sam Hobbs and Taufa’ao Filise make up the front row with the impressive Robin Copeland at No.8. Leinster have been rocked by the news that fly-half Jonny Sexton is set to leave the region at the end of the season, having helped the team to three Heineken Cup titles. Starting in his place this weekend will be Ian Madigan, the RaboDirect PRO12’s third top points scorer, who partners Isaac Boss in the half-backs. But while Madigan has been in impressive form this season, kicking coach Richie Murphy insists the club will need to move to replace Sexton this summer. "We definitely need to bring someone else in," Murphy told the Irish Independent. "It will come down to the situation of what's available. The process is ongoing. I think the situation is that we have to see what's out there and a decision has to be made on what way we have to go. "And it's not as easy as just saying 'we'll back Ian Madigan'. We will back Ian Madigan, he will play a lot of rugby, I think he's played in 70 out of the last 71 games and that's not going to change." At Cardiff Arms Park , 7.30pm. Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon ( IRFU, 44th competition game) Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell, Martyn Lewis (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: John Charles (WRU)
