Wales flanker Sam Warburton is relishing the opportunity of going head to head with his Welsh team mates when Cardiff Blues take on Gloucester Rugby in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
Warburton’s Blues visit Kingsholm on Saturday, and take on a Gloucester side packed with Welsh internationals including the hard-hitting No.8 Ross Moriarty.
Warburton and Moriarty started all five of Wales’ 2017 RBS 6 Nations fixtures in the back row together but will do battle for a place in the last four of the Challenge Cup.
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And the Blues back row believes the intensity of the game will be a step up from a domestic league game because there is silverware on the line.
“Me and Ross (Moriarty) have been talking about the fixture all the way through the RBS 6 Nations and we are looking forward to it,” said Warburton.
“So it will be good to lock horns with Gloucester. It will be a massive game, you can tell they will be a step up from any other domestic league game you will play because it is a cup competition.
“Ross hasn’t spoken to me this week yet but anyone who has got anything between their ears will probably know not to run head on head with Ross.
“With our potential back row and their back row I think it will be a real tussle which it always is these days.”
The Gloucester side to take on the Blues on Saturday may also feature Richard Hibbard who has made 38 appearances for Wales as well as James Hook and flanker Dan Thomas.
And with a place is the last four awaiting the victor, Warburton will have to put his friendship with Moriarty and co to one side as he looks to win the competition with the Blues for the first time since 2010 when his side beat RC Toulon 29-21 in Marseille.
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