David Young has named his squad for the game, which includes Gareth Cooper on the bench having recovered from a double groin operation. Cooper’s last game was the LV= Cup semi final against Gloucester in March. Also amongst the replacements are Forwards Kristian Dacey, from the Blues Academy, and summer recruit Tom Davies.
There are six changes to the starting fifteen, one positional, from the line up against the Dragons. Lloyd Williams a late call up to the team last week, keeps his place in the side, as Richie Rees was not considered after suffering a minor calf strain.
Chris Czekaj and Bradley Davies are both rested having played in the first three league games, while Xavier Rush is out with a minor knee injury and Casey Lualala also sits out the match.
Up front Maama Molitika moves across the Back Row to Number 8 and Faao Filise returns to partner Gethin Jenkins in the Front Row, along with this season’s current top try scorer (3) and last weekend’s Man of the Match, T Rhys Thomas.
Team
15 Ben Blair 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Tom Shanklin 12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Tom James 10 Dan Parks 9 Lloyd Williams
8 Maama Molitika 7 Martyn Williams 6 Michael Paterson 5 Paul Tito (capt) 4 Deiniol Jones 3 Faao Filise 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements
16 Kristian Dacey 17 Tom Davies 18 John Yapp 19 Andries Pretorius 20 Sam Warburton 21 Gareth Cooper 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Gavin Evans