Preview: Cardiff Blues v Scarlets
Cardiff Blues have named Chris Czekaj at full-back for their Magners League fixture with the Scarlets at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday.
Cardiff Blues have named Chris Czekaj at full-back for their Magners League derby fixture with the Scarlets at Cardiff City Stadium this Friday.
New Wales squad member Scott Andrews starts at tighthead, while Michael Paterson runs from lock and back-row Andries Pretorius gets a start.
In the backs Czekaj starts in the number fifteen jersey, with Ben Blair out having picked up a bump on the knee against Castres last Friday. Tom James is on the wing and Dafydd Hewitt partners Casey Laulala at centre.
Meanwhile, the Scarlets fix their sights firmly back on their Magners League campaign this weekend as they travel to Cardiff City Stadium.
And with six of their players named in the Wales squad for the November internationals that kick-off in a fortnight's time, the region has handed fresh opportunities to a number of its eager, talented players within a squad that will take the Scarlets forward into the next phase of rugby.
The Scarlets will be without a number of their Wales internationals next weekend at a big home fixture against Glasgow at Parc y Scarlets. Head Coach Nigel Davies said it was key at this time that certain players got their opportunity against quality opposition on a big derby night out.
And with a strong bench to provide potential impact to Friday night's game, the Scarlets have named an exciting starting XV for their encounter with the Cardiff Blues.
Back into the side comes centre Jon Davies who made such an impression at the start of the season – making the fitness race following an ankle injury. And after a series of strong performances at centre already this season Gareth Maule gets his place in the starting line-up with influential and experienced international wing Sean Lamont taking the captain's armband for the away derby.
Rhys Priestland comes back at fly-half and Rob McCusker is picked at number eight – replacing the injured David Lyons – alongside Johnathan Edwards and Josh Turnbull in the back-row.
Form: The two teams met three times last season with the Blues victorious on each occasion. Scarlets have won twice before on Blues soil – both at the Arms Park in 2004 and 2009. Cardiff Blues are currently the best home side in the Magners League and have won their last six games in all competitions at Cardiff City Stadium since Gloucester won there in the LV= Cup on 14 March. The Blues have lost just one of their last eight encounters with fellow Welsh regions: 0-26 at Ospreys on New Year's Day. Scarlets 18-21 defeat to Ospreys in round five ended a three game winning run in the Magners League. Scarlets' only victory on the road in the Magners League in 2010 was 27-14 at Rodney Parade in their most recent away game.
The teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Chris Czekaj, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush (c), 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Andries Pretorius, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 T. Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 John Yapp, 18 Taufa'ao Filise, 19 Paul Tito, 20 Maama Molitika, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Tom Shanklin, 23 Richard Mustoe.
Scarlets: 15 Daniel Evans, 14 Morgan Stoddart, 13 Jon Davies, 12 Gareth Maule, 11 Sean Lamont (c), 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Rob McCusker, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Lou Reed, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Peter Edwards, 19 Vernon Cooper, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Stephen Jones, 23 Regan King.
Date: Friday, October 22
Kick-off: 20:05 BST
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Assistant referees: Leighton Hodges (Wales), Jon Mason (Wales)
Television match official: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)