Preview: Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues
Grand Slam heroes Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins and Martyn Williams all return for the Cardiff Blues as they take on Edinburgh at Murrayfield in the Magners League this Friday.
Grand Slam heroes Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins and Martyn Williams all return for the Cardiff Blues as they take on Edinburgh at Murrayfield in the Magners League this Friday.
The Blues travel to Scotland to face an in-form Edinburgh side that has lost just one of their last seven games in the Magners League: 7-11 at home to Munster on 15 February.
Edinburgh won 11-10 when the two teams met at the Arms Park in January and the Blues will be looking to reverse that result to keep themselves in the top five of the Magners League, with many of the teams above them still to play each other.
Blues flyer Tom James also returns to the starting line-up, having had an operation to remove his appendix. Outside half Dai Flanagan also returns having recovered from a broken bone in his hand, and is joined in the matchday squad by Nick Robinson. Robinson sustained a hip muscle injury against Leicester in November.
Edinburgh club captain Simon Cross has been handed the number six shirt after Ross Rennie failed to recover from a knee injury.
Allister Hogg switches across the back row to openside to fill the gap left by Rennie's absence with Cross getting the nod to start at blindside.
Number eight David Callam admits fourth-placed Edinburgh are determined to finish the season with a flourish after suffering late slumps during previous campaigns.
“We have been in this position a couple of times before, but for some reason we have always fallen away poorly after the Six Nations,” Callam said.
“That is something that we're working hard on addressing this year. Guys are fed up of the fact that we work hard to get ourselves into these positions and never take advantage of it.
“Beating Connacht was the start, but we need to push on and win our home games if we want to finish as high up the league as we can.
“Cardiff have named a very strong side and we know it will be a tough match.
“But we are planning to play the same type of high-tempo rugby that brought us the bonus point win against Connacht.”
Form: Edinburgh have lost just one of their last seven games in the Magners League: 7-11 at home to Munster on 15 February. Edinburgh have suffered only one reversal in five matches against Welsh sides this season: 13-19 at home to the Dragons on 12 October. Cardiff Blues have won just one of their last five encounters in the Magners League: 25-22 at home to Munster on 1 March. The Blues have lost their last two matches against Scottish teams. Edinburgh won 11-10 when the two teams met at the Arms Park in January and are going for a league double over the Blues for the first time since season 2004/05.
The Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Simon Webster, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 John Houston, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair, 8 David Callam, 7 Allister Hogg (c), 6 Simon Cross, 5 Craig Hamilton, 4 Matt Mustchin, 3 Craig Smith, 2 Andrew Kelly, 1 Gavin Kerr.
Replacements: 16 Steve Lawrie, 17 Augusto Allori, 18 Fergus Pringle, 19 Ben Gissing, 20 Ben Meyer, 21 Calum MacRae, 22 Andrew Turnbull.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Jamie Roberts, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Gareth Thomas, 11 Tom James, 10 Dai Flannigan, 9 Jason Spice, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Mamma Molitika, 5 Paul Tito, 4 Deiniol Jones, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Gareth Williams, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 John Yapp, 17 T Rhys Thomas, 18 Scott Morgan, 19 Ben White, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Nicky Robinson, 22 Marc Stcherbina.
Date: Friday, March 28
Venue: Murrayfield
Kick-off: 19:30 GMT
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: tba (Scotland)