Blues travel west with confidence for derby clash against Scarlets
CARDIFF Blues head coach Danny Wilson expects a formidable challenge from the Scarlets tonight, but he insists his side can go into the encounter with confidence.
The Blues go into the Welsh derby at Parc y Scarlets on the back of consecutive European Challenge Cup victories against Lyon and Toulouse and now head to the home of the Guinness champions.
Wilson said: “On the back of four wins out of five, culminating with a great win out in Toulouse, we can go there with confidence.
“It was a good performance (Toulouse) and a very pleasing result away from home in a venue like that and against a multi-million-pound squad. To come out of Europe with two wins is great.
“However, the Scarlets are the league champions and they’re on their own patch so it is probably the toughest fixture of the season so far.
“We’ve had a couple of headaches in terms of selection following the performances in the last five weeks but we are still without a number of top professionals like Gethin Jenkins, Ellis Jenkins, Gareth Anscombe and Sam Warburton.”
Kristian Dacey continues to skipper the team and four of the changes come in the pack. Brad Thyer and Dillon Lewis complete the front-row, while Seb Davies and Olly Robinson step up from the bench at lock and flanker respectively.
The only other change comes in the back-line where Willis Halaholo returns to form a familiar midfield partnership with Rey Lee-Lo.
Former Scarlets Matthew Rees, Josh Turnbull and Steve Shingler all line up on the bench, while Lloyd Williams will make his 150th appearance if he is called into action.
Scott Williams will look to prove a point to Warren Gatland and his Wales coaching team when he returns to the Scarlets starting line-up.
Williams was the shock omission from Gatland’s 36-man squad for the forthcoming autumn series with the New Zealander opting for young prospects Owen Watkin, Tyler Morgan and Owen Williams as well as regional team-mates Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies in his midfield pool.
He replaces British Lion Davies as one of three changes to the side beaten by Bath in atrocious conditions last weekend.
Skipper Ken Owens drops to the bench with Ryan Elias handed another start, while alongside him Springbok Werner Kruger replaces the rested Samson Lee. Williams will lead the side.
For Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac, who has signed a fresh contract with the region, it is a chance for the champions to cement their position at the top of Conference B, particularly with chief rivals Ulster and Leinster meeting in Belfast on Saturday night.
“Regardless of where the Blues are at in their season, we always have a tough game against them,” said the New Zealander.
“What better way to go out and express yourself than a few days after a national squad being named in a local derby.
“It brings two groups together who are probably for different reasons are desperate to get a result.”
SCARLETS: L Halfpenny; J McNicholl, H Parkes, S Williams (capt), S Evans; R Patchell, G Davies; W Jones, R Elias, W Kruger, J Ball, L Rawlins, A Shingler, T Beirne, W Boyde. Reps: K Owens, D Evans, S Gardiner, D Bulbring, J Macleod, J Evans, P Asquith, J Davies.
CARDIFF BLUES: M Morgan; A Cuthbert, R Lee-Lo, W Halaholo, B Scully; J Evans, T Williams; B Thyer, K Dacey (capt), D Lewis, S Davies, J Down, J Navidi, N Williams, O Robinson. Reps: M Rees, C Domachowski, K Assiratti, M Cook, J Turnbull, L Williams, S Shingler, R Williams.