Blues lifted by the return of Anscombe

GARETH Anscombe will make his longawaited return from injury during Cardiff Blues’ Anglo-Welsh Cup clash against the Ospreys at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday (1915)

The Welsh international is one of seven changes made from last week’s heavy defeat to Newcastle Falcons in the opening round of the cross-border competition.

Anscombe sat out the first couple of months of the season after undergoing a course of therapy with West Brom’s medical chief Dr Mark Gillett.

His groin problem flared up again on Wales’ South Seas tour in the summer, when he started the Tests against Tonga and Samoa at full-back.

And he takes his place in a Blues back division that sees one other change with Steven Shingler slotting in at inside centre.

Four changes are made in the pack, including captain Gethin Jenkins, who returned from a lengthy injury spell during the bonus-point win over Zebre a fortnight ago, and continues his comeback.

The Ospreys have Wales international James Hook at full-back for the derby, while Scott Baldwin packs down at hooker with fellow internationals Sam Davies and Bradley Davies on the bench.

Dragons and Wales back-rower Ollie Griffiths has made a miraculous recovery from sustaining a broken jaw last month to lead the region in their home derby with the Scarlets at Rodney Parade (1930).

Griffiths, capped by Wales in their summer Test with Tonga, in Auckland, suffered a serious jaw injury that required surgery in the Dragons’ 28-21 victory against Enisei-STM in the European Rugby Challenge Cup in Moscow on October 21 and it was feared the 22-yearold wouldn’t be back until December at the earliest.

But he’s made a far quicker recovery than expected and takes his place in a Dragons team once again featuring a mixture of youth and experience.

The Scarlets have also named an exciting young side for the trip to Rodney Parade with two academy prospects, fullback Tomi Lewis and flanker Dan Davis, getting their first regional starts.