EUROPEAN RUGBY... Blues’ veteran front-row unit aim to roll back the years against Toulouse aristocrats
CARDIFF Blues will field a front row with a combined age of 114 when they take on Toulouse in tomorrow’s crunch European Challenge Cup clash at the Arms Park (5.30pm).
They have gone for the vastly experienced trio of Gethin Jenkins (37), Matthew Rees (37) and Taufa’ao Filise (40) as they look to address the scrummaging problems they have suffered from in recent weeks.
Wales’ most-capped player Jenkins makes just his third start of a season plagued by knee, calf and concussion issues, while hooker Rees and tighthead Filise have both shaken off niggles to return.
The all-new front row features in a side that shows eight changes from the 29-28 defeat to the Ospreys last weekend. Flanker Ellis Jenkins makes his first start of the season having recovered from hamstring surgery, while big George Earle comes into the second row to provide further scrummaging ballast.
Behind, Jarrod Evans is over the illness that forced his late withdrawal at the Liberty Stadium and forms a new half-back partnership with Tomos Williams, while the versatile Gareth Anscombe starts at full-back, which was the original plan for the Ospreys game.
With centre Rey Lee-Lo the latest to be struck down ill, Garyn Smith steps in to partner Willis Halaholo in midfield.
USA winger Blaine Scully is fit again after more than a month out and takes a spot among the replacements.
Coach Danny Wilson said: “It’s good to have a number of players coming back from short-term injury to give us some strength and depth, and selection dilemmas in certain positions.
“Unfortunately, Matthew Morgan has picked up an injury that requires further assessment and with Rey LeeLo suffering a little bit of illness we felt Garyn Smith deserved to start, especially given his recent form.
“We’ve picked a team with a bit of strength and experience in the frontfive, but with plenty of attacking talent to play the rugby required to beat a team like Toulouse.”
The Blues are currently four points clear in Pool Two and if they win on Sunday they will be virtually guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals.
“We’re top of our group, it’s a home game against Toulouse and it’s one of those big ones which people come out to watch,” said Wilson.
“A home game in Europe, at this stage, against the giants of Toulouse is a massive game, full stop.
“But to play it in the circumstances we’re in, having beaten them away from home, which is one of our biggest wins in my time here, is exciting.
“We have to back it up by beating them at home. We know their squad is phenomenal and they’ve got some superstars in there, but we know what’s at stake for us.”
Toulouse include internationals Gael Fickou, Charlie Faumuina, Richie Gray, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Jean-Marc Doussain and Joe Tekori in their league of nations team for the trip to Cardiff.
TEAMS
Cardiff Blues: Gareth Anscombe; Alex Cuthbert, Garyn Smith, Willis Halaholo, Owen Lane; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Gethin Jenkins (capt), Matthew Rees, Taufa’ao Filise, George Earle, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins, Nick Williams. Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Brad Thyer, Dillon Lewis, Damian Welch, Macauley Cook, Lloyd Williams, Steve Shingler, Blaine Scully.
Toulouse: Thomas Ramos; Cheslin Kolbe, Jarrod Poi, Gael Fickou, Sofiane Guitoune; Jean-Marc Doussain, Sébastien Bézy; Clément Castets, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Charlie Faumuina, Florian Verhaeghe, Richie Gray, Semi Kunatani, Joe Tekori, Louis Madaule. Replacements: David Roumieu, Maxime Duprat, Piula Faasalele, Carl Axtens, Rynhardt Elstadt, Antoine Dupont, Paul Perez, Maks Van Dyk.
Referee: Ian Tempest (Eng).