Cardiff hope Navidi’s return can lift spirits
DAVID Young shakes up his Cardiff side yet again as they head into tomorrow European Challenge Cup last-16 clash with Saracens at the StoneX Stadium (1pm).
After making 10 changes for the United Rugby Championship game against the Scarlets at the Arms Park last weekend, Young watched his charges end up on the wrong end of a 49-14 thrashing.
Desperate for an improvement, he makes 11 alterations this week, with Josh Navidi returning to lead the side. The British and Irish Lion was off limits for the derby doubleheader against Scarlets and was badly missed. He steps back into the fray in the No.7 jersey against Sarries.
Young will hope Navidi’s presence can inspire an better performance than the one Cardiff dished up against the Scarlets at the Arms Park.
James Botham also returns, packing down alongside Navidi and Shane Lewis-Hughes in the back row, with club captain Josh Turnbull and Ellis Jenkins sidelined by injuries. Seb Davies and Rory Thornton feature at lock, while Kirby Myhill is ruled out having sustained a head injury against Scarlets, meaning Liam Belcher is part of a home-grown front row, slotting between Corey Domachowski and Dillon Lewis.
Behind, Tomos Williams and Rhys Priestland team up at halfback for the first time since October, with Max Llewellyn named in midfield alongside Garyn Smith. Owen Lane retains his spot on the wing while Hallam Amos and Aled Summerhill are reinstated in the back three.
Saracens name Owen Farrell as skipper with Maro Itoje also on duty in a team that contains Alex Goode, Sean Maitland, Ben Earl and Aled Davies and the
Vunipolas, Billy and Mako, on the bench.
A significant test awaits for the visitors, but Cardiff chief Young insists his players are determined to restore pride to the jersey.
He said: “We’re really looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity to go somewhere, put our hand up and show we’re not as bad as some people suggest at the minute.
“Some of our home performances have certainly outweighed our away ones and you need to ask why that is. That’s something we’re working on but it’s a fantastic place to go and put that record straight.
“We know we’ll need to be at our best. They’re one of the best teams in Europe with quality across the board. There’s going to be a fear factor in going there and that comes from if you don’t play near your standard then it will be a tough afternoon.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to go out there, play against one of the best teams and hopefully do ourselves proud.”
Saracens: Alex Goode; Sean Maitland, Dominic Morris, Duncan Taylor, Max Malins; Owen Farrell (capt), Aled Davies; Richard Barrington, Kapeli Pifeleti, Alec Clarey, Maro Itoje, Tim Swinson,
Andrew Christie, Ben Earl, Jackson Wray. Repls: Ethan Lewis, Eroni Mawi, Sam Wainwright, Theo McFarland, Billy Vunipola, Ivan van Zyl, Manu Vunipola, Roti Segun.
Cardiff: Hallam Amos; Owen Lane, Garyn Smith, Max Llewellyn, Aled Summerhill; Rhys Priestland, Tomos Williams; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, Rory Thornton, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Josh Navidi (capt), James Botham. Reps: Kristian Dacey, Rhys Carre, Will Davies-King, Teddy Williams, Will Boyde, Lloyd Williams, Jarrod Evans, Matthew Morgan. Referee: Pierre Brousset (France).