Navidi back as Cardiff aim to tame the Bulls
WALES and Lions star Josh Navidi will make his first appearance of the season as Cardiff take on the Bulls at the Arms Park tonight (7.35pm).
The versatile back row man hasn’t played since returning from the Lions tour of South Africa, where he was a replacement for the crocked Justin Tipuric.
But now he is on board on the blindside flank for the United Rugby Championship clash with the visitors from Pretoria.
That’s welcome news for his region and also for Wales, with the opening autumn international against South Africa just three weeks away.
His inclusion is one of five changes Cardiff have made following last week’s 18-14 defeat away to the Ospreys.
He is joined in the back row Will Boyde, who starts on the openside, having come off the bench in the first two league matches, with Moldovan tighthead Dmitri Arhip also introduced into the pack.
Behind the scrum, there’s a first start of the season for new Welsh international Ben Thomas, who lines up at inside centre, while Lloyd Williams wears No 9.
With club captain Josh Turnbull among the replacements, hooker Kirby Myhill takes over the leadership duties.
Turnbull is one of seven internationals on a powerful bench, along with the likes of Tomos Williams and Willis Halaholo.
Looking at the threat posed by the Currie Cup champions, director of rugby Dai Young said: “We’ll need to more than match their physicality and if we can do that while moving them about, I’m sure we can get the right result.
“But we don’t want to get locked into an arm-wrestle because they’re a big, powerful unit.
“I’m excited for it and I’m hoping that the local supporters come out to support it.
“It’s a first opportunity for them to look at a South African franchise. Everyone talks up Super Rugby so it’s nice for them to have the opportunity to see them at first hand.”
This is the first of three consecutive home URC matches at the Arms Park, with games against the Sharks and Dragons to follow this month.
Bulls director of rugby, Jake
White, said: “We are making a few changes to our match-day squad this week to ensure that we utilise our squad depth while giving fair opportunity to the players to get a feel of this competitive tournament.
“Cardiff have shown good form so far this season in their win over Connacht at home, and last week’s very narrow defeat in the Welsh derby against Ospreys.
”We expect them to come out guns blazing, and we have no doubt that they will be a tough side to face.”
Cardiff Rugby: Hallam Amos; Owen Lane, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Rhys Priestland, Lloyd Williams; Rhys Carre, Kirby Myhill, Dmitri Arhip, Seb Davies, Matthew Screech, Josh Navidi, Will Boyde, James Ratti . Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Rory Thornton, Josh Turnbull, Tomos Williams, Willis Halaholo, Matthew Morgan.
Vodacom Bulls: David Kriel, Madosh Tambwe, Cornal Hendricks, Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier; Simphiwe Matanzima, Bismarck du Plessis, Jacques van Rooyen, Janko Swanepoel, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee, Jacques du Plessis, Elrigh Louw. Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Lizo Gqoboka, Robert Hunt, Walt Steenkamp, Arno Botha, Keagan Johannes, Chris Smith, Lionel Mapoe.
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland).