Blues boosted by stalwarts
TOM James and Matthew Rees will make their Cardiff Blues comebacks when John Mulvihill’s side face Glasgow in tomorrow’s Champions Cup clash at Scotstoun (3.15pm).
James, who revealed 12 months ago that he was battling depression, is set to make his Blues return after he last featured for the first team in a competitive game at the end of 2017.
With his return being hampered by a number of minor injuries, the Wales international featured during pre-season and since for Cardiff Blues A, Cardiff RFC and Pontypridd.
James is one of 12 changes for the trip to Glasgow, with Matthew Rees also returning to Blues action to captain the side this weekend after recovering from a knee injury.
Cardiff Blues are already out of contention for the knockout stages, while Glasgow will be bidding to keep their own hopes alive.
Brad Thyer and Dillon Lewis both come into the starting line-up, and pack down either side of Rees, while George Earle and Rory Thornton form a new-look second row.
Shane Lewis-Hughes is handed his senior competitive debut in the back-row alongside Josh Navidi and Seb Davies.
Behind the scrum, Lloyd Williams partners Steve Shingler and Willis Halaholo and Harri Millard form a dynamic midfield, while James is joined by Owen Lane and Dan Fish in the back three.
Jarrod Evans also makes his return from injury on the bench, while Rhys Carre is in line for his European debut.
Cardiff Blues head coach John Mulvihill said: “We’re really excited to see TJ back 100 per cent fit, happy and healthy.
“He has had to bide his time and be patient to get his body back right following his break and he has had some setbacks along the way but he’s hung in there and thoroughly deserves this opportunity. He is really motivated to contribute to a big performance.
“It’s also great to have ‘ Smiler’ back. He was the leading hooker towards the end of last year and unfortunately got injured but he wants to get back there and wants to show us that he can still be the number one hooker
“It’s exciting to be back in this competition. This is where we want to be again next year. We won’t make the final in Europe this year but to be in the Heineken Champions Cup again next season, we’ll have to finish third in our PRO14 Conference or win that play-off.”
For Glasgow, Rob Harley will become the first player in Glasgow Warriors history to reach a double century of appearances this weekend, while co-captain Ryan Wilson will also reach a personal milestone playing his 150th game for the club.
Scott Cummings, Callum Gibbins and Matt Fagerson join the pair as the back-five of the scrum, while it’s a new back-three with Stuart Hogg, DTH van der Merwe and Tommy Seymour all returning.
Oli Kebble and D’Arcy Rae return to the starting XV as two of 11 changes to the side that lost last weekend to Benetton. Grant Stewart once again starts at hooker, Brandon Thomson starts at fly-half outside of Ali Price and Nick Grigg comes in to partner Sam Johnson in midfield.
Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie said: “Rob and Ryan are both good men who are really passionate about this club.
“They’re good quality people and are highly respected within the group. It’ll be a special day for them and their families.
“Obviously the last three weeks have been disappointing, but we’ve created a lot of opportunities in those games and just haven’t been as clinical as we’ve needed to be and the quality of our decision making hasn’t been good enough.
“It’s hurt us but there’s no sense of panic, we need to be sharper and we know this is a massive game for us in the context of Europe and we’ve picked the side accordingly.”
D Fish; O Lane, H Millard, W Halaholo, T James; S Shingler, L Williams; B Thyer, M Rees (capt), D Lewis, G Earle, R Thornton, S Lewis-Hughes, J Navidi, S Davies.
E Lewis, R Carre, S Andrews, M Cook, N Williams, T Williams, J Evans, A Summerhill
Cardiff Blues: Reps: Glasgow Warriors:
O Kebble; G Stewart; D Rae; R Harley; S Cummings; R Wilson (co-captain); C Gibbins (co-captain); M Fagerson; A Price; B Thomson; DTH van der Merwe; S Johnson; N Grigg; T Seymour; S Hogg.
K Bryce, A Allan, P du Plessis, T Swinson, C Fusaro, G Horne, A Hastings, L Jones.
Reps: