Cardiff have named their team to face Leinster on Friday night
Cardiff are looking to create ‘chaos’ with ball in hand as they prepare to take on Leinster’s formidable midfield pairing on Friday night (kick-off: 7pm).
The Blue and Blacks are seeking to boost their United Rugby Championship play-off hopes at the Arms Park, but overcoming high-flying Leinster will be difficult. The Irish province are able to call upon All Black centre Rieko Ioane, who scored against Wales in November, and British and Irish Lion Robbie Henshaw to make up their midfield.
Cardiff are aided by the release of centre Ben Thomas, wing Mason Grady and hooker Liam Belcher from Wales’ Six Nations squad.
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All three start, with Thomas lining up with Harri Millard against Leinster’s daunting centre duo.
“It’s a very important game against a Leinster side stacked with stars,” said Millard earlier this week. “Hopefully we can show what we’re about.
“I’m looking forward to it (facing Ioane and Henshaw). That’s why we play the game, to play against these boys.
“I look at it as a good challenge for myself.”
Millard, who was the URC’s top try-scorer last year, has not dotted down in this campaign after switching from the wing to outside centre. But he remains committed to creating chances for the Arms Park club – whether he’s finishing them or not.
“They are a team that are very good in defence and can get on top of you,” addedMillard.
“We are looking to use our skill to beat that line speed and get our wingers on the ball to cause chaos. To do that we need quick ball in midfield from the forwards and hopefully that unlocks the edges for our backs.”
Leinster head to the Welsh capital on the back of an 11-game winning run.
As for Cardiff, they sit fifth in the table on 36 points – having claimed at least one match point from every fixture so far this season.
Corniel van Zyl is able to name a back-three made up of Welsh internationals – with Jacob Beetham and Grady on either side of Cameron Winnett.
Callum Sheedy partners Aled Davies in the half-backs.
In the pack, Belcher captains the side alongside Rhys Barratt and Javan Sebastian in the front-row, while George Nott lines up next to Josh McNally in the boiler room.
Cardiff’s back-row stocks are low, with van Zyl saying this week he had considered recalling Wales international Mackenzie Martin from the Dragons.
Alun Lawrence, Dan Thomas and Taine Basham start, with academy product Evan Rees providing cover on the bench.
Wales U20s wing Tom Bowen is also a replacement.
Cardiff: Cameron Winnett; Jacob Beetham, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Mason Grady; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Rhys Barratt, Liam Belcher (capt), Javan Sebastian, Josh McNally, George Nott, Alun Lawrence, Dan Thomas, Taine Basham.
Replacements: Daf Hughes, Danny Southworth, Keiron Assiratti, Rory Thornton, Evan Rees, Johan Mulder, Ioan Lloyd, Tom Bowen.
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien; Joshua Kenny, Rieko Ioane, Robbie Henshaw, Ruben Moloney; Harry Byrne Fintan Gunne; Jerry Cahir, John McKee, Andrew Sparrow, Alan Spicer, Brian Deeny, Max Deegan (capt), Scott Penny, James Culhane.
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Josh Ericson, Luke McGrath, Charlie Tector, Andrew Osborne.