Guinness PRO12: Josh Navidi reaches Cardiff milestone
Friday 30 October 2015 14:30, UK
There are two fixtures in the Guinness PRO12 on Saturday as Cardiff Blues travel to Zebre and high-flying Connacht host Edinburgh.
Zebre v Cardiff Blues (1pm UK time)
Josh Navidi makes his 100th appearance for the Blues when he leads them out at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
Cardiff head coach Danny Wilson makes four changes to the team that picked up a losing bonus point in Ulster, with USA international Blaine Scully handed his debut.
Wales wing Tom James returns for his first appearance since the opening day of the season, Ellis Jenkins comes in at openside, while prop Taufa'ao Filise will make his 199th appearance for the club.
Zebre, who are seeking consecutive wins for the first time in their history, make two changes to their backline with former Australia international Luke Burgess named at scrum-half and Giulio Bisegni at outside centre.
Zebre: 15 Dion Berryman, 14 Kayle Van Zyl, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Luke Burgess; 1 Andrea Lovotti, 2 Andrea Manici, 3 Dario Chistolini, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 5 George Biagi (c), 6 Jean Cook, 7 Johan Meyer, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk.
Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Valerio Bernabo, 20 Jacopo Sarto, 21 Marcello Violi, 22 Guglielmo Palazzani, 23 Edoardo Padovani.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Tom Isaacs, 12 Adam Thomas, 11 Tom James, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Tavis Knoyle; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Lou Reed, 5 James Down, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 8 Josh Navidi (c).
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Garyn Smith.
Connacht v Edinburgh (6.45pm)
Connacht make three changes to the side that won at the Ospreys in round five, with Tom McCartney, Andrew Browne and captain John Muldoon all returning to the pack.
Ireland prop Nathan White is named among the replacements as Pat Lam's men seek a fourth successive victory.
Edinburgh fell to a surprise defeat at Zebre last weekend and head coach Alan Solomons has rung the changes.
Teenager Blair Kinghorn, who came off the bench in Italy for his professional debut, is named at full-back with Chris Dean and Sam Beard forming a new centre partnership.
Scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne moves up from the bench while Roddy Grant returns at openside flanker in place of Hamish Watson.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Darragh Laeder, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Aly Muldowney, 5 Andrew Browne, 6 John Muldoon (c), 7 Nepia Fox-Matamua, 8 Eoghan Masterson.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Finlay Bealham, 18 Nathan White, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Rory Parata, 23 Niyi Adeolokun.
Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Damien Hoyland, 13 Chris Dean, 12 Sam Beard, 11 Will Helu, 10 Phil Burleigh, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Neil Cochrane, 3 John Andress, 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 6 Mike Coman (c), 7 Roddy Grant, 8 Nasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Alex Toolis, 20 Cornell Du Preez, 21 Sean Kennedy, 22 Dougie Fife, 23 Nick McLennan.
