Cardiff v Edinburgh: Teams

Talei: Will make Edinburgh debut

Related links

Teams

• Cardiff Blues
• Edinburgh

Also see

• Experts
• Rugby on Sky
• Scores
• Highlights
• £5 Free Bet

Edinburgh head coach Rob Moffat will hand out three debuts when his side start their Magners League campaign against Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

Following a 19-17 win in their final warm-up match against London Irish last weekend, Moffat has included new boy Netani Talei at number eight

Scotland cap Alex Grove is named at inside centre and the 22-year-old sevens international and former Selkirk back, Lee Jones, will start on the right wing.

Elsewhere, fly-half Phil Godman holds off the strong challenge of David Blair to make what will be his 100th Magners League game, while Scott MacLeod and Andrew Kelly return.

"We're really looking forward to the start of the season," Moffat said. "I think we got a lot out of both our warm-up fixtures against Bath and London Irish - not least the amount of game time across the squad and whether it was first year pros or the elite boys any number of them put their hands up and pushed for selection."

Merit

In that regard Moffat paid tribute to Jones who scored a second-half brace against London Irish.

Jones has won a starting berth ahead of both Mark Robertson and Andrew Turnbull and the Edinburgh head coach says he is there on merit.

"Lee deserved a start. He's got a tremendous work ethic, has trained very well and has been a great example for others," Moffat said.

"We are excited to be starting the league," he added of Saturday's contest.

"We began really well last season when we beat Cardiff in Cardiff in our first game. In fact we have won on our last three league visits to Cardiff.

"Cardiff finished last season very well and had a good win against the Dragons in Martyn Williams' testimonial game last Friday so we know it will be tough on Saturday."

Blues prop Gethin Jenkins will be in the starting line-up for the first time this season having not participated in the pre-season friendly victories against Exeter and Dragons.

In the forwards there is one other change from the team that faced the Dragons, with T Rhys Thomas starting at hooker.

In the backs there is only one change as Richard Mustoe comes in for Leigh Halfpenny, who suffered a deep cut to his mouth in last Friday's win.

Cardiff: 15 Chris Czekaj, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Tom Shanklin, 11 Tom James, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Richie Rees: 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Paul Tito (capt), 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Sam Hobbs, 17 Rhys Williams, 18 Tom Davies, 19 Deiniol Jones, 20 Sam Warburton, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Ceri Sweeney, 23 Ben Blair.

Edinburgh: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Alex Grove, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair; 8 Netani Talei, 7 Roddy Grant (capt), 6 Alan MacDonald, 5 Scott Macleod, 4 Fraser McKenzie, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Kelly, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Jack Gilding, 19 Craig Hamilton, 20 Scott Newlands, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 David Blair, 23 John Houston.