Cardiff v Edinburgh: Guinness PRO12 preview
Last Updated: 02/03/15 11:17am
Filo Paulo will play his 50th game for Cardiff Blues as they face Edinburgh in the Guinness PRO12 on Sunday.
Paulo's lock partner Jarrad Hoeata makes a return to the starting team. Hoeata returns from suspension in one of seven changes for the Blues.
Hooker Matthew Rees will captain the team and joins the returning Sam Hobbs and Adam Jones in the front row.
Manoa Vosawai comes into the side at No 8 with Josh Navidi ruled out by an injury suffered against Treviso last weekend.
Centre Cory Allen has been released from Wales duty and partners Gavin Evans in a fresh midfield for the Welsh region.
Richard Smith joins the side on the wing, with Argentina international Lucas Amorosino ruled out with a leg injury.
Attack Coach Paul John said: "Edinburgh are a difficult side and we played poorly up there earlier in the season.
"We've got to get ourselves right, get everything functioning right from attack and defence and show some passion and play for the jersey.
"The players know that they owe everybody in the region a performance and we have got to work our socks off to get something and finish on a high."
Meanwhile Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons has made six changes to his team for their trip to Cardiff.
David Denton makes a return to start in the No 8 jersey while captain Mike Coman moves to blindside flank and Roddy Grant takes up the openside, after Hamish Watson was selected on the bench for Scotland's game against Italy.
With Ben Toolis also named on that bench, there’s a change in the locks with Ollie Atkins moving up from the bench to take the No 4 shirt and he partners Anton Bresler in the second row.
The backs remain largely similar to last week, with Jade Te Rure’s move from the bench to the run-on side the only difference.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Richard Smith, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Tom Isaacs, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lloyd Williams, 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Matthew Rees (c), 3 Adam Jones, 4 Filo Paulo, 5 Jarrad Hoeata, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 8 Manoa Vosawai.
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Taufa'ao Filise, 19 Lou Reed, 20 Macauley Cook, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Adam Thomas.
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Jade Te Rure, 9 Grayson Hart, 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Neil Cochrane, 3 WP Nel, 4 Ollie Atkins, 5 Anton Bresler, 6 Mike Coman (c), 7 Roddy Grant, 8 David Denton.
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 John Andress, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Hugh Blake, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Andries Strauss.