Cardiff Blues v Ospreys: Guinness PRO12 preview
Last Updated: 24/04/15 4:27pm
Wales international Gethin Jenkins is back to skipper the Cardiff Blues in their Guinness PRO12 derby at the Millennium Stadium.
Jenkins is one of nine changes made by the coaching staff as they face fourth-place Ospreys in an important clash in the Welsh capital.
Argentina internationals Joaquin Tuculet and Lucas Amorosino both come back into the side on the wings as they have recovered from recent injuries, and the back three is completed by the return of Rhys Patchell.
Patchell's place in the side has been accommodated by a switch to fly-half for Gareth Anscombe, who started in the No 15 jersey in the Blues' 36-17 loss to Glasgow at the Scotsnoun Stadium.
There is a fresh front row as Jenkins takes his place alongside Craig Mitchell, who takes over from Adam Jones at tighthead prop, while hooker Kristian Dacey is retained from last week.
The second row has been changed completely as Chris Dicomidis and Filo Paulo take over from Jarrad Hoeata and Lou Reed.
Josh Turnbull will wear the No 6 jersey and he will partner Sam Warburton and Josh Navidi in the loose trio.
“The table doesn’t lie and I have a lot of respect for Ospreys and the management. They are a very complete side that is well coached at the set piece and they play at a pace that is hard to control.
“We understand to get near them and compete we have to raise our game and base our game around tenacity and physicality. We also have to maintain our discipline, because that’s let us down on occasion, because they have pace and a fluid game."
Dale McIntosh, Defence Coach at Cardiff Blues, said: “It’s going to be a great spectacle and big occasion at Judgement Day III.
“The players are in the mood and they have trained well,” he added. “Gethin (Jenkins) is busting for a game and we need our big players on form and supported by the rest of the boys.
“We have a number of players returning from injury and it’s important we see players like Craig Mitchell back in league action as we look ahead to next season and the future.”
Ospreys meanwhile have made just three changes to the team that collected a 33-13 bonus-point win over Benetton Treviso at Stadio Monigo a fortnight ago.
Outside centre Ben John has been promoted from the bench and he joins Josh Matavesi in this midfield.
Ospreys also see a change in the front row as loosehead prop Nicky Smith comes into the team ahead of Ryan Bevington. The final change takes place in the second row, where Tyler Ardton has made way for Lloyd Peers, with the former occupying the bench.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Lucas Amorosino, 13 Tom Isaacs, 12 Garyn Smith, 11 Joaquin Tuculet, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Craig Mitchell, 4 Chris Dicomidis, 5 Filo Paulo, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Josh Navidi
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Jarrad Hoeata, 20 Macauley Cook, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Dan Fish
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Ben John, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Scott Baldwin, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 4 Lloyd Peers, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Dan Baker.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Tyler Ardron, 20 James King, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Jonathan Spratt.