Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues - RaboDirect PRO12 match preview
Last Updated: 02/05/14 10:41am
Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons has opted against changing a winning formula for Friday’s visit of Cardiff Blues.
Edinburgh beat the Newport Gwent Dragons last time out so Solomons has named the same match-day squad to tackle the Blues.
"Cardiff are a good side, who fully deserved their win against Ulster, so we know we are going to have a tough game on Friday night," said Solomons.
"They have some very good players in key positions who will present a big physical challenge, and their kicker has amongst the highest percentages in the PRO12, so our discipline has got to be good."
Gethin Jenkins will bring up another milestone when he captains the Blues, with the British and Irish Lions international making his 100th RaboDirect PRO12 appearance.
Difficult
Like Edinburgh, Cardiff retain the same starting XV, however the coaching team of Paul John and Dale McIntosh do make a change on the bench.
Wales lock Bradley Davies makes his long-awaited comeback after five months out injured, while Dafydd Hewitt joins him among the replacements.
"Edinburgh had a good win at Dragons last time out, have international players back and play a good brand of rugby," said John.
"It's a difficult game for us in new surroundings, but all we can do is concentrate on ourselves.
"We will look at the threat they pose, but first and foremost we have to make sure we maintain our performance and produce again.”
Edinburgh:15 Cuthbert, 14 Hidalgo-Clyne, 13 Scott, 12 Strauss, 11 Brown, 10 Leonard, 9 Hart, 1 Dickinson, 2 Ford, 3 Nel, 4 Gilchrist, 5 van der Westhuizen, 6 Coman (c) , 7 Du Preez, 8 Denton.
Replacements: 16 Hilterbrand, 17 Blaauw, 18 Berghan, 19 Atkins, 20 Grant, 21 Kennedy, 22 Bezuidenhout, 23 Beard
Cardiff Blues: 15 Fish, 14 Cuthbert, 13 Allen, 12 Tuifua, 11 Czekaj, 10 G Davies, 9 Jones, 8 Copeland 7 Navidi, 6 Cook, 5 Paulo, 4 Reed, 3 Filise, 2 Dacey, 1 G Jenkins (c).
Replacements: 16 Rees, 17 T Davies, 18 Andrews, 19 B Davies, 20 E Jenkins, 21 L Williams, 22 Humberstone, 23 Hewitt