Cardiff make nine changes for Welsh derby showdown

Cardiff Rugby have made nine changes for Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash with the Ospreys at St Helens.

The Blue & Blacks travel to Swansea following a bruising run of fixtures and without six of their seven Wales squad members.

Josh Adams has been released to get further game time following his return to action earlier this month, and the 31-year-old has been named in a largely unchanged back-line.

He is joined by Tom Bowen and Matty Young in a new-look back-three with the remainder of the backs unchanged from a week ago.

It is virtually all change however, in the pack with Josh McNally the sole survivor from the starting XV that faced Hollywoodbets Sharks. He captains the Blue & Blacks alongside Rory Thornton in the second-row.

Danny Southworth, Daf Hughes and Keiron Assiratti combine in the front-row, while Semisi Paea, Dan Thomas and Alun Lawrence form the back-row, with the latter making his first appearance of the season.

Van Zyl said: “It has been a really tough run of fixtures and it is testing our squad depth but we are looking forward to the challenge of facing the Ospreys at their new home ground.

“They are a quality team and they will be full of confidence following back-to-back wins over the Dragons, either side of a win in the European Challenge Cup, and buoyed by being at St Helen’s

“That provides a real challenge for us, but we see it as an opportunity, and it is one we are excited for. Welsh derbies always add a bit more flavour to the mix and is always closely contested games. It’s about getting a good performance on the pitch and improving from our last game“

Van Zyl has been able to name a mix of youth and experience on the bench with Scott Sio and Javan Sebastian looking to bring impact to the front-row, 

Aled Davies and Callum Sheedy provide an abundance of experience at half-back while Lucas de la Rua and Osian Darwin-Lewis are included for the first time this season.

Cardiff Rugby to face Ospreys at St Helen’s on Saturday, October 31, in the BKT United Rugby Championship: 

Matty Young; Josh Adams, Le Roux Malan, Steff Emanuel, Tom Bowen; Jarrod Evans, Johan Mulder; Danny Southworth, Daf Hughes, Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally (capt), Rory Thornton, Semisi Paea, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Tom Howe, Scott Sio, Javan Sebastian, Tom Manz, Lucas de la Rua, Aled Davies, Callum Sheedy, Osian Darwin-Lewis.