Cardiff Blues will have Nick Robinson in their squad for the first time this season after being laid low by illness since August. Tom Shanklin and Gethin Jenkins have been retained in the Wales squad preparing to play England so Jonny Bryant partners Tristan Davies in the centre. In the pack Martin Jones plays at tight-head prop in place of Jenkins and Nathan Budgett packs down alongside new captain Deiniol Jones at lock.
Edinburgh have announced their team for Friday night.
“We have started to perform to the standard we have come to expect at Edinburgh Rugby and are rightly looking forward to the difficult trip to Cardiff with real confidence,” said Edinburgh coach Frank Hadden.
BLUES: Nick Macleod; Dean Dewdney, Tristan Davies, Jon Bryant, Jonny Vaughton; Lee Thomas, Ryan Powell; John Yapp, Rhys Thomas, Martin Jones, Deiniol Jones (captain), Nathan Budgett, Nathan Thomas, Kort Schubert, Robin Sowden-Taylor
Replacements: Ben Evans, Gareth Williams, Robert Sidoli, Maama Molitika, Nick Robinson, Nick Walne, Shaun James
EDINBURGH: 15. Derrick Lee 14. Michael Pyke 13. Marcus Di Rollo 12. Brendan Laney 11. Simon Webster 10. Phil Godman 9. Mike Blair 1. Allan Jacobsen 2, Dougie Hall 3. Craig Smith 4. Fergus Pringle 5. Nathan Hines 6. Todd Blackadder © 7. Alasdair Strokosch 8. David Callam
Replacements: 16. Andrew Kelly 17. Alasdair Dickinson 18. Nathan Pike 19, Simon Cross 20. Rory Lawson 21. Paul Boston 22. Craig Joiner
Saturday 29 January
LLANELLI SCARLETS v MUNSTER
At Stradey Park, 5.30pm live on S4C & Setanta Ireland
Referee: Andy lreland (SRU)
Having requested that both Dwayne Peel and Dafydd Jones are rested this week ahead of the Six Nations, Wales Coach Mike Ruddock has released Robin McBryde and Mike Phillips to play for the Region. Scarlets Skipper Simon Easterby, is also available for selection whilst Mark Taylor returns for the first time since October, following chicken pox and a detached retina. It will be Friday before a confirmed selection is made.
Munster make three changes, from the side that started against Harlequins last time out, for Saturday’s Celtic League encounter with Llanelli at Stradey Park. Ronan O’Gara returns to the side having missed that game through injury, Paul Devlin comes into the side for his fourth start and Jason Holland gets a run at inside centre. Positional changes from Twickenham see Shaun Payne revert to outside centre to accomodate the inclusion of Devlin but up front the Munster pack remains the same.
MUNSTER: Christian Cullen; Paul Devlin, Shaun Payne, Jason Holland, Anthony Horgan; Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Frankie Sheahan, John Hayes; Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell; Alan Quinlan, Denis Leamy, Anthony Foley capt
Replacements: G McIlwham, F Roche, J Flannery, T Hogan, D Wallace, E Reddan, M Mullins, AN Other
Saturday 29 January
GLASGOW RUGBY v NEATH-SWANSEA OSPREYS
At Hughenden, 7.45pm live on Setanta Scotland
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU).
The Ospreys need to keep their momentum going at the top of the Celtic Legaue, but could have their work cut out when they face glasgow at hughenden. Head Coach, Lyn Jones commented “We have made some enforced changes due to Wales team commitments but this presents an opportunity for players to come into the team and makea mark.
“This is a key fixture for us as we are winning home games and must maintain this form on the road. It is vital that we maintain our momentum and look to improve on last weeks below par performance”
Glasgow: tbc
Ospreys: A Durston; S Terblanche, D Bishop, E Seveali’i, P Mackey; P Connor, R Rees; P James, B Williams (capt), A Millward, A Newman, L Bateman, J Bater, R Jones, S Tandy.
Replacements: R Hibbard, C Griffiths, J Thomas, A Lloyd, J Spice, M Jones, D Tiueti
Sunday 30 January
LEINSTER v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At Lansdowne Road, 4.45pm live on Setanta Sports
Referee: David Changleng (SRU).
After last weeks defeat at the lowly Borders Leinster have included their big names for this Sunday’s game against the Dragons. Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Denis Hickie and Malcolm O’Kelly all return to the 25 man squad. The team is expected to be announced following training on Friday afternoon.
Leinster: Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Brian O’Driscoll/Felipe Contepomi, Gordon D’Arcy, Denis Hickie, David Holwell, Guy Easterby, Reggie Corrigan (capt), Shane Byrne, Emmett Byrne, Leo Cullen, Malcolm O’Kelly, Ciaran Potts, Niall Ronan, Eric Miller.
Replacements: Ricky Nebbett, David Blaney, Ben Gissing, Aidan McCullen, Victor Costello, Brian O’Riordan, David Quinlan, Kieran Lewis, Gary Brown
Dragons: Sione Tuipulotu; Gareth Wyatt, Percy Montgomery, Steve Winn, Ben Breeze; Craig Warlow, Gareth Baber; Rod Snow, James Richards, Chris Anthony, Neil Edwards, Peter Sidoli, Jamie Ringer, Jason Forster (capt), Rhys Oakley.
Replacements (from): Kieran Crawford, Adam Black, Rhys Thomas, Mathew Veater, James Ireland, Nathan Brew/Richard Payne, Gareth Chapman
