Two changes for Cardiff ahead of Welsh derby clash

Cardiff have made two changes to the starting XV for round two of the United Rugby Championship season against Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday evening (5.15 KO).

The two changes come in the pack where Corey Domachowski replaces Danny Southworth in the front row and Alun Lawrence comes in for the injured James Botham. Lawrence will play at eight with Ben Donnell shifting to flanker alongside Dan Thomas.

Otherwise, it’s the same side that earned a bonus point victory over Zebre Parma last week with Liam Belcher captaining at hooker, with Keiron Assiratti at loose head prop and Josh McNally and Teddy Williams in the second row.

Aled Davies and Callum Sheedy on the back of his Player of the Match performance form the half-back partnership. Ben Thomas and Rey Lee-Lo go again in the centres, while Mason Grady, Cam Winnett and Iwan Stephens form the back three.

Cardiff head coach, Matt Sherratt, said: "Last week against Zebre, it was all about getting the job done, and we were pleased to come away with the bonus point win.

“It wasn’t perfect, but we showed a lot of character to take control in the early stages and were able to get the job done and play a lot of our new singings in a competitive game for the first time.

“This week against the Scarlets is a different kind of challenge, but in many ways, the approach remains the same.

“We’ve kept the side very similar because we want to build consistency and momentum.

“Facing your Welsh rivals always adds extra intensity, and we know we’ll need to raise our game, especially playing away from home for the first time, but the focus is on sticking to our processes.”

There are two further changes to the bench as Mackenzie Martin comes in as back row cover, and Ellis Bevan returns from injury to replace Johan Mulder at scrum-half.

Eighteen of the match-day squad are Welsh qualified, with 13 products of the club’s pathway system.

Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Mason Grady, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Iwan Stephens, Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies, Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher ©, Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Ed Byrne, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Mackenzie Martin, Ellis Bevan, Tinus de Beer, Harri Millard