Cardiff name unchanged team to face Bulls

Liam Belcher will captain Cardiff as they take on Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Friday evening (5pm GMT / 7pm local).

The Blue & Blacks travel to South Africa with tangible BKT United Rugby Championship play-off hopes, and they have been boosted by the availability of five Wales stars following the Six Nations.

The starting XV is unchanged to the side that brought Leinster’s 11-match winning run to an end earlier this month at the Arms Park.

Belcher packs down in the front-row between Rhys Barratt and Javan Sebastian.

Ben Thomas and Mason Grady are also available to take their place in a familiar back-line.

The Blue & Blacks are currently fifth in the URC table, 10 points clear of eighth-placed Bulls.

Corniel van Zyl expects a backlash following the Bulls loss to DHL Stormers last week but with the race for the play offs intensifying, he insists his side are focused on one job at a time.

He said: “We are really looking forward to Friday and what will undoubtedly be a big challenge at Loftus.

“The Bulls are a quality team, who are really physical and really dangerous, and they will be smarting following last week’s loss.

“So we are expecting to see the very best of the Bulls on Friday but we have prepared well.

“We will fight for each other and the jersey, trying to put as much of our game on the pitch as possible, and see where that takes us.

“The table looks good at the moment but a lot can change in this competition. We are just focusing on one game at a time, and taking what we can from each opportunity.”

Sam Wainwright, who was unused through the Six Nations, and James Botham, one of Wales’ standout performers are included on the replacements bench.

There is also a return for Taulupe Faletau following the injury he suffered on New Year’s Day.

Cardiff Rugby team to face Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Friday at 7pm (local):

Cam Winnett; Mason Grady, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Jacob Beetham; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Rhys Barratt, Liam Belcher (capt), Javan Sebastian, Josh McNally, George Nott, Alun Lawrence, Dan Thomas, Taine Basham. 

Replacements: Daf Hughes, Danny Southworth, Sam Wainwright, Rory Thornton, James Botham, Taulupe Faletau, Ellis Bevan, Ioan Lloyd.