Cardiff Rugby have been boosted by the return to fitness of three international stars for Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash against Zebre Parma (2pm local) with a quartet of debutants in the match-day squad.
Cam Winnett and Mason Grady have been passed fit to join in-form Tom Bowen in an exciting back-three, while James Botham is named among the replacements.
Harri Millard and Steff Emanuel combine in the centre, while Aled Davies and Ioan Lloyd are named at half-back.
Corniel van Zyl has named an experienced pack with Rhys Barratt, Daf Hughes and Javan Sebastian starting in the front-row. Josh McNally and George Nott combine in the second-row, while Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas and Alun Lawrence make up the back-row.
Max Pearce, who has joined the club on licence for one game from Bath, is one of four debutants named on the bench, joining Ioan Emanuel, Harri Wilde and new signing Cornel Smit.
Van Zyl said: “It’s pleasing to get some guys back on the pitch and in training. All of a sudden we have a few more backs to train with and that’s pleasing.
“We are obviously without the internationals but we knew that was going to be the case, we planned for it a long time ago and we have prepared well in this last break.
“We almost treated the past month like a mini pre-season and we have got a lot of good work in but now everyone is looking forward to getting back to games.
“It will not be easy out in Zebre and we all know that they have taken some big strides over the last 18 months. They are a very tough team to beat and they pride themselves on doing the basics well.
“They’re very good at the breakdown on both sides of the ball and they have some dangerous backs, who can swing a game at any time.
“But we pride ourselves on growing this season, getting better than not only last season, but week to week. We haven’t won away from Wales in some time and we want to get that win. This week is another opportunity to do that.”
The Blue & Blacks go into the fixture on the back of an impressive start to the season, with four wins from five and 20 points from a possible 25.
They are without 16 first team players for the Stadio Lanfranchi encounter and face a Zebre side sitting ninth in the URC table with wins over Edinburgh and Lions.
Cardiff Rugby team to face Zebre Parma on Saturday, November 29:
Cam Winnett; Mason Grady, Harri Millard, Steff Emanuel, Tom Bowen; Ioan Lloyd, Aled Davies; Rhys Barratt, Daf Hughes, Javan Sebastian, Josh McNally (capt), George Nott, Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.
Replacements: Max Pearce, Ioan Emanuel, Sam Wainwright, James Botham, Taine Basham, Ellis Bevan, Harri Wilde, Cornel Smit.
