This weekend it will be a case of “anything Edinburgh can do, we can do better” as Glasgow Warriors set off for Cardiff where Edinburgh picked up a win in Round 1.
Dave Rennie isn’t taking anything for granted and he’s put out a strong team to make the journey. The Cardiff team they will face is stronger than the one that Edinburgh beat and will be playing to restore a bit of pride. Sam Warburton will sit this one out through injury, so no change there then.
In the backs, only Ali Price is missing from the currently available first choices with Henry Pyrgos to captain the side in the absence of Ryan Wilson. Nick Grigg gets a start, but swap him for Huw Jones and Jackson for Hogg and that’s pretty much the first choice back line you imagine (maybe Sarto or Masaga on one wing).
Up front, Rennie sticks with the young front row and George Turner continues his run at hooker where he’s probably played more in the last three weeks than he did for Edinburgh in a couple of years. Cockers might want him back soon…
Adam Ashe too is a player benefitting from game time and he’s part of a new back row unit with Gibbins and Matt Fagerson. Not sure Fag-Ash-Gibbon will catch on as a nickname like Killer Bs did though…
In the boilerhouse Tim Swinson will play his 100th game for Glasgow. If he does as well as Dunbar did last weekend on his, Cardiff are in trouble.
The bench also features fan favourite (and coaches nightmare) Niko Matawalu, who although a couple of years older may be no more sensible but is there anyone better at terrorising defences late in the game?
Welcome back, Niko.
Cardiff Blues: Rhun Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Tom James; Steve Shingler, Lloyd Williams; Rhys Gill; Matthew Rees (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Seb Davies, Damian Welch, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Brad Thyer, Dillon Lewis , George Earle, Macauley Cook, Tomos Williams, Jarrod Evans, Matthew Morgan.
Glasgow Warriors: 15. Ruaridh Jackson, 14. Tommy Seymour, 13. Nick Grigg, 12. Alex Dunbar, 11. Lee Jones, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Henry Pyrgos (capt); 1. Jamie Bhatti, 2. George Turner, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Tim Swinson, 5. Scott Cummings, 6. Matt Fagerson, 7. Callum Gibbins, 8. Adam Ashe.
Replacements: 16. Pat MacArthur, 17. Alex Allan, 18. D’arcy Rae, 19. Brian Alainu’uese, 20. Chris Fusaro, 21. George Horne, 22. Peter Horne, 23. Niko Matawalu.
Unavailable players: Fraser Brown (ankle), Jonny Gray (wrist), Adam Hastings (thigh), Stuart Hogg (shoulder), Oli Kebble (foot), Paddy Kelly (ankle), Lelia Masaga (calf), Ratu Tagive (achilles), Leo Sarto (groin), Richie Vernon (achilles), Samuela Vunisa (knee) and Ryan Wilson (neck).
Saturday 16 September, live on S4C (kick-off 7.35pm)