Cardiff bring back Faletau, change seven for Lions

Cardiff Rugby loaded up their team with a bunch of stars as they made seven changes to the team that lost to Glasgow for their round three Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against the Emirates Lions on Friday night.

The big gun to return is Welsh international Taulupe Faletau, who rejoins his side as they look to bounce back from their big defeat at the hands of Franco Smith’s side for the date with the Johannesburg team.

Faletau missed out on the Warriors game as the Welsh internationals have limits on their playing time, but is back in time for the Lions match.

Lopeti Timani moves to make his first start of lock after coming off the bench this season with captain Josh Turnbull moving to flank to accommodate the switch.

Flyhalf Rhys Priestland moves to fullback with Theo Cabango back from a shoulder injury to move into the wing. Priestland will cover 15 following injuries to Liam Williams, Jacob Beetham and Matthew Morgan.

Rey Lee-Lo is reunited with Max Llewellyn in midfield while Jarrod Evans and Tomos Williams continue their half-back partnership.

Cardiff made a double change in the front row with Brad Thyer and Liam Belcher joining Dillon Lewis in the starting XV.

“We’re looking forward to getting back to the Arms Park. We didn’t build on the Munster game last week so hopefully we can bounce back at home against a very good Lions team,” Director of Rugby Dai Young said in naming his side.

“It’s going to be a really good game with lots of rugby to be played by both teams. It should be a lot of entertainment for the people that come to watch. We love playing at the Arms Park and want to give our home crowd the kind of performance they deserve.

“We have made a few changes due to injury but we still have a strong squad and if we can get back to the kind of performance we saw against Munster and build on that, there is no reason why we can’t get the result we want.”

Cardiff: Rhys Priestland; Aled Summerhill, Rey Lee-Lo, Max Llewellyn, Theo Cabango; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Brad Thyer, Liam Belcher, Dillon Lewis, Lopeti Timani, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull (captain), James Botham, Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Corey Domachowski, Dmitri Arhip, Rory Thornton, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Lloyd Williams, Mason Grady, Uilisi Halaholo