Edinburgh Rugby make one change to team for clash with Cardiff Blues

South African hooker Mike Willemse will make his first start for Edinburgh Rugby. Pic: SNS

Hooker Matt Willemse comes into the front row to replace the injured David Cherry. It will be the 26-year-old South African's first competitive start since joining from Golden Lions in the summer.

Apart from Willemse, it will be the same team that performed so well in the 50-15 victory over Zebre in the league curtain-raiser that will take to the field at Cardiff Arms Park (kick-off 5.15pm).

Cockerill said: “We were clearly motivated against Zebre. We have worked hard at our fitness and we are trying to play a bit differently this year. Hopefully people will start to see us being a bit more threatening with ball in hand.

“This weekend is about getting our preparations right. We started the 2017/18 season there and won. Our first year together as group we were very good away from home, but last year we had a habit of losing those matches by very close margins.

“Cardiff aren’t missing as many guys as we are and they will probably be thinking they can get off to a good start in the competition. We know their threats and they are a good team – but we’re a good team as well and we’re going there to win."

He added on www.edinburghrugby.org: “If we get it right and play as well as I know we can, we’ll definitely give ourselves an opportunity to do that.”

Edinburgh team to play Cardiff Blues: 15. Damien Hoyland; 14. Jamie Farndale, 13. Mark Bennett, 12. Matt Scott, 11. Duhan van der Merwe; 10. Jaco van der Walt, 9. Nic Groom (captain); 1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. Mike Willemse, 3. Pietro Ceccarelli, 4. Fraser McKenzie, 5. Murray Douglas, 6. Lewis Carmichael, 7. Luke Crosbie, 8. Nick Haining. Replacements: 16. Cameron Fenton, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Murray McCallum, 19. Mesu Kunavula, 20. Ally Miller, 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. Simon Hickey, 23. George Taylor.