Harlequins v Cardiff Blues: Challenge Cup preview
By Tony Tighe
Last Updated: 19/01/16 10:12am
Jamie Roberts will face former side Cardiff Blues for the first time when they visit Harlequins on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 5 HD.
The Wales star starts at inside centre as Quins seek a fifth successive Challenge Cup victory that will clinch top spot in Pool 3.
Conor O'Shea has made three changes to the team that ended Saracens' unbeaten start to the season, all of them coming in the pack.
Will Collier starts at tighthead prop, George Merrick is selected in the second row and Nick Easter returns at No 8 with Jack Clifford switching to openside.
Harlequins have won all five of their Challenge Cup games against Welsh opposition but the Blues have been victorious in five of their last eight away games in the competition.
The Welsh region make two changes to the team that beat the Scarlets on New Year's Day. Prop Sam Hobbs replaces the injured Gethin Jenkins while Macauley Cook comes into the second row.
Fly-half Gareth Anscombe is named on the bench after recovering from the ankle injury suffered in Wales' Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to South Africa.
"It's a game between two sides in form," said Cardiff head coach Danny Wilson. "Quins have been going well and some of the rugby they have played in difficult conditions is impressive. The squad that they have got gives them the depth and the ability to do that.
"There is no doubt that Quins have match winners all over the park and their squad is impressive. To be bringing the likes of Jamie Roberts in at this stage of the season has given them another dimension too.
"We know the challenge of going to Twickenham Stoop to get a must win result, but that is exciting and that we are still in a position to qualify is something we must look to take advantage of."
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 George Lowe, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Ross Chisholm, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care (c); 1 Joe Marler, 2 Rob Buchanan, 3 Will Collier, 4 George Merrick, 5 Charlie Matthews, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 Jack Clifford, 8 Nick Easter.
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Mat Luamanu, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Ben Botica, 23 Charlie Walker.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lloyd Williams (c); 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Macauley Cook, 5 James Down, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Josh Navidi, 8 Manoa Vosawai.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Jarrad Hoeata, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Gavin Evans.
Watch Harlequins v Cardiff Blues live on Sky Sports 5 HD on Sunday from 3pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.