Cardiff coach Corniel Van Zyl has spent the week counting out those still on duty with Wales, but thankfully counting in a raft of players now recovered from injury who are available for selection for this weekend’s tough trip to Zebre Parma.
Cardiff are flying the flag for the Welsh regions in the BKT United Rugby Championship in fourth place and welcome back Mason Grady and Cam Winnett to the starting XV and Jim Botham
“Most of the players who got injured in pre-season are starting to get back, so that’s very pleasing to see,” said Van Zyl.
“All of a sudden we have a few more backs to train with. Early on we had to push boys through games when they weren’t really ready, so having extra bodies definitely helps.
“We knew about the disruption with Wales in advance and planned around it. Basically, whoever isn’t selected is available for us.
“The boys not involved internationally have been doing the training and doing the work, so this period becomes a bit of a reward and an opportunity for them to show what they can do.”
Steve Tandy will be delighted to see Grady back in action after a series of injuries. Having fought his way back to full fitness after ankle surgery a year ago he then picked up a shoulder problem in the pre-season game against Richmond.
He returns to the wing, while Winnett comes back at full back after recovering from hamstring trouble. Botham, who underwent knee surgery in the summer, is on the bench.
“Mason trained so well in pre-season and, not being selected with Wales in the summer, he actually had a good block of work – which he hasn’t always had in previous years,” said Van Zyl.
“It was a shame he picked up that injury against Richmond, but he’s worked really hard and been diligent with his rehab. Hopefully now we can start having a look at him.”
Zebre have been good at home this season, staring the season with a bang with back-to-back wins over Edinburgh (31-28) and the Lions (22-20). They are currently in ninth place, just outside the play-off zone.
A former Italian international himself, Van Zyl knows a lot about the qualities and mindset of the two teams in the URC and has plenty of respect for Zebre.
“They’ve definitely taken big steps over the last 18 months. Some of the wins they had last season were unbelievable,” he added.
“They’re tough to beat, very strong around the breakdown on both sides of the ball, and they’ve got dangerous backs who can strike from anywhere.”
Cardiff coach Corniel Van Zyl has spent the week counting out those still on duty with Wales, but thankfully counting in a raft of players now recovered from injury who are available for selection for this weekend’s tough trip to Zebre Parma.
Zebre Parma v Cardiff Rugby
Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)Live on: Premier Sports, URCtv
Zebre Parma: Lorenzo Pani, Mirko Belloni, Giulio Bertaccini, Marco Zanon, Simone Gesi, Thomas Roger Farias, Alessandro Fusco, Muhamed Hasa, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Matteo Nocera, Alessandro Ortombina, Leonard Krumov, Davide Ruggeri, Samuele Locatelli, Giovanni Licata (captain)
Reps: Giampiero Ribaldi, Paolo Buonfiglio, Juan Pitinari, Giacomo Ferrari, David Odiase, Migael Prinsloo, Giacomo Da Re, Damiano Mazza
Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Mason Grady, Harri Millard, Steff Emanuel, Tom Bowen, Ioan Lloyd, Aled Davies, Rhys Barratt, Daf Hughes, Javan Sebastian, Josh McNally (captain), George Nott, Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence
Reps: Max Pearce, Ioan Emanuel, Sam Wainwright, James Botham, Taine Basham, Ellis Bevan, Harri Wilde, Cornel Smit