The visitors have had a rather strong start back in the Welsh Premiership as they have won 6 out of 7 so far. However, after the Blue and Blacks got their first away win of the season the home team will enter this top 5 clash with a lot of confidence.
Team News:
Steve Law makes two changes and a positional change to his side that faced Bridgend last time out. 19-year-old Mackenzie Martin returns to the back row in replacement of still-injured Nathan Hudd.
Law makes two changes to the backline as Jacob Lloyd comes in at fullback after starting on the bench last time out at the Brewery Field. After starting his second game last weekend Joe Goodchild remains in the starting XV and switches to the wing.
Last meetings between the two sides:
Skipper Morgan Allen comes up against his former club that he played for when playing for the Gwent region in 2009 and 2010. Allen started that game, and interestingly that was the last time Cardiff beat Pooler at Pontypool Park in the Welsh Premiership.
The last time Cardiff had beaten the Gwent side at home was back in January 2011 when it finished 24-12 to the Blue and Blacks with scrum-half Owen Ruttley scoring the only try of the game. Earlier on in the season, Cardiff drew with Pontypool 19-19 after a late try from Pontypool’s Gareth Williams.
The Blue and Blacks have also crossed paths with Pooler in the National Cup back in the 2016-17 season where Cardiff lost 43-32.
I caught up with Morgan Allen in the week as he gave his thoughts on his side’s performance last time out against Bridgend and also previews the big game this Saturday,
Allen’s thoughts on the Bridgend game:
Allen said: “It’s always a tough place to go and they always make it difficult for us by keeping going for 80 minutes”.
“We did well to pick up a bonus point but we’ve spoken about taking our foot off the gas and letting them back into games”.
“It’s a well deserved 5 points away from home, we’ve obviously spoken about some things we need to work on ahead of another tough game against Pontypool this week”, said Allen.
Allen’s thoughts ahead of the Pontypool encounter:
“Obviously they have achieved a lot over the last couple of seasons and have made a great start to life back in the Prem”.
“They’ve had some good results both home and away from home so far”, Allen said.
Pontypool has had a strong start to the season with the visitors sitting in third place in the table, only losing 1 game in the league against Newport. Pooler has recorded two bonus point wins against Camarthen Quinn’s and Pontypridd.
“We know what’s coming from them this week and know we can’t underestimate them”.
“The coaches this week have been really on it and identified a few things we need to work on to make sure we come away with the right result at home ahead of a break next week and finish this mini block of games on a high, ready for an attritional block from November to February now”, said Allen.
Cardiff RFC Starting XV
1. Ollie Evans
2. Evan Lloyd
3. Adam Williams
4. Sean Moore
5. Ethan Phillips
6. Mackenzie Martin
7. Craig Hudd
8. Morgan Allen (Capt)
9. Tom Habberfield
10. Harrison James
11. James Beal
12. Jason Harries
13. Luke Pollock
14. Joe Goodchild
15. Jacob Lloyd
Replacements:
16. Joey Tomlinson
17. Brynley Toms
18. Christian Brooke
19. Shaun O’Rourke
20. Alun Rees
21. Joe Williams
22. Matty Young
23. Kodie Stone
Written By Harry Tovey.
HTSPORTSNEWS 