Cardiff ready to build on Sherratt work in opener

Cardiff's Liam Belcher made his Wales debut against Japan in July

United Rugby Championship: Cardiff v Lions

Venue: Cardiff Arms Park Date: Saturday, 27 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Live on S4C and BBC iPlayer

Cardiff intend to reap the rewards of the hard work put in by Matt Sherratt when they start a new era against Lions at the Arms Park on Saturday (19:45 BST).

The Blue and Blacks play their first game since head coach Sherratt left to become Wales attack coach when hosting the South Africans in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Assistant coaches Corniel Van Zyl, Gethin Jenkins, Jonny Goodridge and Scott Andrews will be calling the shots for Cardiff.

Their task is improving on a 2024-25 campaign that saw them finish ninth after they were pipped to the play-offs by Scarlets.

Captain Liam Belcher believes Sherratt's appointment by Wales is proof of the strides made by Cardiff.

"He's a class coach and a great person," said the hooker, who made his Wales debut under then caretaker Wales boss against Japan in the summer. It shows what we have done here as a club, what he has built and the foundations he has put in.

"He instilled confidence in me, and he did that with everybody in the squad. He speaks positively and has given us a structure where we can put our super strengths on the field.

"The foundations are there now and it's on the senior players and coaches to pick up and drive the standards.

"The club is in a really good place through its coaching and hopefully that will show through the season."

Cardiff give debuts to three players with tight-head prop Javan Sebastian and open-side flanker Taine Basham starting with utility back Ioan Lloyd on the bench.

The hosts feature seven players who toured Japan with Wales - Belcher, lock Teddy Williams, blind-side flanker Alex Mann, centre Ben Thomas, wing Josh Adams and full-back Cam Winnett start with tight-head prop Keiron Assiratti on the bench.

There is no place in the 23 for legendary number eight Taulupe Faletau because of a minor niggle while full-back Leigh Halfpenny, whose return to the club as player-coach was announced on Thursday, is recovering from a calf injury.

Cardiff edged out Lions 20-17 at the Arms Park last season thanks to a defensive stand at the death.

The visitors, who are without scrum-half Morne van den Berg because he is on the Springboks' bench to face Argentina on Saturday, have not won on their travels since last season's trip to Zebre Parma in round five.

However, they are battle-hardened after using the majority of their squad in the Currie Cup when they were runners-up to the Griquas.

Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who faced Italy and Australia with the Springboks this summer, starts at tight-head prop for Lions after being charged, but not suspended by the South Africa Institute for Drug-Free Sport for failing a test.

How they line up

Cardiff: Winnett; Adams, Millard, B Thomas, Bowen; Sheedy, Mulder; Barratt, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, T Williams, Mann, Basham, Lawrence.

Replacements: E Lloyd, Southworth, Assiratti, Donnell, D Thomas, Davies, I Lloyd, Beetham.

Lions: Q Horn, Mafura, Van Wyk, Kriel, Davids; Dobela, N Steyn; Kotze, Marais, Ntlabakanye, Sjoblom, Delport, Cairns, R Venter, Steenkamp.

Replacements: Brandon, Pohlmann, R Schoeman, Landsberg, R Du Plessis, Pead, Francis, Jonker.

Referee: Filippo Russo (FIR).

Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear (WRU), Lucas Yendle (WRU).

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR).