Rugby: Edinburgh will face a strong Cardiff team at the Arms Park

Published on 04/09/2012 12:10

Edinburgh Rugby have been warned that it isn’t going to become easier to get their Rabo Direct Pro 12 League bid up and running when they visit Cardiff Blues on Friday.

With the Blues returning to their ancestral home at the Arms Park, coach Phil Davies is hinting this will give a boost to a team already expected to be bolstered by Test stars back from an enforced lay-off.

Speaking after a 13-9 opening day win at Connacht Davies anticipated the return of Sam Warburton, Bradley Davies, Leigh Halfpenny and Alex Cuthbert against an Edinburgh side seeking to bounce back from an 18-23 home defeat by Munster, saying: “We have got our international players back from their recovery and we go back to the Arms Park which should be a bit of a special occasion. We also have a bit of competition for places now as well.”

If Edinburgh are to get off the mark then they will have to overcome the weight of history.

Edinburgh’s only victory in their last 19 away league 
fixtures was last November at Treviso.

Also, they have not won in Wales since beating Scarlets in early December 2009 and have been beaten in their last four league games with Cardiff.

However, encouragement can be taken from the fact that before Cardiff left temporarily for a stadium shared with the local football team Edinburgh had won in four of their last five visit to the Arms Park.

• Wales coach Warren Gatland will today be unveiled as coach of the British and Irish Lions for next year’s tour of Australia.