Cardiff to cause 'chaos' for champions Leinster

Cardiff aim to cause 'chaos' with ball in hand to boost their United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off hopes against Leinster on Friday.

The Blue and Blacks are boosted by the presence of Wales centre Ben Thomas, wing Mason Grady and hooker Liam Belcher to face the Irish province to the Arms Park on Friday (19:00 GMT).

They have been released from Six Nations duty for game time ahead of the final two rounds while Wales Under-20s wing Tom Bowen also features as a replacement for fifth-placed Cardiff.

Leinster are second in the tableand field a formidable side featuring All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane alongside Ireland and British and Irish Lions international Robbie Henshaw in midfield.

The champions lost three of their first four games this season but head to Cardiff on an 11-game winning run in all competitions since losing at Munster in October.

"They are a team that are very good in defence and can get on top of you," said centre Harri Millard.

"We are looking to use our skill to beat that line speed and get our wingers on the ball to cause chaos. To do that we need quick ball in midfield from the forwards and hopefully that unlocks the edges for our backs."

Cardiff are on 36 points from 11 games and have claimed match points from every URC fixture in 2025-26.

They have an 11-point lead over ninth-placed Ospreys and are in a strong position to go one better than last season, when they missed out on the top eight by one point.

In the four campaigns of the URC the final play-off spot has been earned by 48 twice and 50 twice.

"You can go on the average of previous seasons about what is needed but every year is different and there are still quite a few games left," said coach Corniel van Zyl.

"Teams can beat each other and we are just looking to put our plan on the pitch and go for it from game to game."

Hooker Belcher, who came off the bench for Wales at England in the first round of the Six Nations, captains Cardiff.

Full-back Jacob Beetham is selected on the wing while Alun Lawrence continues at blind-side flanker with Taine Basham getting the nod at number eight.

Tight-head prop Kieron Assiratti returns from a calf injury that forced him to pull out of the Six Nations squad to be among the replacements.

He is joined on the bench by academy back-row forward Evan Rees, who is set for a senior debut.

Cardiff are without wing Josh Adams and flankers Alex Mann and James Botham, who are set to feature for Wales against Ireland next weekend, along with tight-head prop Sam Wainwright, who is back-up for Tomas Francis and Archie Griffin.

The Irish 23 that stunned England at Twickenham featured 14 Leinster players, with Harry Byrne released to feature at the Arms Park.

Cardiff: Winnett; Beetham, Millard, B Thomas, Grady; Sheedy, A Davies; Barratt, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, Nott, Lawrence, D Thomas, Basham.

Replacements: D Hughes, Southworth, Assiratti, Thornton, E Rees, Mulder, I Lloyd, Bowen.

Leinster: O'Brien; Kenny, Ioane, Henshaw, Moloney, Byrne; Gunne, Cahir, McKee, Sparrow, Spicer, Deeny, Deegan (capt), Penny, Culhane.

Replacements: McCarthy, Usanov, Slimani, Snyman, Ericson, McGrath, Tector, Osborne.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) & Carwyn Sion (Wales)

TMO: David Sutherland (Scotland)