Scully named at fullback for Blues

Blaine Scully will make his home debut for Cardiff Blues on Thursday after being named at fullback to face Harlequins at the Arms Park. The versatile American outside back made his Blues debut in the wing against Zebre on October 31 in Guinness Pro 12 action, and celebrated his first European outing with his new team by scoring a try as a reserve against Italian club side Calvisano a week ago.

Scully signed for the Cardiff franchise in the off-season after spending the best part of two years with Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership. He has won 29 caps for the Eagles since his maiden test in 2011, and played in three of their four games during this year’s World Cup.

Also featuring for Blues are Wales centurion Gethin Jenkins, British & Irish Lions skipper Sam Warburton, and former All Black lock Jarrad Hoeata. Absent from the side is fellow American Cameron Dolan, who has yet to return from injury that has kept him out since his first Blues appearance on October 23.

The Blues have had a rough start to their season, winning only one out of their opening seven games in the Pro 12. They brushed aside Calvisano by a score of 50-9 but will face a much sterner challenge in Harlequins, who defeated a very tough Montpellier side 41-18 at The Stoop on Thursday evening.

CARDIFF BLUES
1 Gethin Jenkins (capt.) 2 Kristian Dacey 3 Taufa’ao Filise 4 Jarrad Hoeata 5 James Down 6 Ellis Jenkins 7 Sam Warburton 8 Josh Turnbull 9 Lloyd Williams 10 Rhys Patchell 11 Tom James 12 Gavin Evans 13 Reynold Lee-Lo 14 Alex Cuthbert 15 Blaine Scully

16 Matthew Rees 17 Sam Hobbs 18 Dillon Lewis 19 Lou Reed 20 Manoa Vosawai 21 Tavis Knoyle 22 Jarrod Evans 23 Dan Fish