Basham to make competitive debut for Cardiff against Lions

WALES back-row Taine Basham will make his competitive debut for Cardiff this weekend as the club start life without former head coach Matt Sherratt.

- BEN JAMES Rugby writer

The Blue and Blacks take on the Lions at the Arms Park tonight (kickoff: 7.45pm) for their first match of the United Rugby Championship season, just days after Sherratt's departure was announced.

With Sherratt moving into Wales' coaching team under Steve Tandy, Cardiff assistant coaches Corniel van Zyl, Gethin Jenkins, Jonny Goodridge and Scott Andrews will lead the side into the start of their new campaign.

Three summer signings are included in the matchday squad, with Basham starting at openside and Scotland prop Javan Sebastian named in the front-row.

Wales fly-half Ioan Lloyd is on the bench as he makes his return to the Arms Park.

Club captain Liam Belcher leads the Arms Park side in a competitive outing for the first time since winning his first Wales cap this summer in Japan.

Rhys Barratt starts on the loosehead alongside Belcher and Sebastian, with the familiar pairing of Josh McNally and Teddy Williams named in the second-row.

Alongside Basham, Wales blindside Alex Mann and Alun Lawrence make up the back-row.

The backline is filled with settled partnerships.