The talented duo both started in Cardiff Rugby’s opening game in the Champions Cup in Toulouse seven days ago in a 52-7 defeat. Their bus trip to the ground in the French city was accompanied by a police escort and there were 18,500 packed into the ground.
It will be a short trip up the A470 for this week’s rugby assignment, but the game will be no less important to both players and their team. Cardiff need to get back to winning ways and will leapfrog their regional rivals if they can win.
“It’s great that Jacob and Efan want to play for us this weekend. It is good for us and will help them,” said head coach Steve Law.
“In a normal season we would probably have had more games out of the likes of Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin and Lucas de la Rua, but due to the financial position the region finds itself in they are already playing at the top level.
“Not only that, they’re showing what talent they have. There are so many good players within the region, but to get to the top they also need somewhere else to play.
“We’ll need an improved performance from last week at Ebbw Vale. The first half was especially disappointing.
“We did get a reaction in the second half and that is the minimum that will be required to be competitive in Merthyr.”
The defeat at Eugene Cross Park brought an end to Cardiff’s hold on the WRU Premiership Cup and they go into today’s game a point behind fifth placed Merthyr and 10 points off the top four play-off places.
League leaders Llandovery progressed safely into the semi-finals of the cup last weekend thanks to a 58-3 demolition of Aberavon at Church Bank and the Wizards will be hoping for better fortunes when they make a quick return for today’s league clash.
The other games see Pontypridd welcome RGC, Ebbw Vale entertain Carmarthen Quins and Neath host Swansea.
