Planet Rugby

Preview: Scarlets v London Irish

27th January 2012 07:35

Daniel Bowden London Irish

Daniel Bowden: At fly-half for London Irish

Fly-half Daniel Bowden returns from injury to London Irish's starting XV for Saturday's LV=Cup clash with the Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets.

Bowden will partner Daren Allinson at half-back with Marland Yarde and Kieran Low starting on the wing and at blindside flanker respectively after also recovering from injury.

London Irish head coach Toby Booth insisted his side can't afford to underestimate their hosts.

"Scarlets are enjoying a good season, so we will have to be at our best to go there and get a result," he said.

Meanwhile, the Scarlets will be looking to retain a remarkable record against London Irish.

The Welsh region have won all of their 21 fixtures against ther Exiles throughout their history of encounters with the English club - dating back their first-ever game in December 1908.

They field a team of youth and experience with a number of this season's rising stars who made a big impact at the region during the World Cup handed opportunities to perform once again in the Scarlets shirt.

Centre Gareth Maule captains the Scarlets side with Aled Thomas at fly-half, following Stephen Jones' call-up to Wales to join the training camp in Poland.

There is plenty of ambition and flair in the back division with Andy Fenby returning on the wing after recovering from concussion and centre Adam Warren looking to continue his rich form as he returns to the starting line-up after a strong showing in the early part of the season.

Young scrum-half Rhodri Williams starts again at nine after another impressive and energetic performance as part of the Scarlets sensational win in the Heineken Cup last weekend in Castres.

Experience in the pack will give the forwards play an edge with key players Iestyn Thomas, Dominic Day and Johnathan Edwards all retaining their starting places with options on the bench for front-row power from Deacon Manu and Phil John.

Kieran Murphy, another of the Scarlets emerging talent this season, returns from injury at number eight with Ben Morgan on now on England duty.

Try-scorer from last weekend Mat Gilbert retains his place in the back row this time at flanker.

The Scarlets new signing for this season, scrum-half Liam Davies is called up onto the bench for his first opportunity back with this former club.

Head of Scarlets Rugby, Nigel Davies is delighted with his troops' performances this season.

"We're in a good position in all three of our competitions and that's a positive so far in our season but we have to fight hard to make sure that continues," he said.

"When I'm asked what games are our priority, my answer is that our next game is the priority, as we want to get in as many play-offs as we can.

"All our games and competitions are important to us and we are in a strong position and want to retain our momentum and qualify for the semi-final of the LV= Cup."

He said that despite the squad being depleted with injury and a core of 13 key players away on international duty, it was important to recognise the strength-in-depth being created in his Scarlets set-up.

"Something like 40 per cent of our squad were unavailable through injury and with the core of internationals away, we are selecting from a smaller group - but that's what developing players and investing in all your talent is all about," he continued.

"We've also got lot of players that have performed well in the Premiership teams, Llanelli, Llandovery and Carmarthen and so we're giving some of these boys their opportunities ahead of next season's squad planning too."

The teams:

Scarlets: 15 Dan Newton, 14 Viliami Iongi North, 13 Gareth Maule (c), 12 Adam Warren, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Kieran Murphy, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 6 Mat Gilbert, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Adam Powell, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Emyr Phillips, 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Phil John, 18 Deacon Manu, 19 Craig Price, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Liam Davies, 22 Daniel Evans, 23 Nick Reynolds.

London Irish: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Steven Shingler, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Darren Allinson, 8 Richard Thorpe, 7 David Sisi, 6 Kieran Low, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Brian Blaney, 1 Clarke Dermody (c).
Replacements: 16 Pete Austin, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 Faan Rautenbach, 19 Bob Casey, 20 Kieran Roche, 21. Guy Armitage, 22 Shontayne Hape, 23 Ross Samson.

Date: Saturday, January 28
Kick-off: 18:30
Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Comments

Be the first to comment on this story..


Character Count : 0/1900

Forthcoming Fixtures
FixtureDetails
All times are local
RBS Six Nations
Saturday , February 25
Ireland vs Italy13:30
England vs Wales16:00
Sunday , February 26
Scotland vs France15:00
More RBS Six Nations fixtures
Aviva Premiership
Friday , February 24
Worcester vs Saracens19:45
Sale vs Wasps19:45
Saturday , February 25
Leicester vs Newcastle15:00
Gloucester vs Harlequins18:00
Exeter vs Bath18:00
Sunday , February 26
London Irish vs Northampton13:15
More Aviva Premiership fixtures
RaboDirect PRO12
Thursday , February 23
Scarlets vs Benetton TrevisoScarlets vs Benetton Treviso Preview
Friday , February 24
Munster vs Cardiff Blues19:05
Ulster vs Ospreys19:05
Connacht vs Edinburgh19:30
Saturday , February 25
Glasgow vs Leinster18:00
Sunday , February 26
Aironi Rugby vs Newport-Gwent D'gons15:30
More RaboDirect PRO12 fixtures
Top 14
Friday , February 24
Lyon vs Brive19:30
Agen vs Castres20:45
More Top 14 fixtures
Super Rugby
Friday , February 24
Blues vs Crusaders19:35
Brumbies vs Western Force19:40
Bulls vs Sharks19:10
Saturday , February 25
Chiefs vs Highlanders19:35
Waratahs vs Reds19:40
Stormers vs Hurricanes17:05
Lions vs Cheetahs19:10
More Super Rugby fixtures
Recent Results
FixtureDetails
All times are local
Aviva Premiership
Sunday , February 19
Saracens 19 - 20 LeicesterSaracens vs Leicester Report
Saturday , February 18
Bath 11 - 14 GloucesterBath vs Gloucester Report
Northampton 24 - 17 SaleNorthampton vs Sale Report
Newcastle 19 - 10 London IrishNewcastle vs London Irish Report
Wasps 12 - 15 ExeterWasps vs Exeter Report
Harlequins 16 - 14 WorcesterHarlequins vs Worcester Report
More Aviva Premiership results
RaboDirect PRO12
Benetton Treviso 14 - 35 MunsterBenetton Treviso vs Munster Report
Newport-Gwent D'gons 21 - 10 EdinburghNewport-Gwent D
Connacht 13 - 13 GlasgowConnacht vs Glasgow Report
More RaboDirect PRO12 results
Top 14
Bordeaux-Begles 26 - 30 Montpellier
Bayonne 22 - 22 Clermont Auvergne
Toulouse 21 - 10 Agen
Stade Francais 19 - 19 ToulonStade Francais vs Toulon Report
Lyon 22 - 33 Racing Metro Paris
Brive 13 - 15 Castres
More Top 14 results
RaboDirect PRO12
Friday , February 17
Cardiff Blues 21 - 14 Ulster
Ospreys 23 - 7 Aironi RugbyOspreys vs Aironi Rugby Report
Leinster 16 - 13 ScarletsLeinster vs Scarlets Report
More RaboDirect PRO12 results
Top 14
Perpignan 25 - 6 BiarritzPerpignan vs Biarritz Report
More Top 14 results
RBS Six Nations
Sunday , February 12
Wales 27 - 13 ScotlandWales vs Scotland Report
More RBS Six Nations results
Aviva Premiership
Wasps 17 - 22 SaracensWasps vs Saracens Report
More Aviva Premiership results
RBS Six Nations
Saturday , February 11
Italy 15 - 19 EnglandItaly vs England Report
More RBS Six Nations results
Aviva Premiership
Harlequins 30 - 23 London Irish
Bath 30 - 24 NewcastleBath vs Newcastle Report
Gloucester 27 - 24 NorthamptonGloucester vs Northampton Report
More Aviva Premiership results
RBS Six Nations Table
PosTeamPPts
1Wales24
2England24
3France12
4Ireland10
5Scotland20
6Italy20