Preview: Scarlets v Leinster
Scarlets will be looking for a win that could push them above Conference leaders Leinster at Parc y Scarlets on Friday in a rearranged PRO14 game.
Former England international Tom Varndell is set to make his Scarlets and PRO14 debut as he lines up in the backline, having signed on a short-term contract earlier this week.
Head coach Wayne Pivac has made just one personnel change to the backline that started against Ulster a few weeks ago with Ryan Conbeer replacing Corey Baldwin, who has returned to the U20s squad for the Six Nations clash against Italy.
Two changes in the pack see Phil Price getting his first start in a Scarlets jersey with Dylan Evans unavailable due to illness. James Davies’ selection for Wales, winning his first cap on Sunday, sees Will Boyde line up at number eight with Josh Macleod moving to the openside flank.
“After this game is played and we get the internationals back. It’s the run in in both competitions and it’s a really exciting time," said Pivac.
“Leinster have a lot of threats, we know that, and we’re going to have to be on our game to get a result.”
Meanwhile, Leinster boss Leo Cullen is able to call upon the services of a number of returning players while other players have been released from Ireland duty to line up in blue.
There is a welcome back for Seán O’Brien, who also captains the side, having recovered from a hip injury picked up in December against the Exeter Chiefs and he lines out at openside flanker for his 115th cap for Leinster.
O’Brien is joined in the back-row by Josh Murphy and by Jack Conan.
In the front five, Ed and Bryan Byrne again start together with Michael Bent at tighthead prop, while behind them Ross Molony is joined by Scott Fardy.
Dave Kearney lines out at full-back with Barry Daly on the right wing and James Lowe on the left.
The centre combination features Noel Reid and Rory O’Loughlin while the half backs are also an all-St Michael’s combination with Nick McCarthy at nine and Ross Byrne outside him at ten.
On the bench Leinster academy scrum-half Charlie Rock is in line to make his first appearance of the season.
Form: Scarlets’ comfortable 34-10 triumph over Ulster last time out ended a run of four straight defeats, which included a 20-13 loss to Friday’s opponents Leinster in the reverse fixture. Before that, the Welsh region had secured seven successive victories, which put them in the title mix. However, the Irish province reside in top spot in Conference B, three points ahead of the Scarlets, after 11 wins in 12 games. Their only loss since early November came against Edinburgh on February 9. Results between these two have generally seesawed recently as, although Leinster have emerged triumphant in three of the past five matches, Wayne Pivac’s men won the same fixture last year, defeating the visitors 38-29.
The teams:
Scarlets: 15 Tom Williams, 14 Ioan Nicholas, 13 Paul Asquith, 12 Steff Hughes (c), 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Jonathan Evans, 8 Will Boyde, 7 Josh Macleod, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Phil Price
Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Rhys Fawcett, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Josh Helps, 20 Lewis Rawlins, 21 Declan Smith, 22 Ioan Hughes, 23 Tom Varndell
Leinster: 15 Dave Kearney, 14 Barry Daly, 13 Rory O’Loughlin, 12 Noel Reid, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Nick McCarthy, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Seán O’Brien (c), 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Scott Fardy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Bent, 2 Bryan Byrne, 1 Ed Byrne
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Adam Coyle, 19 Mick Kearney, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Charlie Rock, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 Adam Byrne
Date: Friday, March 9
Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: TBC