Scarlets skipper Josh Macleod returns from international duty to skipper the Scarlets for the resumption of BKT United Rugby Championship action in Edinburgh on Friday night (19:45; Premier Sports).
Macleod and wing Tom Rogers have been released from Steve Tandy’s Wales Six Nations squad during the Championship’s fallow week and the pair are among six personnel changes to the Scarlets’ starting line-up for the round 12 clash at Hive Stadium.
Rogers comes onto the right wing and joins full-back Jac Davies and wing Tomi Lewis in the back three.
In midfield, with Johnny Williams ruled out because of a calf injury, Joe Roberts is partnered by Macs Page in a talented young backline.
Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, who has been in impressive form for Wales in the U20s Six Nations, makes his second URC start in the No. 10 jersey, while Archie Hughes replaces Gareth Davies inside him at nine. Loan signing Billy McBryde is unavailable.
There are three changes to the pack.
Loose-head prop Kemsley Mathias comes into the front row and packs down alongside hooker Marnus van der Merwe and tight-head Henry Thomas. Archer Holz misses out because of injury.
Jake Ball replaces Jac Price in the second row where he will partner Sam Lousi, while Macleod comes into the back row alongside Max Douglas and No. 8 Fletcher Anderson.
On the bench, Harry Thomas, Alec Hepburn, Harri O’Connor – who is set for his 50th Scarlets appearance – Jac Price and Jarrod Taylor provide the forward cover, with Dane Blacker, Ioan Jones and Gabe McDonald the backline replacements.
Jones (above), a summer arrival from Gloucester, is poised to make his URC debut having recently recovered from injury.
Prop Josh Morse is ruled out with a hamstring injury, while lock Will Evans is recovering from a quad muscle issue.
Scarlets Interim Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “We have had a good block of training where we have put a lot of work in, focusing a bit more on what I call our DNA and how we want to play.
“We know Edinburgh are one of the quickest starters in the URC so that first 30 minutes is going to be key for us – how we manage the game and our accuracy is going to be really important. They are also a side who pride themselves on their scrum and line-out and that is the challenge for our pack to go and take the game to Edinburgh. With only 10 points between us and eighth place in the table, this is another massive game for us.”
The Scarlets squad contains a lot of young Welsh talent, particularly behind the scrum, and Davies is excited to see how the youngsters make the step up in the remaining matches this season.
He added: “There are a lot of younger players who maybe haven’t had opportunities who are going to be involved in these next few games and I am excited to see how they go over the coming weeks.”
Round 12 will be the URC’s Origin Round with players wearing socks from the club, school and college that played a major role in their rugby journey.
Scarlets team to face Edinburgh Rugby on Friday, February 27 (19:45; Premier Sports)
15 Jac Davies (Pentyrch RFC); 14 Tom Rogers (Cefneithin RFC), 13 Macs Page (Crymych RFC), 12 Joe Roberts (Burry Port RFC), 11 Tomi Lewis (Gwernyfed RFC); 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Carmarthen Quins RFC), 9 Archie Hughes (Tenby RFC); 1 Kemsley Mathias (Narberth RFC), 2 Marnus van der Merwe (Hoërskool Nelspruit), 3 Henry Thomas (Bath minis/Millfield School), 4 Jake Ball (Camberley RFC), 5 Sam Lousi (Bay Roskill Vikings), 6 Max Douglas (Manly Marlins), 7 Josh Macleod (capt; Crymych RFC), 8 Fletcher Anderson (University of Canterbury).
Reps: 16 Harry Thomas (New Dock Stars RFC), 17 Alec Hepburn (Henley Hawks RFC), 18 Harri O’Connor (Dorchester RFC), 19 Jac Price (Carmarthen Quins), 20 Jarrod Taylor (Western Province), 21 Dane Blacker (Ynysybwl RFC), 22 Ioan Jones (Minchinhampton RFC), 23 Gabe McDonald (Burry Port RFC).
Unavailable because of injury
Taine Plumtree, Johnny Williams, Ioan Nicholas, Archer Holz, Josh Morse, Will Evans, Elis Price, Isaac Young.
Unavailable because of international duty
Sam Costelow, Blair Murray, Ellis Mee, Joe Hawkins, Eddie James, Ryan Elias