Scarlets make changes to face Warriors

Rob Lloyd News

Head coach Dwayne Peel has made seven personnel changes to his side for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash with Glasgow Warriors at Parc y Scarlets (17:15; Premier Sports).

In the back three, with Ioan Nicholas resting a hamstring issue, Steff Evans returns to the wing and Tom Rogers switches to full-back.

Scott Williams and Johnny Williams continue their midfield partnership with Scott again captaining the side.

At half-back, Rhys Patchell starts alongside Wales squad member Gareth Davies, who has been released from Six Nations duty.

In the pack, Scotland international Javan Sebastian, who made a big impact off the bench in the defeat to Connacht last time out, is handed his first start of the season and the tight-head prop packs down alongside fellow home-grown products Steff Thomas and Daf Hughes.

Twenty-one-year-old Jac Price comes in for Morgan Jones to partner Sam Lousi in the second row.

There is a reshuffle in the back row with Blade Thomson making a welcome return to start at blindside. Dan Davis has recovered from his pectoral muscle injury and is back at openside with Sione Kalamafoni again wearing the No. 8 jersey.

Kemsley Mathias and Sam Costelow come onto a bench that also includes experienced forwards Marc Jones, Samson Lee and Aaron Shingler as well young back-rower Carwyn Tuipulotu, scrum-half Dane Blacker and promising centre Joe Roberts.

Fifteen of the 23-man squad came through the Scarlets development pathway.

Scarlets team v Glasgow (Saturday, March 5; 17:15 Premier Sports)

15 Tom Rogers; 14 Steff Evans, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Scott Williams (capt), 11 Ryan Conbeer; 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Steff Thomas, 2 Daf Hughes, 3 Javan Sebastian, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Jac Price, 6 Blade Thomson, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Sione Kalamafoni.

Reps: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Aaron Shingler, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Joe Roberts.

Unavailable through injury

WillGriff John (back), Tomas Lezana (ankle), Rob Evans (knee), Josh Macleod (hamstring), Ken Owens (back), Tom Price (ankle), Tom Phillips (knee), James Davies (concussion), Leigh Halfpenny (knee), Lewis Rawlins (concussion), Ioan Nicholas (hamstring).

Unavailable because of international duty

Johnny McNicholl, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Kieran Hardy.