Scarlets have made five personnel changes to their starting line-up for Friday’s BKT United Rugby Championship round 14 clash with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium (19:45; S4C & Premier Sports).
Three of those changes come in the back division, with further enforced alterations in the pack as
the Scarlets prepare for what has been framed internally as an international-level test.
The Scarlets all-Wales international back three of Blair Murray, Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee remains the same, while Joe Roberts returns from concussion to start at outside centre alongside fellow Wales cap Johnny Williams.
At fly-half, Joe Hawkins takes over the No.10 jersey. Sam Costelow is continuing to work his way back from his original injury and not yet fully ready to return, while Carwyn Leggatt-Jones is also unavailable. Hawkins is partnered by Dane Blacker, who comes into the starting side at scrum-half.
Up front, Harry Thomas is handed the No.2 jersey for his second URC start of the season. Ryan Elias and Marnus van der Merwe are both progressing through return-to-play concussion protocols. Providing additional cover at hooker is on-loan George Roberts, who is named among the replacements and strengthens the depth of the squad for this fixture.
Thomas packs down between Kemsley Mathias and last weekend’s player of the match Archer Holz, while Sam Lousi and Max Douglas continue in the second row.
Skipper Josh Macleod is ruled out with a hamstring injury, so Dan Davis comes in at openside in a back row that also contains No. 8 Fletcher Anderson – who takes over the captaincy – and Jarrod Taylor.
On the bench, Roberts, Henry Thomas, Jake Ball and Tristan Davies cover the pack. Archie Hughes, Ioan Jones and Macs Page are the backline replacements.
Interim Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “We’ve treated this week as a Test match week because that’s exactly what it is. You’re going to a top international venue against a side that is, in many ways, an international team.
“Leinster have had a rocket over the last few weeks and that makes them dangerous. We’re expecting a response – a team that comes hard, fast and accurate from the first minute. That’s the challenge, and it’s one we want. These are the games that expose you, but they’re also the ones that grow you.
“For us, it’s about being clear in what we’re doing, brave in how we play and connected in everything we deliver. If we bring that, we give ourselves a real opportunity to compete.”
Scarlets team to face Leinster on Friday, March 27 (19:45; S4C & Premier Sports)
15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Harry Thomas, 3 Archer Holz, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Fletcher Anderson (capt).
Reps: 16 George Roberts, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Tristan Davies, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Ioan Jones, 23 Macs Page.
Unavailable because of injury
Josh Macleod, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Sam Costelow, Ryan Elias, Marnus van der Merwe, Jac Price, Alec Hepburn, Eddie James, Taine Plumtree, Ioan Nicholas, Josh Morse, Will Evans, Dom Kossuth, Isaac Young, Iori Badham.