Scarlets are strengthened by the return from injury of four internationals for Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship round five encounter with Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban (15:00; Premier Sports).
Tom Rogers, Kemsley Mathias, Jake Ball and Sam Lousi go straight into the starting XV following last weekend’s loss to the Lions in Johannesburg.
With Rogers back in the No. 14 jersey, Blair Murray switches to full-back. Joe Roberts comes in to partner skipper Johnny Williams in midfield, while there is also a change at half-back with Dane Blacker swapping with Archie Hughes. Sam Costelow continues at fly-half.
In the pack, Mathias is set for his first appearance of the season after getting the nod at loose-head alongside hooker Marnus van der Merwe and fellow front-rower Archer Holz.
Ball has come through his head injury protocols to pack down with the on-loan Harvey Cuckson in the second row. Lousi is named at blindside flanker in a back row that also contains Taine Plumtree at No. 8 and Dan Davis at openside.
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “Obviously, we have been disappointed with results so far, but we can’t go into our shells in terms of how we want to play, we will keep working hard, we have to keep being bold and we have to keep encouraging boys to go out and play. The Sharks are a dangerous team, you only have to look at their line-up, 13 current Springboks, some of the best players in the world – they are capable of outstanding things. The challenge for us is we need to be a collective, the boys have to fight for each other. We had a really close game here at the end of last season when we were right in the hunt until the final minutes and we need more of the same. They lost at home last week so they are going to be up for the fight as well, what an opportunity and what a challenge for our guys.”
Scarlets team to face Hollywoodbets Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday, October 25 (15:00 UK time; Premier Sports)
15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams (capt), 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Archer Holz, 4 Harvey Cuckson, 5 Jake Ball, 6 Sam Lousi, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Taine Plumtree.
Reps: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Alex Groves, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Ioan Nicholas.
Unavailable because of injury/illness
Max Douglas, Josh Macleod, Ryan Elias, Eddie James, Jac Price, Osian Williams, Will Evans, Dom Kossuth.