Fifth-placed Scarlets welcome the French outfit, currently lying in the final qualification position of fourth, to Llanelli this weekend knowing the match is a must-win encounter.
Despite coming off second best at Kingsholm against Gloucester last weekend in the 31-7 reverse, all is not lost, and if the Scarlets are victorious against the side rock bottom of the French Top 14, they will progress to the round of 16. A bonus-point win could also result in a home knockout tie for the west Walians if results go their way.
A draw is probably no good for the Scarlets. If they draw with a try bonus point, there is a very slim chance they could still qualify if Bayonne fail to pick up any points against Gloucester.
A hopeful Peel is targeting progression to the knockouts to prolong his sides European adventure into the season’s third block of fixtures.
“If you look at our season, it is really important you have the opportunity to have knockout rugby after the Six Nations, said Peel in his pre-match conference.
“The pool itself is a bit like the old European pools where it comes down to the final weekend; the competitiveness in the pool is high, every team has won games.
“If you win your home games, you give yourself a good chance of going through.
“It is important to firstly get a win, everything else is obviously a bonus, we are at home on Saturday, and it is in our control.”
Peel says the Scarlets are in pretty good shape this week but will be without fly-half Sam Costelow who is set to undergo shoulder surgery after coming off in the first 15 minutes against Gloucester last weekend.
“We have a fairly clean bill of health. There are a couple of guys coming back into contention.
“The likes of Steff Evans and Tomi Lewis are taking a full part in training and I’m hoping Steff will play some part in Super Rygbi Cymru this weekend to get some minutes under his belt.”
“It was a blow [to lose Costelow], and it shook us a bit, Ioan Lloyd had a bump before it as well.
“It does hurt you undoubtedly and I’m disappointed for him personally because he has grown into his game over the last couple of weeks and led the team well in the week before the game.
“He is likely to have surgery this week and then be out for a fairly lengthy time which is disappointing for him and for us.”
The Scarlets starting lineup shows five personnel changes with Wales international Tom Rogers taking his place at full-back having recovered from a groin issue. He is joined by Ellis Mee and Blair Murray in the back three.
There is a change at centre with Joe Roberts coming in to partner Eddie James.
With Costelow ruled out, Lloyd switches to fly-half, and the experienced Gareth Davies is recalled at scrum-half.
There is one change in the front row. Alec Hepburn swaps with Kemsley Mathias at loose-head and will pack down alongside Marnus van der Merwe and Henry Thomas.
Sam Lousi returns to the starting line-up and partners Max Douglas in the second row,
There is a reshuffle in the back row with Taine Plumtree wearing eight and Vaea Fifita named at blindside flanker.
Vannes arrive in Llanelli looking to prove a point of their own having been edged out 29-25 by Edinburgh on home soil. With a strong physical presence in the French side’s pack Peel feels his Scarlets team will need to be on top of their game to get a result.
“I have been impressed with Vannes, their league position isn’t reflective of their competitiveness, especially at home where they have been very competitive.
“They lost to Clermont by a point and pushed Edinburgh last week having made a few changes from their Top14 side the week before.
“Vannes were really physical with Edinburgh who had to work hard to win that game, we have to be right up for that this week.
“Their scrum is going to be powerful, as are most French scrums. We have to get ourselves right mentally to be in that physical battle.
“It is a straight shootout; the pool is definitely the most competitive pool in the competition and hopefully we can finish well this week.”
Scarlets XV to face RC Vannes:
Tom Rogers, Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Blair Murray, Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies
Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Max Douglas, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (captain), Taine Plumtree.
Replacements:
Shaun Evans, Kemsley Mathias, Gabe Hawley, Alex Craig, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Charlie Titcombe, Ioan Nicholas.
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
