Ryan Elias will lead out the Scarlets on his 200th appearance for the region when Cardiff visit Parc y Scarlets on Saturday evening (7.45pm) in their United Rugby Championship opener.
The Wales hooker, a product of Carmarthen Athletic, came through the Scarlets pathway and made his debut in 2013. Now in his 14th season with the club and a former coaches’ player of the season, he is one of 10 internationals in the matchday 23.
There is a late change at fly-half. Gareth Anscombe makes his URC debut for the region after Sam Costelow was ruled out with a head knock sustained in last weekend’s defeat to Saracens, the summer signing partnering Dane Blacker at half-back.
Blair Murray, Ellis Mee and Macs Page form the back three, with Eddie James and Joe Roberts continuing as an all-international midfield pairing.
Two more URC debuts for the 20-year-olds
Sam O’Connor makes his first URC start at loosehead alongside Elias and Henry Thomas, with Corey Domachowski ruled out by a chest injury picked up against Saracens.
Lock Will Evans, 20, joins Harvey Cuckson in the second row for his own URC bow, while 20-year-old number eight Osian Williams, a Wales Under-20s cap, also makes his first appearance in the competition.
Tonga international Sam Lousi starts at blindside alongside captain Josh Macleod.
The pair’s selection follows Nigel Davies’ praise for the region’s emerging players earlier this week, as the Scarlets manage a back row missing Fletcher Anderson, Taine Plumtree and the yet-to-arrive Cullen Grace.
“We have seen a lot of growth, particularly among the younger group,” said the director of rugby. “We have seen players like Will Evans and Osian Williams, who have been exposed to that level of intensity, step up, and both were outstanding for us against a strong Saracens side last weekend. They get their opportunity on Saturday.”
‘A team with intent’
Davies said pre-season had brought an honest reckoning and plenty of change behind the scenes.
“It’s a huge game for us, a great fixture to have to kick off the season,” he said. “We’ve been happy with how pre-season has gone. We have had an honest review of where we were, a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes, a lot of detail, new coaches, new players, and we have intensified the coaching process.”
He promised a side that would go after the game, having called on supporters to fill Parc y Scarlets for the derby.
“What we’re going to see is a Scarlets team with intent, wanting to play quickly, wanting to excite our crowd and wanting to be hugely competitive and abrasive,” he said. “Hopefully we can have a big crowd here, and what they will see is a truly committed team.”
On the bench, Ioan Jones, Joe Hawkins and Archie Hughes provide the backline cover, with new signings John McKee and Alex Groves joined by Josh Morse, Gabe Hawley and Tristan Davies among the forwards.
Scarlets team to face Cardiff
15 Blair Murray; 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Macs Page; 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Sam O’Connor, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Harvey Cuckson, 5 Will Evans, 6 Sam Lousi, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 8 Osian Williams.
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Alex Groves, 20 Tristan Davies, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Ioan Jones.
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