Efan Jones will make his first United Rugby Championship start for the Scarlets in Saturday’s round 11 clash with Connacht at the Dexcom Stadium in Galway.
26-year-old North Walian Jones, a summer signing from RGC, came off the bench for his competition debut against Munster and is now handed the number nine jersey for the trip to the west coast of Ireland.
Head coach Dwayne Peel has made seven personnel changes to the team beaten by Munster at Parc y Scarlets last time out.
With Johnny McNicholl having announced he is returning to New Zealand, Ioan Nicholas wears the number 15 jersey, with Tomi Lewis and Steff Evans named on the wings.
In midfield, Johnny Williams returns from suspension to partner Eddie James. Dan Jones links up with Efan Jones at half-back.
There is an all-new front row of Wyn Jones, Shaun Evans – who has recovered from a hand injury – and Sam Wainwright. Alex Craig is released from Scotland duty and he packs down alongside Jac Price.
Sam Lousi, who again skippers the side, shifts to the back row in place of new signing Jarrod Taylor, who is expected to be sidelined for a number of weeks with a hamstring injury suffered on debut last time out.
Joe Jones, Steff Thomas, Morgan Jones, Ben Williams and Ryan Conbeer come into the match-day 23 and are named among the replacements.
Scarlets XV to play Connacht:
15 Ioan Nicholas, 14 Tomi Lewis, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Eddie James, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Efan Jones
1 Wyn Jones, 2 Shaun Evans, 3 Sam Wainwright, 4 Alex Craig, 5 Jac Price, 6 Sam Lousi (captain), 7 Dan Davis, 8 Vaea Fifita.
Replacements:
16 Eduan Swart, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Joe Jones, 19 Morgan Jones, 20 Ben Williams, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Charlie Titcombe, 23 Ryan Conbeer.
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
