Five figure crowd for derby encounter at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday

Supporters can look forward to a cracking derby encounter on Saturday night at Parc y Scarlets with both the Scarlets and Ospreys saying the teams go into battle very evenly matched.

The Scarlets will not name their team until the end of the week, to give a number of their players carrying minor injuries after a physical Dragons encounter last Friday, as much time as possible to prove their fitness.

Still in contention for selection but facing late fitness tests are centre Jon Davies (ankle), Rhys Priestland (hamstring), Ken Owens (arm) and Rob McCusker (abdominal muscle strain). Scarlets wing turned full-back Andy Fenby is ruled out of Saturday and will see a specialist later this week in relation to a groin injury and whether it requires surgery.

The Scarlets’ medical and condititoning team say they are ‘hopeful’ on a number of the players carrying bumps and are working hard with the individuals on their rehab to get them fit for Saturday’s big game.

At a joint press conference between the Scarlets and Ospreys held at Scarlets sponsors INA (Schaeffler Technologies) on the Loughor Estuary in Llanelli earlier this week, Scarlets Head Coach Nigel Davies said that the team was in a stronger position than last season to carry injuries, with greater strength-in-depth in a number of positions.

Asked whether it was the first ‘real test’ of the competitive season for the Scarlets, Davies said: “Of course, we’ll need to go up a couple of notches for this particular game and there is always great intensity in these derby encounters, but I am comfortable about where we are.

 

“This game will be about who turns up hungrier on the day, the form leading up to it doesn’t always count for much – it will probably rest on a couple of key moments, who gets them right and who takes their chances. It’s going to be a tough match, it’s a massive game in its own right and both teams understand that. It’s going to be a challenge for both sides as we will both believe we can take this game.”

Davies added that the emotion and energy of the Scarlets v Ospreys encounter and a big home crowd will add to the atmosphere at Parc y Scarlets – with more than 10,000 tickets already sold by Wednesday morning this week.

“It’s one of the big games people want to come and watch and rightly so, the intensity it generates, the rivalry is huge and there is a lot at stake. Equally there is friendship and respect both amongst the support and players. It’s appropriate we are holding the press conference in this area, because there are mix of Scarlets and Ospreys supporters on either side of the Loughor Estuary and the Loughor Bridge unites two great rugby communities,” said Davies.

“This great derby is always an occasion with an extra edge and flavour and it means as much to our supporters as it does to the players and we are all really looking forward to it.”