Parkes to lead Scarlets in crucial PRO12 clash

Parkes to lead Scarlets in crucial PRO12 clash

Centre Hadleigh Parkes will lead the Scarlets in the crucial GUINNESS PRO12 clash against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday night.

Scarlets, currently in fifth position in the championship table, will look to gather ground on the leading pack with Glasgow one point ahead as it stands and taking up the all important fourth position.

Head Coach Wayne Pivac has selected a strong side to take on the Warriors on Friday evening despite being without a third of his squad due to international duties.

Parkes is joined in the backline with his fellow countryman Johnny Mcnicholl as he makes a return from injury. Mcnicholl is named at fullback with international DTH van der Merwe and Tom Williams joining him in the back three.

Captain Parkes is joined in midfield by Gareth Owen, whilst Dan Jones and Jonathan Evans make up the halfback pairing.

Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias and Werner Kruger head up the region’s scrum with a new pairing in the second row as Tom Price and Lewis Rawlins combine. Aaron Shingler, James Davies and Will Boyde make it a tried and tested backrow.

Speaking ahead of the clash Pivac said; “The boys have had a well earned break, we’re now very much focused on Glasgow, which is a big match in the context of the PRO12 and top four race. It’s a massive game for us.

“It’s a good challenge. We know it’ll be another tough game but it’ll be a great game for us to get a result in. Certainly there’s a good feel about the group and hopefully at the break we can start this block well.”

Scrum half Aled Davies has been released from Wales camp to take up his place on the replacements bench.

Scarlets team to take on Glasgow, Friday 10^th February, kick-off 7.35pm;

15 Johnny Mcnicholl, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Gareth Owen, 12 Hadleigh Parkes [c], 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Jonathan Evans, 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Werner Kruger, 4 Tom Price, 5 Lewis Rawlins, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 James Davies, 8 Will Boyde

Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Luke Garrett, Nicky Thomas, Tadhg Beirne, Joshua Macleod, Aled Davies, Aled Thomas, Steff Hughes