Scarlets announce team for Leicester

Scarlets stick with same team for big Leicester challenge

The Scarlets will start with the same XV that put in an eye-catching win over French giants Perpignan last weekend (43-34) as they travel to Welford Road to take on Leicester Tigers for one of this weekend’s top billing Heineken Cup games.

Nigel Davies’ side travel to Leicester knowing they are going to have to be at the top of their game to take on the English heavyweights, who are unbeaten at home in their last 13 Heineken Cup fixtures.

But with Scarlets buoyed by a strong performance and bonus point win from their first round European match at Parc y Scarlets against Perpignan, Head Coach Nigel Davies said his team were looking forward to the challenge.

Scarlets starting XV against Leicester Tigers, Heineken Cup, Sunday 17th October, 3pm Welford Road: Rhys Priestland, Morgan Stoddart, Regan King, Gareth Maule, Sean Lamont, Stephen Jones, Martin Roberts, Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees (capt), Rhys Thomas, Lou Reed, Vernon Cooper, Josh Turnbull, Rob McCusker, David Lyons.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Rhodri Jones, Deacon Manu, Damian Welch, Johnathan Edwards, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams, Daniel Evans.

Nigel Davies said: “I am really comfortable with this group, we probably put in one of our best performances of the season last weekend, and so we have to give credit to this team, but we know we have got one of our sternest tests ahead of us now.

“Leicester are still a very tough team to beat at home, we are going to have to be right on top of our game to win on Sunday. We are confident, there’s a lot to our game, we are playing some good, free-flowing rugby, but that is not in itself going to be enough on Sunday. We’ll have to bring the intensity of the Ospreys game and the finishing ability of the Perpignan game and marry those two aspects of our game together to get something out of it.

“We are respectful of Leicester and the quality of their players, the most we can do to show that respect is to turn up with our number one game on Sunday.

“We’ll have to match up to them physically, they have a very good set piece and will look to dominate and they’ve shown they have got more intent to attack and go through the phases well.  For us, its about what we do without the ball, we’ll have to step up a couple of notches from last weekend, but this is going to be a very big occasion and that will help us.

“It’s going to be a huge game, traditionally we’ve had some great European contests in the past against them – it’s going to be exciting, it’s great place to go to, and all of that intensity will only help make our players raise their game even further. “

The Tigers, finalists in two of the last four Heineken Cup seasons and winners in 2001 and 2002 have met the Scarlets on five occasions in the Heineken Cup including the semi-finals in 2002 and 2007.

Scarlets backs Jon Davies and George North are ruled out through injury.

The Scarlets are in pool five for the 16th Heineken Cup contest along with Leicester Tigers, Benetton Treviso and Perpignan.