SCARLETS TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT V NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Scarlets set to lock horns with Northampton Saints in Heineken Cup

The Scarlets travel to Franklin’s Gardens for their second 2011 Heineken Cup fixture against a Northampton Saints team eager to make up for the bitter disappointment of last weekend’s last minute defeat to Munster.

The Saints and Scarlets put on a fine display in their semi-final battle a decade ago in the Heineken Cup which ended in defeat for the West Wales visitors – but it’s fresh faces and a new set of challenges for a motivated Scarlets team on Friday night (kick off 8pm).

It’s another tough European fixture for the travelling Scarlets but with a number of their 2011 World Cup players energised by the big contest ahead of them, the Scarlets go into the away fixture with plenty of momentum and belief after an unbeaten run in their last six games.

Former Saint Sean Lamont knows plenty about the crowd and atmosphere at Franklin’s Gardens with the home side showing their all-round capability in Limerick last weekend; and with England’s flyer Chris Ashton excelling and demonstrating the big threat, ability and awareness of all of the back three Saints players.

A classic, high impact encounter is set to entertain the crowds with the Scarlets also showing their attacking prowess last weekend, built from the platform provided by a strong Scarlets forwards performance up front. The combination and talent of World Cup performers Rhys Priestland, Jon Davies, Scott Williams, George North and Sean Lamont in the Scarlets starting backline on Friday night is sure to bring plenty of fire to the Pool 1 fixture.

George North was named the Heineken man of the match as the Scarlets marked their 100th match in the Heineken Cup with a 31-23 Round 1 win over Castres last weekend, with Wales centre Jon Davies and Scottish winger Sean Lamont also on the score sheet.

Scarlets Head Coach Nigel Davies has left his victorious Scarlets side largely unchanged. Wales’ six nations captain and Scarlets skipper, Matthew Rees starts at hooker, alongside Prop Rhys Thomas and experienced European campaigner, Iestyn Thomas in his 53rd European game in a Scarlets shirt.

A strong back row combination of Aaron Shingler, Johnathan Edwards and Ben Morgan remains the same with Tongan international Sione Timani getting a start in the second row alongside Damian Welch.

Rhys Priestland starts at outside half, with the experience and impact of one of Europe’s top point scorers and most astute rugby minds, Stephen Jones available to the Scarlets on the bench. Young scrum-half Gareth Davies, who has impressed over the past season and gets a start at nine and second row Mat Gilbert, who has impressed the region with performances with Llanelli RFC and the Scarlets against Leicester Tigers in the LV=Cup gets his first European opportunity with a place on the bench.

Scarlets Head Coach Nigel Davies said: “The effort, endeavour and commitment from all our players last weekend was evident, and we’ll have to bring real belief, the ability to adapt our game and be sharp this weekend because it’s going to be a big challenge.

“We have got some momentum now over the past six games and the players have been playing for the jersey and on Friday night they’ll need to show real intensity in their performances and put everything into the battles they face.”

Speaking about Northampton’s fixture last weekend Davies said: “It was a great game of rugby last weekend – great intensity and both teams showed real ferocity and Northampton were unlucky not to get a result.

“This pool is a tough one but that’s what excites and challenges us as coaches and players and it’s a fantastic group to be involved in. We have to be very respectful of the quality that Northampton bring to the game; set piece will be key and the boys know that.

“I was pleased with the result on Saturday – Castres are a good side and very physical; they batter sides and we did a good job against them. We have to step it up again this week and there were some wake up calls in a couple of area areas.

“We’ll have to react cleverly on the pitch as well, and adapt to the situations in front of us. The boys have been on the edge this week – but there’s a lot of focus too, they know what they have to achieve this weekend.”

Mark Jones, Scarlets Skills Coach has been working closely with the Scarlets back line. He said: “When you go to a World Cup you benefit from the experience –you’re away from your comfort zone and it makes you focus the mind and the boys put in a great performance out there and they have come back in good spirits. But we need to kick on from that now and get the players to gel back in nicely. Sean (Lamont), George, (North) and Liam (Williams) played well last week and you need them to gel well together and you need these type of strike players at fixtures like this one.”

Scarlets team against Northampton Saints, 18th November 2011, kick off 8pm at Franklin’s Gardens: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jon Davies, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Gareth Davies, 1 Iestyn Thomas, 2 Matthew Rees (capt), 3 Rhys Thomas, 4 Sione Timani, 5 Damian Welch, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 Ben Morgan.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Phil John, Rhodri Jones, Lou Reed, Matt Gilbert, Rhodri Williams, Stephen Jones, Daniel Evans.

Dominic day (calf injury), Rob McCusker (sprained foot) and Keiran Murphy (calf strain) have been ruled out through injury.

Tavis Knoyle, scrum-half was unwell in the early part of the week and due to his inability to take part in full Scarlets training in a tight turn around week has not been selected this weekend.

Richie Pugh, who is part of the WRU Wales 7s squad will travel for the HSBC Sevens World Series in Australia this weekend and due a minor strain picked up in training this week has been not been released by the WRU to the Scarlets for this fixture.