Scarlets field new-look side for crucial LV= Cup clash

A blend of Scarlets youth and experience will take on Gloucester Rugby at Parc y Scarlets this Friday evening, 24th January kick-off 7.30pm, as the LV= Cup returns to heart and soul rugby country.

Currently in second place in pool four on four points, the Scarlets have it all to play for in the LV= Cup campaign looking to secure a victory over former Head Coach Nigel Davies’ side to keep their campaign alive.

A win on Friday, against the Cherry and Whites, will give the Scarlets an opportunity to stay in the hunt for silverware ahead of the final pool game against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium next weekend.

With eleven first team players on international duty with Wales, and injuries to key positions, Scarlets’ Head Coach Simon Easterby has selected a team which includes a number of the region’s up and coming stars alongside a number of the squad’s more experienced personnel.

Back row Josh Turnbull, the only regional centurion in the starting XV, will lead the side in the LV= Cup clash at Parc y Scarlets.

Easterby said: “We still have an opportunity to progress in the LV= Cup, Northampton currently top the pool with nine points but if they lose at Rodney Parade on Saturday and we win Friday evening it comes down to the final fixture.

“It’s another competition that we can potentially win silverware in and when that’s the case we’re going to make sure that we prepare and play as well as we can.

“The performance against Harlequins showed a lot of things and I was really positive about the way we attacked last weekend and we’ve worked hard on certain aspects of that to improve this weekend.”

Wales Under 20s captain partners Adam Warren at centre, who made his 50th regional appearance against the Harlequins last week, in a new-look backline that collectively have only 143 regional appearances.

Warren’s younger brother Aaron, who has had a great run in the British & Irish Cup with Llanelli RFC scoring nine tries in five games, comes in on the wing alongside Kristian Phillips whilst Jordan Williams starts at fullback. Young outside half Josh Lewis takes the reins alongside scrum half Aled Davies.

The Scarlets have added an experienced edge to the pack with Josh Turnbull leading from the backrow alongside Craig Price and Sione Timani.

Johan Snyman and Richard Kelly line up at second row with former Wales Under 20s loosehead prop and hooker Rob Evans and Kirby Myhill lining up alongside Jacobie Adriaanse in the front row.

On Nigel Davies’ return to the Parc Easterby added: “It’s an opportunity for us to pit ourselves against a guy that had a lot of influence on myself and Mark (Jones) throughout our playing career and early years of our coaching careers.

“We played up at Kingsholm in the pre-season friendly which was a bit of fun but hopefully we can get one over on them in a competitive fixture on the weekend.”

Scarlets team to take on Gloucester at Parc y Scarlets, Friday 24th January kick-off 7.30pm:

15 Jordan Williams, 14 Kristian Phillips, 13 Steffan Hughes, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Aaron Warren, 10 Josh Lewis, 9 Aled Davies, 1 Rob Evans, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 4 Richard Kelly, 5 Johan Snyman, 6 Josh Turnbull (c), 7 Craig Price, 8 Sione Timani

Replacements: Darran Harris, Wyn Jones, Horatiu Pungea, Carwyn Jones, Lewis Rawlins, Connor Lloyd, Gareth Owen, Kyle Evans