Pivac Urges Fans to Support Scarlets Young Guns

With an already depleted squad due to injuries and international call-ups, the news mid-week that both Johnny McNicholl and Tom Prydie have undergone surgery was a huge blow.
McNicholl has only just returned to action following a period of rehab after injuring his shoulder in the Boxing Day clash against the Ospreys. Head Coach, Wayne Pivac confirmed that the surgery had been successful, but that the full extent had not shown up on the initial scan. He will miss the rest of the season. Tom Prydie has also gone under the knife on his ankle and will be side-lined for 10-12 weeks.
Pivac confirmed that the Scarlets are ‘always looking at the market’ but at this point in the season, the chance of signing a short-term loan player was doubtful and the intention is to work with the players who are available.
Despite the importance of this week’s fixture against Ulster, the young guns – Ioan Nicholas, Corey Baldwin and Ryan Conbeer will be given an opportunity to make their mark, with Tom Williams starting at Full Back. Again, both Ryan Elias and James Davies have been released from the Welsh Squad.
Steff Hughes remains as captain in a side which sees Baldwin rewarded for his current form with his first Pro14 start, whilst Conbeer could make his league debut from the bench.
There’s no change in the front row, with Props Dylan Evans and Werner Kruger getting the opportunity to get some quality game-time. Evans revealed mid-week that despite his Australian roots, he has always loved the Scarlets and has always felt an attachment to the club as his Grandfather played for Wales Youth and Llanelli.
Phil Price, initially on loan from the Dragons for the Anglo-Welsh period has had his contract with the Scarlets extended to include the Six Nations period, hoping to make a similar impact off the bench in the scrum as he did last week. Hooker, Emyr Phillips is set to make is 150th appearance off the bench, whilst Steve Cummins teams up with his former Southern Kings Second Row partner, David Bullbring at Lock.
Add an experienced Back Row of Tadhg Beirne, Josh Macleod and James Davies, Jonathan Evans at Scrum Half and the ever-improving Dan Jones at Outside Half, and the Scarlets have a team that is more than capable of securing an important victory.
“We have the ability to open up a bit of a gap on Ulster,” confirmed Pivac. “We know that if we don’t get the result it closes right up. With Leinster next week it’s going to be a testing time for us,” he added. “We’re working hard with the group to prepare ourselves for what’s coming. There’s a good buzz about the group and they’re disappointed with the last couple of results and they’re determined on getting a result this weekend.
Despite a vast improvement in the performance against Leinster last week, picking up a losing bonus point along the way, Pivac stressed just how important the next two fixtures are. Urging the supporters to get behind the team he added, “What we want is a good home crowd to turn out and get behind the team as if it was an European Cup match because in the context of the Pro14 these next couple of weeks are very important.”
Kick-off is at 7.35pm.