Halaholo starts for Cardiff as Scarlets make 6 changes

Cardiff Rugby

Wales international Uilisi Halaholo returns to Cardiff’s starting line-up for Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Scarlets.

The centre has been used from the replacements bench during the opening weeks of the season but is handed his first start of the campaign. 

The Blue and Blacks travel to Llanelli following defeats to Glasgow Warriors and Emirates Lions, while the Scarlets are targeting their first success of the season, having recorded two losses and a draw in their matches to date.

Director of Rugby Dai Young has turned to the experience of Halaholo, who forms a formidable centre partnership with Rey Lee-Lo, and replaces Max Llewellyn, with the academy product named on the bench after an impressive start to the campaign.

The final change amongst the backline sees Jason Harries taking his place on the wing for the first time this season.

A front row of Rhys Carré, Kristian Dacey and Dmitri Arhip are supported by the unchanged lock partnership of Lopeti Timani and Seb Davies.

Josh Turnbull captains the team from blindside flanker and is joined in the back row by Taulupe Faletau and Thomas Young.

Kirby Myhill and Will Davies-King are named as replacements, having overcome recent hamstring and bicep/pectoral injuries respectively.

Cardiff Rugby: Rhys Priestland; Jason Harries, Rey Lee-Lo, Uilisi Halaholo, Theo Cabango; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carré, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, Lopeti Timani, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull (capt.), Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Corey Domachowski, Will Davies-King, Teddy Williams, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Lloyd Williams, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn

Scarlets

Scarlets have named a side showing six personnel changes for Saturday’s Welsh derby against Cardiff Rugby at Parc y Scarlets.

In the back three, Johnny McNicholl returns on the right wing with fellow Wales international Leigh Halfpenny at full-back and Ryan Conbeer on the left flank.

Johnny Williams has been ruled out of action with a calf injury suffered in the loss to Benetton last weekend so Corey Baldwin comes in at outside centre and skipper Jonathan Davies moves to inside centre.

At half-back, Sam Costelow and Wales international Gareth Davies return to the starting XV.

There are two changes to the pack.

Ryan Elias is back at hooker and slots into a front row containing Steff Thomas and Javan Sebastian. Tom Price and Sam Lousi continue in the second row, while Blade Thomson comes in at openside to replace Josh Macleod, who is going through his return-to-play protocols following a knock to the head early on against Benetton.

On the bench, Wyn Jones and Ken Owens provide the international experience, Jac Price covers lock and the versatile Shaun Evans back-row cover. Dane Blacker, Dan Jones and Steff Evans are the backline replacements.

Scarlets team to play Cardiff at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday (17:15; Premier Sports)

15 Leigh Halfpenny; 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Corey Baldwin, 12  Jonathan Davies (capt), 11 Ryan Conbeer; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Steff Thomas 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Javan Sebastian, 4 Tom Price, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Vaea Fifita, 7 Blade Thomson, 8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens 17 Wyn Jones 18 Harri O’Connor 19 Jac Price 20 Shaun Evans 21 Dane Blacker 22 Dan Jones 23 Steff Evans.

Unavailable

Josh Macleod, Johnny Williams, Ioan Nicholas, Tomás Lezana, Tom Rogers, Aaron Shingler, Dan Davis, Phil Price, Lewis Rawlins, Joe Roberts, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Callum Williams, Kemsley Mathias, Samson Lee, Griff Evans, Josh Helps.