Scarlets Internationals return for clash against Zebre

Scarlets welcome back six of their Wales Six Nations squad members for Friday’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Zebre Parma at Parc y Scarlets (19:45; S4C & Premier Sports).

Skipper Josh Macleod, full-back Blair Murray, wings Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee and hooker Ryan Elias are named in the starting XV, with Joe Hawkins a replacement.

For the Scarlets, it’s a first game on home soil since the end of January as they look to return to winning ways following frustrating defeats against Edinburgh and Connacht on their travels.

Murray, Rogers and Mee form an all-international back three, while Johnny Williams partners Macs Page in midfield. Joe Roberts misses out as he goes through return-to-play head injury protocols following a knock in Galway last weekend, while Eddie James is nursing a shoulder issue picked up during the Six Nations.

Up front, there are two changes in the front row – Elias replaces Marnus van der Merwe in the No. 2 jersey, while Archer Holz returns from injury at tight-head.

Max Douglas moves from the back row into lock alongside Sam Lousi; Jarrod Taylor switches from openside to blindside, allowing Macleod to come into his favoured No. 7 shirt and Fletcher Andersonc continues at No. 8.

On the bench, van der Merwe, Henry Thomas and Gabe Hawley provide the front-row cover, with Jac Price, Dan Davis, Dane Blacker, Hawkins and Ioan Jones also among the replacements.

Interim Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “There have been obvious frustrations with how the last two games against Edinburgh and Connacht have gone because I felt we were in positions in both matches to push on and get more out of them.

“Last weekend in Galway, Connacht won the gainline battle and we also weren’t clinical enough when we got into the red zone, but we have had a good week working on the skills we need to deliver in those areas and hopefully we can deliver a result against a very capable Zebre side.

“It’s been great to have our Wales boys back with us, they are in good spirits and I am also looking forward to playing at home again, The crowd were fantastic for us in our last home game against Ulster and hopefully they can come out and support in their numbers again on Friday night,” 

Scarlets team to face Zebre Parma on Friday, March 20 (19:45; S4C & Premier Sports)

15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Macs Page, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 9 Archie Hughes; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Archer Holz, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Fletcher Anderson.

Reps: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Henry Thomas, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Ioan Jones.

Unavailable because of injury

Alec Hepburn, Eddie James, Joe Roberts, Sam Costelow, Taine Plumtree, Ioan Nicholas, Josh Morse, Sam O’Connor, Will Evans, Dom Kossuth, Isaac Young, Iori Badham.