Josh Macleod back to lead Scarlets into Cardiff derby

Club captain Josh Macleod makes his return from injury to lead Scarlets into their United Rugby Championship clash with Cardiff Rugby at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.

The Wales international flanker will make his first appearance since January in a side showing four personnel changes from last weekend’s 20-20 draw out in Treviso.

There is a reshuffle in the back division. With Sam Costelow recovering from the illness that forced him to miss the Benetton clash, the Wales pivot returns to the No. 10 jersey, Ioan Lloyd switches to full-back and Tom Rogers moves to the right wing in place of Ellis Mee, who is named among the replacements.

Johnny Williams and Macs Page continue in midfield, while Gareth Davies will make his 250th appearance from scrum-half.

The Wales and British & Irish Lions half-back made his Scarlets debut in 2009 in a career that has spanned 17 seasons.

Up front, Kemsley Mathias continues at loose-head in an all-international Wales front row alongside Ryan Elias and Henry Thomas, who will make his URC debut.

Alex Craig and Max Douglas combine again at lock.

In the back row, Vaea Fifita is ruled out with the knee injury he picked up against Benetton which forces a reshuffle.

Jarrod Taylor moves to blindside, Plumtree switches to No. 8 and Macleod starts in his favoured No. 7 shirt.

New signing Alec Hepburn has overcome the hamstring injury he picked up in the early weeks of pre-season and comes onto the bench, while there is also a return for Dan Davis and Eddie James.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “We were all disappointed with how the match in Treviso finished, but there has been plenty to build on for this weekend. We have always had close battles with Cardiff, they will be buoyed from that win against Zebre in round one so it is important we are on our mettle and impose ourselves on the game. We want to make Parc y Scarlets a difficult place for teams to come and after three successive away games it is great to be back at home in front of our supporters again.”

Scarlets team to play Cardiff on Saturday, September 28 (5.15pm Premier Sports)

15 Ioan Lloyd; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Macs Page, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Blair Murray; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Alex Craig, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Taine Plumtree.

Reps: 16 Marnus van der Merwe. 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Eddie James, 23 Ellis Mee.

Unavailable because of injury

Tomi Lewis, Joe Roberts, Steff Evans, Harri O’Connor, Shaun Evans, Sam Lousi, Archie Hughes, Ioan Nicholas, Vaea Fifita, Ed Scragg.