Preview: Cardiff v Scarlets

Cardiff Rugby

• Thomas Young and Josh Turnbull are sat first and second in the tackle charts this season, having made 154 and 124 respectively. 44% of Young’s tackles have been low (below the waist)
• Showing the quality of the Cardiff loose forwards, Young and James Botham have won more turnovers than any other players (14 and 12 respectively)
• Cardiff have the poorest lineout success in the league, collecting their own throw just 78% of the time. They have conceded 19 lineout steals so far this season – the second-highest total in the BKT URC

Scarlets

• Undoubtedly a mercurial talent, Sam Costelow has nonetheless found himself on the wrong end of the referee’s whistle more than he would like. He has been shown a league-high three yellow cards
• Likely to be banned after his red card at the weekend, the Scarlets will miss the influence of Sione Kalamafoni, who has made more carries (150) and contact metres (128) than any other player in the BKT URC as well as more running metres than any other forward (426)
• Making another two in Round 11, Jonny McNicholl has thrown more offloads than any other player in this season’s BKT URC (15). Showing the Scarlets’ attacking mindset, Sam Lousi has made the most for a forward (11)

Did You Know?

Cardiff Rugby ended a two-match losing streak against the Scarlets when they last played in October 2022, winning 16-10.

Cardiff Rugby have lost their two most recent home matches.

The Scarlets’ win against the Dragons last weekend was their first in six matches.