Scarlets make three changes for Arms Park showdown

Head coach Dwayne Peel has made three changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s return BKT United Rugby Championship fixture against Cardiff at the Arms Park (15:00 Premier Sport).

In the only change behind the scrum, Ioan Lloyd comes in for Sam Costelow at fly-half, while up front, Kemsley Mathias and Marnus van der Merwe get the nod in the front row.

That means the back three of Ioan Nicholas, Tom Rogers and Blair Murray remains the same as the one that took the field against Connacht last weekend.

Johnny Williams will make his 50th Scarlets appearance and he combines again with Eddie James in midfield. Lloyd partners Gareth Davies at half-back.

Mathias starts at loose-head prop, van der Merwe replaces Ryan Elias at hooker, while Henry Thomas continues at tight-head.

The rest of the pack remains the same with Sam Lousi and Max Douglas in the second row and skipper Josh Macleod joined by Dan Davis and Taine Plumtree in the back row.

Alec Hepburn, Elias and Costelow will provide back up from the bench alongside Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Efan Jones and Macs Page.

Head coach Dwayne Peel said: “They are always competitive fixtures, us against Cardiff, like the one at Parc y Scarlets a couple of weeks ago. The Arms Park is a fast track and we always seem  to have a great support there. All the West Walians living in Cardiff come out to support us. It is always a good atmosphere and a sea of red; hopefully it will be the same on Saturday and we can get a win for them. It is a good healthy rivalry, two teams who like to play rugby, it will be a good occasion.”

Scarlets team to play Cardiff at the Arms Park on Saturday, October 12 (3pm Premier Sport)

15 Ioan Nicholas; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Eddie James, 11 Blair Murray; 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Josh Macleod (capt), 7 Dan Davis, 8 Taine Plumtree.

Reps: 16 Ryan Elias. 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Macs Page.

Unavailable because of injury

Tomi Lewis, Joe Roberts, Steff Evans, Harri O’Connor, Shaun Evans, Archie Hughes, Vaea Fifita, Charlie Titcombe.