Scarlets make two changes for Bulls clash
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Scarlets take on Bulls at Parc y Scarlets on Friday night (19:35), showing two personnel changes to the side that took the field for the win over Cardiff last weekend.
At hooker, Wales international Ryan Elias swaps places with Marnus van der Merwe, while Max Douglas has recovered from the illness that forced him to withdraw from the Arms Park game.
Douglas is named at blindside flanker for the United Rugby Championship round five clash so skipper Josh Macleod switches to his favoured openside role.
It’s as you were for the back division, with Ioan Nicholas, Tom Rogers and Blair Murray making up the back three, Eddie James and Johnny Williams continuing their blossoming midfield partnership and Ioan Lloyd combining with Gareth Davies - the URC’s joint top try-scorer so far this season - at half-back.
In the front row, Elias packs down in between Kemsley Mathias and Henry Thomas; Alex Craig and Sam Lousi make up the second row and Plumtree starts again at No. 8 alongside Douglas and Macleod in the back row.
Jac Price will make his 50th Scarlets appearance if he comes off the bench.
Forwards coach Albert van den Berg said: “The Bulls have got a great team, a lot of Springboks. They are physical, have a good scrum, good maul, their counter attack is also really good. I know Jake (White) well, having played under him. He will get them fired up, he has said in the media that this is their year to perform, they will have the right mindset. But we will be ready for them, we like to take on the big teams and the big players, all the guys will be fired up for this one.”
Scarlets team to play Bulls at Parc y Scarlets on Friday, October 18 (7.35pm BBC Wales)
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 Ryan Elias, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Alex Craig, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Max Douglas, 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 Sam Costelow, 23 Macs Page.
Unavailable because of injury
Tomi Lewis, Joe Roberts, Steff Evans, Harri O’Connor, Shaun Evans, Archie Hughes, Vaea Fifita, Isaac Young
CYHOEDDIAD TÎM | TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 🔴
— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) October 17, 2024
Our Scarlets team to face @BlueBullsRugby on Friday evening at Parc y Scarlets 🏟
🏆 @URCOfficial Rd 5
⏰ 19:35
Tickets 👉 https://t.co/gC91yeLo8p
Tîm y Scarlets i wynebu'r Teirw ar nos Wener yn y Parc 🔥#SCAvBUL #YmaOHyd #BKTURC pic.twitter.com/U3R0VyYpOu
‼️TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT‼️
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) October 17, 2024
YOUR team to face Scarlets tomorrow for the second game on tour 🏆🔥@Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA #ForeverBlue pic.twitter.com/wu8ZrK83g5