Scarlets name side to take on Zebre Parma

Scarlets have named their team to take on Zebre Parma in round six of the BKT United Rugby Championship at Parc y Scarlets on Friday night (19:35).

Head coach Dwayne Peel has made five changes, one of them positional, to the starting XV that took the field for the win against Vodacom Bulls last weekend.

Behind the scrum, Sam Costelow is handed the No. 10 jersey so Ioan Lloyd switches to full-back. Costelow partners Gareth Davies, who will be making his sixth successive start in the No. 9 jersey.

There is a change in midfield with 19-year-old Macs Page coming in to partner 22-year-old Eddie James.

Blair Murray and Tom Rogers, who both scored stunning solo tries against the Bulls, continue on the wing.

Up front, Peel has made two changes to the pack.

At loose-head, Scotland international Alec Hepburn swaps places with Kemsley Mathias and he packs down alongside Wales squad members Ryan Elias and Henry Thomas.

Jac Price, who impressed off the bench last weekend, is handed a start alongside Sam Lousi in the second row, while the back row of Max Douglas, skipper Josh Macleod and Taine Plumtree is unchanged.

Jarrod Taylor comes into the match-day 23 to take his place among the replacements.

Head coach Dwayne Peel said: “We were obviously delighted with the win over the Bulls, but the focus turns quickly to Zebre who are a very dangerous side if you give them opportunity. They have good quality runners and like to throw the ball around. It is another important game for us and hopefully we can build on the momentum and confidence we have generated with our last two wins.”

Scarlets team to play Zebre Parma at Parc y Scarlets on Friday, October 25 (7.35pm BBC Wales)

15 Ioan Lloyd; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Macs Page, 12 Eddie James, 11 Blair Murray; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Jac Price, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Max Douglas, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Taine Plumtree.

Reps: 16 Marnus van der Merwe. 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Ioan Nicholas, 23 Johnny Williams.

Unavailable because of injury

Tomi Lewis, Joe Roberts, Steff Evans, Harri O’Connor, Shaun Evans, Archie Hughes, Vaea Fifita, Isaac Young, Josh Morse, Carwyn Tuipulotu.