Wales international trio return for Cardiff clash

Wales internationals Eddie James, Ryan Elias and Taine Plumtree return to the Scarlets starting line-up for Saturday’s Welsh derby against Cardiff Rugby in round 15 of the BKT United Rugby Championship (17:30; Premier Sports).

The Scarlets side shows four personnel and one positional change from the team that took the field against Leinster in Dublin last time out.

Behind the scrum, James has recovered from a shoulder issue and returns at outside centre in the only change to the backline.

Blair Murray, Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee make up the back three; James partners Johnny Williams in midfield, with Joe Hawkins and Dane Blacker continuing at half-back.

Up front, Elias has come through his return-to-play protocols following his head knock against Zebre and packs down alongside Kemsley Mathias and Archer Holz.

Sam Lousi partners Max Douglas in the second row, while there is a reshuffle in the back row.

Plumtree has overcome the shoulder injury that ended his Six Nations prematurely and he starts at blindside flanker; Jarrod Taylor switches to openside and Fletcher Anderson wears the No. 8 jersey, as well as the captain’s armband. Josh Macleod is continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury.

On the bench, Marnus van der Merwe is another who has passed his head injury protocols, Josh Morse makes his return from injury, while Harri O’Connor gets the nod as tight-head cover. The rest of the replacements include Jac Price, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and Joe Roberts.

Interim Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “We’ve got a big block of games ahead of us, including three Welsh derbies which have always been fantastic matches; the ante is always up for these games and there is going to be a big crowd which is fantastic.

“There is also a Welsh Shield to play for, but equally as important are the standards we set ourselves as we look to the future. We have spoken about that as a group, our performances have to reflect that. We can’t just turn up next season and hope to be performing to a level, we need to set the standards now.

“Cardiff are obviously fighting hard in the play-off zone and have had a good season; they will be desperate for that victory, which adds a bit of extra spice.”

Scarlets team to face Cardiff Rugby on Saturday, April 18 (17:30; Premier Sports)

15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Eddie James, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Archer Holz, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 8 Fletcher Anderson (capt).

Reps: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 23 Joe Roberts.

Unavailable because of injury

Josh Macleod, Sam Costelow, Jake Ball, Jac Price, Alec Hepburn, Ioan Nicholas, Will Evans, Dom Kossuth.