The pressure is on Connacht to deliver a winning performance after their back-to-back interprovincial derby defeats. Making the trip across to Llanelli, the westerners are aiming for their first away victory over the Scarlets since October 2004.
GUINNESS PRO12: Sunday, January 10
SCARLETS (2nd) v CONNACHT (4th), Parc y Scarlets, 2.30pm (live TG4/S4C)
Team News: Connacht head coach Pat Lam has named his team to face league leaders the Scarlets in Llanelli on Sunday. There is just one change to the side that travelled to play Leinster on New Year’s Day.
Second row Ultan Dillane, fresh from his first involvement in the Ireland training camp on Sunday, rotates with Aly Muldowney.
Sunday’s GUINNESS PRO12 clash will make it eight appearances and six starts this season for the 22-year-old Dillane. He made his senior debut while still in the Connacht Academy last term.
Jack Carty and Kieran Marmion are retained at half-back while Niyi Adeolokun, a try scorer for Connacht at Parc y Scarlets last season, starts on the right wing with Matt Healy on the left.
Up front, John Muldoon, who this week signed up for his 14th season at the province, will captain the westerners. Jake Heenan, who made his seasonal debut last week after nearly 10 months on the sidelines, will start again at openside flanker.
Meanwhile, the Scarlets have been handed a timely boost ahead of the visit of Connacht, with Scotland international John Barclay returning to fitness in time for the all-important league fixture.
Injuries at openside flanker have blighted the Welsh region in recent weeks with Barclay, James Davies, Will Boyde and Josh Macleod unavailable and Emyr Phillips, who played in the jersey last weekend, also ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
Rory Pitman also makes a return to the matchday 23 for the first time since facing Ulster in the second round of the PRO12 in September having ruptured a bicep.
Former All Black Regan King returns to the team with Gareth Owen unavailable due to injury. Gareth Davies is ruled out due to illness, handing Aled Davies the number 9 jersey with Rhodri Williams featuring for the first time since the European Champions Cup round 3 defeat to Glasgow Warriors.
Hooker Ryan Elias (21) is named as cover for captain Ken Owens, looking to continue his development in the red shirt. His last appearance came off the bench in the 25-14 loss to Leinster in October.
Another of the region’s next generation named among the replacements and looking for his first Scarlets appearance since December 2014 is centre Steff Hughes.
SCARLETS: Michael Collins; Steff Evans, Regan King, Hadleigh Parkes, DTH van der Merwe; Aled Thomas, Aled Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens (capt), Samson Lee, Tom Price, Lewis Rawlins, Aaron Shingler, John Barclay, Morgan Allen.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Phil John, Rhodri Jones, Maselino Paulino, Rory Pitman, Rhodri Williams, Steve Shingler, Steff Hughes.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Finlay Bealham, Tom McCartney, Nathan White, Ultan Dillane, Andrew Browne, John Muldoon (capt), Jake Heenan, Eoghan Masterson.
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, Rodney Ah You, Aly Muldowney, Sean O’Brien, Ian Porter, AJ MacGinty, Rory Parata.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Gwyn Morris, Stuart Kibble (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Paul Adams (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Scarlets to win: 2/5; Draw: 16/1; Connacht to win: 2/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Pat Lam (Connacht) – “While we were disappointed with the outcome last week against Leinster, there were a lot of positives we could take from the performance.
“We travel with the same squad to take on a strong Scarlets side on their home pitch this weekend. There are certain aspects of our game that we are looking to improve from last week.
“With a solid week’s training under our belts, we go with confidence knowing that if we add clinical execution to the work ethic already shown, we’ll have every chance of getting the points on offer.”
Stephen Jones (Scarlets) – “We’ve played 11 games and we’re halfway through the season. We’ve put a lot of good things in place but we still have a lot of areas we need to tidy up on, that’s the focus for us as coaches. The good thing for us is a lot of those things are in our control.
“From our aspect, we’ll make sure our house is in order to get back to winning ways – that’s our goal. We’re expecting a tough game because Connacht are tough opponents.
“They’re a very good side. Statistically they’re very good. They want to play open expansive rugby. We’re looking forward to it, it will be a great challenge for us.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Scarlets – Points: Aled Thomas 47; Tries: DTH van der Merwe 5; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 55; Tries: Nepia Fox-Matamua, Matt Healy, Danie Poolman, Tiernan O’Halloran 3 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, September 15, 2012 – Connacht 11 Scarlets 24, the Sportsground
Friday, February 8, 2013 – Scarlets 25 Connacht 15, Parc y Scarlets
Saturday, November 23, 2013 – Connacht 21 Scarlets 24, the Sportsground
Sunday, March 30, 2014 – Scarlets 32 Connacht 30, Parc y Scarlets
Saturday, November 29, 2014 – Connacht 14 Scarlets 8, the Sportsground
Sunday, February 15, 2015 – Scarlets 32 Connacht 14, Parc y Scarlets
MATCH FACTS:
– The Scarlets have slipped to four straight defeats in all competitions, although achieving a losing bonus point in each of the last three encounters
– The Scarlets were defeated 27-26 by the Ospreys in their most recent home game and have not lost successive matches at Parc y Scarlets in the same season in the PRO12 since 2009/10
– Connacht’s only win in their last five fixtures in all competitions was 25-10 at home to Newcastle Falcons in the European Challenge Cup on December 11
– Connacht have slipped to three straight defeats on the road since their momentous victory in Munster in the PRO12 on November 28
– Connacht have won just one of their last seven encounters with the Scarlets: 14-8 at the Sportsground in November 2014, while they have not beaten the Scarlets on Welsh soil since a trip to the old Stradey Park in October 2004
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