The Scarlets and Connacht have both failed to register a single league point three weeks into the new GUINNESS PRO12 season. Pat Lam’s men are chasing the province’s first ever win at Parc y Scarlets.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, September 24
SCARLETS (10th) v CONNACHT (11th), Parc y Scarlets, 7.35pm (live TG4/S4C)
Team News: Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made six changes to the starting line-up ahead of the GUINNESS PRO12 round 4 match away to the Scarlets.
Ireland internationals Matt Healy, Kieran Marmion, Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux and Ultan Dillane are all brought into the side that will run out at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday night.
Along with Roux, Jake Heenan makes a welcome return from injury and his first appearance of the season. Dillane starts in the back row for the first time, lining out alongside the fit-again Heenan and captain John Muldoon.
Meanwhile, Scarlets boss Wayne Pivac has made one change to the side that was defeated 19-8 by Ulster in Belfast last weekend.
The one change to the starting line-up sees Aaron Shingler return at blindside flanker with Lewis Rawlins moving to the replacements bench. Hooker Ken Owens will lead the Welsh region in their second home game of the season.
SCARLETS: Aled Thomas; Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Steff Evans; Rhys Patchell, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens (capt), Werner Kruger, Jake Ball, David Bulbring, Aaron Shingler, James Davies, John Barclay.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Luke Garrett, Peter Edwards, Lewis Rawlins, Morgan Allen, Aled Davies, Scott Williams, Will Boyde.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Eoin Griffin, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux, Andrew Browne, Ultan Dillane, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, JP Cooney, Lewis Stevenson, Eoin McKeon, Caolin Blade, Shane O’Leary, Cian Kelleher.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Keith Allen (Scotland), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television Match Official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Scarlets to win: 3/10; Draw: 25/1; Connacht to win: 13/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Pat Lam (Connacht) – “With more guys coming back from injury, it’s pleasing to be able to select a bit more experience in our side. Quinn and Jake returning is obviously a boost and it helps drive more competition within the squad.
“Although we have never won at Parc y Scarlets before, we are really excited by the challenge to try and create a small bit of history.
“While both teams are obviously determined to get points on the table, our focus remains on the quality of our performance.”
Wayne Pivac (Scarlets) – “Given where both sides are heading into this game, with both sides in the top six last season and Connacht of course going on to win the title, we want to repeat the dose and be there towards the end of the season.
“Having said that, all we’re focusing on is the group we’ve got now and where we need to improve. We don’t have too much time to focus too much on what happened last year. For us it’s being the best we can be on a given day.
“It’ll be a great contest; you wouldn’t to be the team that comes off second! This really is a big game for us. It’s good to be back at home here at the Parc and the boys are very much looking forward to it. Hopefully there’ll be a boisterous crowd here to lift the team and get a decent performance out of it.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Scarlets – Points: Rhys Patchell 20; Tries: Will Boyde, Gareth Davies 1 each; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 6; Tries: Niyi Adeolokun, Eoin McKeon 1 each
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Scarlets – Played 3, Lost 3, 0 Points; L 23-13 v Munster (home), L 20-9 v Edinburgh (away), L 19-8 v Ulster (away); Connacht – Played 2, Lost 2, 0 Points; L 41-5 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 32-11 v Ospreys (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
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
Sunday, January 10, 2016 – Scarlets 21 Connacht 19, Parc y Scarlets
Saturday, January 30, 2016 – Connacht 30 Scarlets 17, the Sportsground
MATCH FACTS:
– The Scarlets have failed to register a single league point from any of their last four fixtures in the GUINNESS PRO12
– The Welshmen have lost their last three games at Parc y Scarlets but have never lost four in a row at the venue since moving there in 2008
– Connacht’s match at Zebre last Saturday was abandoned at half-time due to adverse weather conditions
– The defending PRO12 champions have also yet to record a league point this season
– Each side has won its respective home game when the two teams have met in the past two seasons
– The Scarlets have won their last eleven home games against Connacht, at three different venues, with Connacht’s most recent success on Scarlets’ soil being at Stradey Park in the league in October 2004
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