Picking up their first GUINNESS PRO12 win at Parc y Scarlets since April 2011 would be the ideal way for Munster to begin life under their new director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, September 3
SCARLETS v MUNSTER, Parc y Scarlets, 3pm (live Sky Sports 1 HD)
Team News: New director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has named his first GUINNESS PRO12 team ahead of Munster’s visit to Parc y Scarlets where they open their competitive season on Saturday.
Erasmus makes just one change to the Munster side that defeated Worcester Warriors last Friday, with Dave Foley coming into the second row. Following two strong showings in the Kearys Renault Series, Academy centre Dan Goggin retains the number 13 jersey and will make his first competitive start in Llanelli.
Returning Ireland internationals Dave Kilcoyne and Donnacha Ryan could see some game-time this weekend after being named on a bench that sees Academy prop Brian Scott and second row Jean Kleyn included in a PRO12 matchday squad for the first time.
James Cronin, Niall Scannell and John Ryan make up the front row with Foley coming in to partner captain Billy Holland in the second row. It is as you were in the back row with Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell and Jack O’Donoghue all retained.
Duncan Williams starts at scrum half alongside Kiwi number 10 Tyler Bleyendaal (pictured below) who will make his first PRO12 appearance since last December.
Having spent two years together in the Greencore Munster Academy, Goggin will be well acquainted with his midfield partner Rory Scannell, while Ronan O’Mahony, Darren Sweetnam and full-back Simon Zebo again make up the back-three. In total, 14 of Saturday’s starting line-up are products of the Munster development pathway.
Meanwhile, Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac has named an all-star cast, including 11 international players, in his matchday 23 for the league opener.
Captain Ken Owens will lead the side onto the pitch at Parc y Scarlets in what promises to be a thrilling opening encounter. Dylan Evans and South African international Werner Kruger join him in the front row.
The second row pairing sees Lewis Rawlins link up with Wales international Jake Ball who makes his first appearance of the campaign, while Aaron Shingler and John Barclay are joined in the back row by the 19-year-old Josh Macleod.
Macleod is set to make his first competitive start for the Scarlets having previously represented the region in two pre-season friendlies. He was called into the Wales Under-20 squad ahead of the U-20 Six Nations earlier this year and celebrated an historic Grand Slam with his country.
The Llanelli outfit’s back-line sees the return of Liam Williams and Scott Williams, who were both absent for the majority of the 2015/16 season, and they are joined by 2015 Rugby World Cup star DTH van der Merwe – also making a return from injury – as well as newcomer Rhys Patchell.
SCARLETS: Liam Williams; DTH van der Merwe, Scott Williams, Hadleigh Parkes, Steff Evans; Rhys Patchell, Gareth Davies; Dylan Evans, Ken Owens (capt), Werner Kruger, Jake Ball, Lewis Rawlins, Aaron Shingler, John Barclay, Josh Macleod.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones, Peter Edwards, David Bulbring, Tadhg Beirne, Jonathan Evans, Dan Jones, Jonathan Davies.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Tyler Bleyendaal, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Billy Holland (capt), Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Jean Kleyn, Donnacha Ryan, Tomas O’Leary, Ian Keatley, Cian Bohane.
Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Wayne Davies (Wales)
Television Match Official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Scarlets to win: 8/15; Draw: 19/1; Munster to win: 7/4
Pre-Match Quotes: Jack O’Donoghue (Munster) – “With Rassie (Erasmus) and Jacques (Nienaber) coming in to the coaching set-up, and the move to the one base in Limerick, there is a real freshness about the place. They have brought a whole new philosophy to the game and I think it will suit the way we naturally play the game.
“I have been really impressed with Jacques and his mindset and attitude towards defence. I think that showed in our defensive display against Worcester (in our last pre-season game). Other than the late tries, I thought we fronted up well, we forced a lot of turnovers against them, we put them under a lot of pressure and forced the errors. That was a big positive ahead of the Scarlets match.
“The Scarlets is a tough trip to start the season. Last year over there they did us in the last minute, when they kicked a penalty at the death. We have to be really screwed in mentally because one lapse in concentration, all of a sudden you find yourself under your posts.
“Being the first game you don’t have too much video footage, and you have to rely on last season’s clips more than usual. Teams could have changed their set-up, so you are going in blinder than you’d like. We’d love to get up and running with four points in the bag.”
Wayne Pivac (Scarlets) – “It’s been nice to have an edge in training. Munster bring a lot of physicality, we played them in the last game of the season last year, it’s fresh in our minds and they will attack us around the fringes.
“We know a lot about them, they’re a strong and proud side with a lot of history like we are. It’s going to be a tough game, as the home games against them have been in the last few seasons.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Scarlets – Points: Aled Thomas 114; Tries: DTH van der Merwe 7; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 124; Tries: Mike Sherry, Simon Zebo, CJ Stander 5 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, December 21, 2013 – Munster 16 Scarlets 10, Musgrave Park
Saturday, March 1, 2014 – Scarlets 18 Munster 13, Parc y Scarlets
Friday, October 10, 2014 – Munster 17 Scarlets 6, Thomond Park
Saturday, February 21, 2015 – Scarlets 25 Munster 25, Parc y Scarlets
Friday, October 23, 2015 – Scarlets 25 Munster 22, Parc y Scarlets
Saturday, May 7, 2016 – Munster 31 Scarlets 15, Thomond Park
MATCH FACTS:
– The Scarlets’ only defeat on the opening weekend in the last five years of Guinness PRO12 came when Leinster visited Parc y Scarlets in 2013
– The Scarlets have lost their last two matches at the venue, to Cardiff Blues and Glasgow Warriors, but have never lost three in a row at home in the PRO12 since moving to their new stadium in 2008
– Munster’s only defeat in round 1 since 2009 was by a single point to Edinburgh in Limerick in 2014
– The Munstermen concluded last season with the final seven rounds of PRO12 play all being won by the home side on the day
– Munster have not won in Wales since visiting the Ospreys in round 2 last season
– Both matches between the two teams last season went the way of home field advantage, while the Scarlets have not lost to Munster at Parc y Scarlets in the PRO12 since April 2011
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