With Ulster and Leinster both winning at the start of round 15, it is up to Munster now as Anthony Foley’s men look to hand the Scarlets their first home GUINNESS PRO12 defeat since December 2013.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, February 21
SCARLETS (8th) v MUNSTER (4th), Parc y Scarlets, 2.40pm (live Sky Sports 3 HD)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has named his matchday 23 for Saturday’s GUINNESS PRO12 encounter with the Scarlets in Llanelli.
In making eight changes to the team that defeated Cardiff Blues last weekend, Foley calls on the services of returning Ireland internationals Tommy O’Donnell, Felix Jones and Ian Keatley, who was a late withdrawal last Saturday due to illness.
Andrew Conway has also overcome the flu to resume on the right wing and the squad has been further boosted by the return of CJ Stander from injury as he takes his place in the starting line-up.
There is a new front row named for the round 15 fixture with Dave Kilcoyne, Kevin O’Byrne and Stephen Archer all starting. The other changes to the pack see O’Donnell and Stander join Dave O’Callaghan in the back row.
Keatley resumes his half-back partnership with Duncan Williams, while stand-in captain Denis Hurley and Keith Earls are retained in midfield with Conway and Jones joining Luke O’Dea in the back-three.
Meanwhile, Scarlets boss Wayne Pivac has named an unchanged team to take on Munster on the back of last weekend’s 32-14 bonus point success against Connacht.
Carmarthen-born hooker Ken Owens will lead the Welsh region out as they look to preserve their unbeaten home record in the PRO12 which stretches back to December 2013.
The 21-year-old Jordan Williams will make his 50th appearance for the Scarlets with the region’s top points scorer Rhys Priestland joining Gareth Davies and Rob Evans on the replacements bench having been released from the Wales camp.
GUINNESS PRO12 Trials With Hawk-Eye Commence
SCARLETS: Jordan Williams; Harry Robinson, Regan King, Hadleigh Parkes, Michael Tagicakibau; Steven Shingler, Aled Davies; Phil John, Ken Owens (capt), Peter Edwards, Lewis Rawlins, Johan Snyman, Aaron Shingler, James Davies, John Barclay.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Rob Evans, Jacobie Adriaanse, George Earle, Rob McCusker, Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland, Adam Warren.
MUNSTER: Felix Jones; Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Denis Hurley (capt), Luke O’Dea; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Kevin O’Byrne, Stephen Archer, Donncha O’Callaghan, Billy Holland, Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, John Ryan, BJ Botha, Jack O’Donoghue, Paddy Butler, Neil Cronin, JJ Hanrahan, Ivan Dineen.
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse, Greg Morgan (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Derek Bevan (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Scarlets to win: Evens; Draw: 19/1; Munster to win: 4/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster) – “It was great (to get the win over Cardiff at Irish Independent Park). We’ll be tough on each other with the things we need to improve on but you also have to praise the things that went really well.
“It was really encouraging the way we tried to play, the heads-up rugby, looking for space as opposed going for the pre-rehearsed plans and moves. I thought the backs were super, in particular JJ Hanrahan, Keith Earls, who is just superb at the moment, and Ronan O’Mahony who, for me, has been the player of the season for us and I thought he was incredible again.
“The PRO12 is massively important and success is what it’s all about. We’ve seen Damien Varley having to retire this week and it brings it home – you have a short window and you need to be really selfish within it to grab what you can.
“We’ve a massive four-week block now where we lose the likes of Conor (Murray), Pete (O’Mahony) and Paulie (O’Connell), so it’s up to the other guys to step up now and put in massive performances to ensure that we’re in the shake-up.
“We take it game by game and this week all we can think of is the Scarlets. I respect them massively, they always put in massive performances and they go beyond themselves.”
Phil John (Scarlets) – “We’re targeting getting into the top six first before maybe hoping for top four. (Last Sunday) was a must win and we were happy enough to have the bonus as well as denying Connacht a bonus point.
“Euopre is massive for us. As long as I’ve been here European rugby is where we’ve wanted to play and be a part of. We have to get into that top six.
“I’m expecting Munster to come with strong forward runners and a very good set piece. The scrum is a bit of a weapon with them. We’ve got to expect a good team performance from them.
“We’ll definitely have to keep it tighter against Munster this week. The two sides saw the sun was out (last Sunday) and thought it was time to play touch rugby but it’ll definitely need to be tighter.”
Top Scorers – 2014/15 GUINNESS PRO12: Scarlets – Points: Rhys Priestland 75; Tries: Liam Williams 5; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 103; Tries: CJ Stander, Simon Zebo 5 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, April 21, 2012 – Scarlets 20 Munster 20, Parc y Scarlets
Sunday, November 25, 2012 – Munster 6 Scarlets 13, Musgrave Park
Saturday, February 16, 2013 – Scarlets 18 Munster 10, Parc y Scarlets
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
MATCH FACTS:
– The Scarlets’ last four fixtures in the GUINNESS PRO12 have all been won by the home side on the day, while the Welshmen have not been defeated at Parc y Scarlets in the league since the Ospreys were the visitors in December 2013
– The most recent Irish province to win at Scarlets’ home was Leinster in the PRO12 in September 2013
– Munster’s only loss in their last four fixtures was 23-10 at Saracens in the European Champions Cup on January 17
– The Munstermen have won just one of their last five away games in all competitions: 31-7 over Zebre in
Parma on January 10
– Munster have won four of their five encounters with Welsh regions this season
– The last four clashes between the two sides have all been won by the home team on the day, while Munster’s most recent victory at Parc y Scarlets was 17-14 in the Heineken Cup in December 2011
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