Something will have to give at Parc y Scarlets as the hosts and Munster both put their winning starts to the GUINNESS PRO12 season on the line in a mouthwatering top of the table clash.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, October 23
SCARLETS (2nd) v MUNSTER (1st), Parc y Scarlets, 7.05pm (live TG4/BBC 2 Wales)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley makes eight changes to the team that defeated Glasgow Warriors for Friday’s GUINNESS PRO12 round 5 clash with the Scarlets in Llanelli.
Jordan Coghlan will make his first competitive start for Munster, while Ronan O’Mahony is included in a matchday squad for the first time this season.
The only change in the front row comes at hooker with Duncan Casey joining Dave Kilcoyne and BJ Botha, and in the second row Mark Chisholm moves to number 5 with Robin Copeland making his first second row start for the province.
Following a try-scoring cameo against Cardiff Blues last weekend, Coghlan makes his first PRO12 start for Foley’s men at openside flanker with blindside Dave O’Callaghan and number 8 CJ Stander completing the back row. Stander will once again captain the side for this weekend’s game.
A further five changes are seen across the backs. Cathal Sheridan and Tyler Bleyendaal come in at half-back, while Denis Hurley makes his first start of the season in forming a new centre partnership alongside the Academy’s David Johnston.
The final change comes in the back-three with Academy winger Stephen Fitzgerald starting on the right wing with Gerhard van den Heever and Andrew Conway remaining in situ on the left wing and full-back respectively.
Having successfully completed his rehabilitation, Ronan O’Mahony (pictured below) is in line to make his first appearance of the season after being named among the replacements.
Meanwhile, the Scarlets’ four returning Wales internationals have been named by head coach Wayne Pivac in the matchday 23 to face Munster.
International forwards Ken Owens, Samson Lee and Jake Ball are named in the starting line-up, with Gareth Davies named on the bench as he links up with fellow Rugby World Cup try-scoring machine DTH van der Merwe at the Parc for the first time.
Lewis Rawlins returns to the back row with Aaron Shingler unavailable due to concussion. Rhodri Williams makes a return to the scrum half berth in the only change to the back-line.
SCARLETS: Aled Thomas; Hadleigh Parkes, Regan King, Gareth Owen, DTH van der Merwe; Steven Shingler, Rhodri Williams; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Tom Price, Lewis Rawlins, James Davies, John Barclay (capt).
Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Phil John, Peter Edwards, George Earle, Jack Condy, Gareth Davies, Dan Jones, Tom Williams.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Stephen Fitzgerald, David Johnston, Denis Hurley, Gerhard van den Heever; Tyler Bleyendaal, Cathal Sheridan; Dave Kilcoyne, Duncan Casey, BJ Botha, Robin Copeland, Mark Chisholm, Dave O’Callaghan, Jordan Coghlan, CJ Stander (capt).
Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Shane Buckley, Tomas O’Leary, Ian Keatley, Ronan O’Mahony.
Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Simon Rees, Martyn Lewis (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Jon Mason (Wales)
Pre-Match Quotes: CJ Stander (Munster) – “We wanted to start the (Cardiff) game with an intensity and physicality but we didn’t do that, we were 10-0 down in the first 10 minutes and it was hard to get back from that, but we played good rugby in between the 20th minute and the 35th, started the second half slowly, but came out again. One of our biggest problems, though, has been turning off and turning on again.
“That’s frustrating because we know what we want to do, know how we want to play. Sometimes we don’t know what the problem is, we have to go into the changing rooms and listen to the coaches, get the feedback and it switches on again. However, with the World Cup, a week on and week off is difficult for teams, everyone wants game on game.
“Parc y Scarlets) is a tough place to play and it’s a top of the table clash. I think last year they might have lost just one game there, they drew with us. This year they have started very well, they have (made) good signings and have been playing very good rugby so far.
“We need to take it from the start, we can’t switch on and off, we have to play a physical game and and stick to what we’re good at. At times against Cardiff we showed that we can link between backs and forwards and play a good (tidy) game. I know it is a cliche but we do need to play for 80 minutes.”
Wayne Pivac (Scarlets) – “If we look back at our game against Munster here last season, we played really well for 74 minutes but ended up drawing that game. We’d like to go one better but it’s going to be a big ask. They’re playing really well at the moment and we’re yet to put together an 80-minute performance.
“Munster have played well in recent weeks. They’ll bring an attacking ability and they’ll ask a lot of questions of our defence. They’re a dangerous side and have been scoring some good tries. They deserve to be where they are.
“This is definitely our biggest test yet. Munster are in form and the fact we’ve managed to get through unbeaten makes for a juicy occasion. They’re a strong side, they have a pedigree and a history.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Scarlets – Points: Dan Jones 29; Tries: James Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, DTH van der Merwe 2 each; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 38; Tries: CJ Stander 3
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
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
Saturday, February 21, 2015 – Scarlets 25 Munster 25, Parc y Scarlets
MATCH FACTS:
– Each team has begun their 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12 campaign with perfect 100% winning records
– It is the best start the Scarlets have made to any season in league history, while Munster
also began with four wins in both 2010/11 and 2011/12
– The Scarlets have not been defeated since Edinburgh visited Parc y Scarlets last March, with their eight successive victories to date continuing their best ever winning run in the competition
– Munster’s lone defeat in their last eleven PRO12 matches came in last season’s final to Glasgow Warriors, while their only loss in their last ten fixtures against Welsh regions came on a trip to the Ospreys last March
– The Scarlets have won just one of their last four clashes with Munster: 18-13 in March 2014
– Munster have not been victorious at Parc y Scarlets since a 17-14 win in the European Cup back in December 2011
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