Ulster passed their first test of the season with flying colours at home to the Ospreys, but securing a result in Llanelli should prove a much stiffer task for Neil Doak’s men.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, September 12
SCARLETS (7th) v ULSTER (3rd), Parc y Scarlets, 3pm (live Sky Sports 1 HD)
Team News: Ulster head coach Neil Doak has made two personnel changes and one positional switch to the team for Saturday’s GUINNESS PRO12 encounter with the Scarlets.
Andrew Trimble was unavailable for selection having suffered a hip flexor strain, so Craig Gilroy switches flanks and starts on the right wing with Rory Scholes coming in on the left.
The other change comes in the pack where Peter Browne starts his first competitive game for Ulster in the second row in place of Dan Tuohy.
The rest of the province’s starting line-up is unchanged with Louis Ludik named at full-back and Luke Marshall paired with Stuart McCloskey in the centre. Peter Nelson retains the number 10 jersey and starts at half-back alongside Paul Marshall who wins his 148th Ulster cap.
The tight five sees a front row of Andrew Warwick, captain Rob Herring and Wiehahn Herbst, with Franco van der Merwe partnering Browne in the second row. Flankers Willie Faloon and Roger Wilson start either side of Nick Williams who is selected at number 8.
Callum Black returns from an arm injury to take up a place on the replacements bench. He is joined by fellow forwards John Andrew, Ricky Lutton, Robbie Diack and Clive Ross. Backs David Shanahan, Sam Arnold and David Busby complete the squad.
Full-back Busby (pictured below), who has represented the Ireland Under-20s and Ulster Ravens, will play his first senior game for the province if called upon.
Meanwhile, Scarlets supremo Wayne Pivac has showed confidence in the side that secured an impressive 16-10 victory over reigning champions Glasgow last weekend by sticking with an unchanged starting line-up for their first home game.
The only change comes on the replacements bench with Rhodri Williams unavailable due to concussion. Scotland international John Barclay, the man-of-the-match at Scotstoun, has been named captain for the round 2 fixture.
SCARLETS: Steffan Evans; Hadleigh Parkes, Regan King, Gareth Owen, Michael Tagicakibau; Daniel Jones, Aled Davies; Phil John, Emyr Phillips, Peter Edwards, Tom Price, Lewis Rawlins, Aaron Shingler, James Davies, John Barclay (capt).
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Rob Evans, Will Taylor, George Earle, Rory Pitman, Kieran Hardy, Aled Thomas, Tom Williams.
ULSTER: Louis Ludik; Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Rory Scholes; Peter Nelson, Paul Marshall; Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Peter Browne, Franco van der Merwe, Roger Wilson, Willie Faloon, Nick Williams.
Replacements: John Andrew, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Robbie Diack, Clive Ross, David Shanahan, Sam Arnold, David Busby.
Referee: Andy Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Neil Hennessy, Justin Williams (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Jon Mason (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Scarlets to win: 5/6; Draw: 14/1; Ulster to win: Evens
Pre-Match Quotes: Nick Williams (Ulster) – “It’s always a tough place to go. The Scarlets play a brand of rugby that’s unbelievably accurate. Their stadium has a bit of an echo to it, it’s not as atmospheric, so I guess we have to make our own atmosphere and make of it what we can.
“We just have to focus on what we can do. They’re going to be tough regardless. Against Glasgow, it was an unbelievable – and accurate – performance in that first 40 minutes when they put the game to bed. They were physical and hopefully we can negate that.
“The lungs (last week) certainly felt like I’d been away. It was just good to be back. It sure was an extra, extra, extra long pre-season for me so it was good to get back out there with the boys in front of a stadium that goes crazy for us.
“It was a long summer, if that’s what we call it here, but it gave me a chance to get a few things sorted body-wise and off the field.
“I was quite happy with how it went last Friday, even if the body was telling me differently. I was in a world of pain the next day, but it was all worth it in the end. The boys just played brilliantly so it was a good day to be involved with Ulster Rugby.”
Wayne Pivac (Scarlets) – “It’s very early days, but Ulster certainly put on a very good performance at home last weekend and on the evidence of that whilst the Rugby World Cup is on, they’ll still be a very strong side and one of the leaders.
“They are one of the top sides, we played them four times last year and had three real battles and one where they got on top of us at home. We know we’re in for a tough day at the office on Saturday.
“The boys love playing at home, every side does. We love getting out here in front of home supporters and familiar surroundings.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Scarlets – Points: Dan Jones 6; Tries: Aaron Shingler, Hadleigh Parkes 1 each; Ulster – Points: Stuart McCloskey 13; Tries: Rob Herring, Stuart McCloskey, Wiehahn Herbst, Luke Marshall 1 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, January 4, 2013 – Ulster 47 Scarlets 17, Ravenhill
Friday, May 10, 2013 – Semi-final – Ulster 28 Scarlets 17, Ravenhill
Saturday, November 2, 2013 – Scarlets 17 Ulster 9, Parc y Scarlets
Friday, March 14, 2014 – Ulster 26 Scarlets 13, Ravenhill
Saturday, September 6, 2014 – Scarlets 32 Ulster 32, Parc y Scarlets
Friday, February 27, 2015 – Ulster 25 Scarlets 20, Kingspan Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– The Scarlets have won their last five GUINNESS PRO12 fixtures since Edinburgh won at Parc y Scarlets on March 28. This also represents their only home defeat in the league since December 2013
– Ulster ended a three-match winless streak in the PRO12 with their 28-6 victory over the Ospreys in Belfast last Friday
– The Ulstermen have won three of their last six away games in the league
– The Scarlets have won just one of their last eight encounters with Ulster in the PRO12: 17-9 in
Llanelli on November 2, 2013
– Overall, the Ulstermen have a won 2, drawn 2, lost 5 record in all competitions at Parc y Scarlets
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