Scarlets are expecting a game of Test level intensity on Saturday as they host Munster for their first of two big home games for the region.
Sitting in sixth on 55 points, the Scarlets know they are still in the battle for a top-four spot and play-off place if they can get good results in their last two RaboDirect PRO12 home games against Munster and then Cardiff Blues on May 5.
With just seven points separating the teams in second to sixth place, it could be any one of five teams making the trip to Dublin with Leinster already through. And with a number of the top six set to play each other in the final rounds, nothing can be taken for granted.
Scarlets welcome back George North who is back at full fitness, Jonathan Davies (centre) is out with a groin injury and is replaced by Stephen Jones with the Scarlets opting to put as much senior experience and game intelligence on the field as possible.
Jones played at 12 last weekend in Aironi for the injured Davies and the Scarlets will be looking to his vision and leadership in midfield this crucial game. Alongside Jones is bright young centre talent Adam Warren who put in some eye-catching performances in the early part of the season.
Matthew Rees takes the reins as captain once again and tighthead prop Deacon Manu is back fit after a spell out with concussion with young prop Rhodri Jones switching back to loosehead for what is expected to be a physical battle up front.
"This is a huge fixture for us and we are expecting international level intensity and we have to be right up there in terms of our performance, Munster bring such a big game for 80 minutes, we know what a tough side they are to beat," said Head of Rugby, Nigel Davies.
"There's so much in this game for us - not withstanding that they have proved an almost impossible side for us to win against in the past and that will give them a psychological edge over us and it will be a big barrier we have to overcome.
"We need to put a marker down against them now and the boys know that they came very close to beating them twice in the Heineken Cup this season. It was very fine margins that let us down - our Scarlets players have a point to prove now and if the importance of this fixture wasn't big enough anyway - our record against Munster is motivation enough."
Munster meanwhile have made four changes to their team, one of them for the trip to Llanelli sees Dave Kilcoyne handed his first start at loosehead.
Academy prop Kilcoyne's only other involvement at this level was back in December when he came of the bench in the 69th minute of a clash with Connacht.
Always highly regarded, he produced an impressive performance when Munster defeated Leinster A in the British & Irish Cup semi-final a fortnight ago.
McGahan's one backline change is at nine, Conor Murray in for London Irish-bound Tomas O'Leary and upfront, not surprisingly the return of Paul O'Connell meant one of the Os who started against Warriors had to go. So Donncha O'Callaghan is benched and Mick O'Driscoll, partners O'Connell in the second-row.
The back-row remains the same with BJ Botha coming back into the front-row ahead of Stephen Archer.
Form: Scarlets have won four of their last five matches in the RaboDirect PRO12, whilst their only home defeat in the tournament this season was to table-topping Leinster in round four. Munster's only defeat in their last five away games was at Aironi on 11 March. The Munstermen have won their last four matches againstWelsh regions in all competitions, and have triumphed on six of their last seven visits to Wales. Munster's incredible run of success against Scarlets now stands at 14 successive wins in all competitions since Scarlets won 24-15 at Stradey Park in the quarter-finals of the 2006/07 Heineken Cup.
The teams:
Scarlets: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Adam Warren, 12 Stephen Jones, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Josh Turnbull, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Sione Timani, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Matthew Rees (capt), 1 Rhodri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Phil John, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Mat Gilbert, 20 Kieran Murphy, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Jordan Williams, 23 Viliame Iongi.
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Luke O'Dea, 13 Johne Murphy, 12 Lifiemi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Paul O'Connell (capt), 4 Mick O'Driscoll, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Peter Butler, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Scott Deasy, 23 Ian Dineen.
Date: Saturday, April 21
Kick-off: 18:30 BST
Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris (Wales), David Jones (Wales)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Comments
staph_glorious says...
The views of disgruntled fans mean nothing, while a match commentator, who is far from an authority on the sport, will fill a silence with absolutely anything.*
If you believe neutrality to be a must, you have to present a strong case for refereeing-bias within the competition. I have given you an outline for how you could go about this. Otherwise, you're wishing for nationality to supplant a meritocracy. That's disgusting.
If you put in the hard work, you may very well prove bias. That would be huge of you. Were it good enough, I would endorse your efforts in person. But, until then, you've no leg to be standing on.
I'll keep watching this space.
* This, I should clarify, is my experience with RTÉ, Sky Sports, BBC, BBC NI, and Setanta Sports. I've never listened to BBC Cymru or BBC Alba, and I'm not capable of figuring out TG4 or any of the French broadcasters yet.
Posted 15:18 22nd April 2012
staph_glorious says...
Garmor,
A penalty count tells me the number of penalties that were conceded by each competing team.
To begin to insinuate a bias, you have to (first) provide information over a number of relevant fixtures that a particular official has made errors of judgment beyond the accepted standard* of the appropriate refereeing body, and show that there is a commonality between the nature and circumstances of these fixtures, e.g. 'Alain Rolland frequently and continually errs in the favour of Irish provincial sides.'
So post here again in a month or two when you're done with that.
* From our perspective, lets just call this the average numbers of such errors over a significant period of time; a season, at least.
Posted 20:51 21st April 2012
staph_glorious says...
That's a 'no' then.
Posted 17:22 21st April 2012
DropZone62 says...
why in the name of christ is stephen jones, a renowned bad tackler, playing inside centre? i can't see scarlets winning this, munster seem more motivated since losing twice at home
Posted 18:52 20th April 2012
staph_glorious says...
Have you evidence of bias, garmor, or is it only your biliary innards rumbling?
You'll also note there are two Welshman overseeing the offside line and the blindside bind at the scrum.
If we're talking about 'importance' of this fixture, and we appreciate a meritocracy in all facets of professionalism, then there is scarcely a finer appointment than Rolland's, who only last autumn showed the world his integrity at the highest level. Given the league's limited resources, Munster and Scarlets fans will be blessed come Saturday evening.
It's hard enough to assess officiating standards in rugby union, so complex are the gameplay and associated laws, but to have unfounded criticisms like yours sounded gets to me. If you're a fan of the sport, appreciate the ability and competency. Otherwise, go rattle off to the inter-parish tiddlywinks contest, where your inane views will find their suitable basin.
Posted 15:41 20th April 2012