Scarlets name side to take on RC Vannes

Scarlets will take on RC Vannes for the first time in their history on Saturday, playing for a place in the knockout stages of the EPCR Challenge Cup (5.30pm S4C).

Head coach Dwayne Peel has made five personnel changes to the starting XV that took the field in last weekend’s defeat to Gloucester.

Wales international Tom Rogers – one of seven Scarlets named in Warren Gatland’s Six Nations squad – has recovered from a groin issue and will wear the No. 15 jersey. He is joined by Ellis Mee and Blair Murray in the back three.

There is a change at centre with Joe Roberts coming in to partner Eddie James.

With Sam Costelow ruled out because of the shoulder injury he suffered at Kingsholm, Ioan Lloyd switches to fly-half and the experienced Gareth Davies is recalled at scrum-half.

There is one change in the front row. Alec Hepburn swaps with Kemsley Mathias at loose-head and will pack down alongside Marnus van der Merwe and Henry Thomas.

Sam Lousi returns to the starting line-up and partners Max Douglas in the second row,

There is a reshuffle in the back row with Taine Plumtree wearing eight and Vaea Fifita named at blindside flanker.

On the bench, Efan Jones and Charlie Titcombe come in to cover the half-back positions.

Twenty-two-year-old tight-head Gabe Hawley, who made his competitive debut last weekend, is again included among the replacements.

Head coach Dwayne Peel said: “Vannes’ position in the Top14 isn’t reflective of how competitive they have been this season and they pushed Edinburgh last week having made a few changes from their Top14 side the week before. We have to get ourselves right mentally to be in that physical battle.

“It is a straight shootout, the pool is definitely the most competitive in the competition and hopefully we can finish well this week. We are home with our supporters behind us and qualification is in our control.”

Scarlets team to play RC Vannes at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday, January 18 (5.30pm;  S4C)

15 Tom Rogers; 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Blair Murray; 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Max Douglas, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Vaea Fifita, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Taine Plumtree.

Reps: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Charlie Titcombe, 23 Ioan Nicholas.

Unavailable because of injury

Sam Costelow, Johnny Williams, Ben Williams, Archer Holz, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Ryan Elias, Harri O’Connor, Josh Morse.