Morgan Jones comes into Scarlets side for Sharks clash

Scarlets take on the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Parc y Scarlets on Friday night (19:35; BBC Wales), showing one change to the team beaten by Edinburgh last weekend.

Scotland international second row Alex Craig is ruled out with a hamstring injury so Morgan Jones comes in to face the men from Durban.

Seventeen of the match-day 23 selected by head coach Dwayne Peel have come through the Scarlets pathway.

Three of those, Ioan Nicholas, Tom Rogers and Tomi Lewis continue in the back three. Johnny Williams and Eddie James link up in midfield, while Sam Costelow and Gareth Davies make up the half-back pairing.

The all-Wales international front row of Kemsley Mathias, skipper Ryan Jones and Sam Wainwright pack down again, while 24-year-old Jones partners Sam Lousi in the boilerhouse.

It will be a special day for the Plumtree family with Taine named at blindside flanker for the Scarlets and dad John coaching the Sharks. Dan Davis and Vaea Fifita make up the rest of the home back row.

There are a couple of changes among the replacements with prop Steff Thomas and scrum-half Kieran Hardy coming into the squad.

Head coach Dwayne Peel said: “We were obviously disappointed by the result in Edinburgh last weekend especially after leading the game on the hour mark. We spoke about showing fight and playing with a bit of freedom and there were elements of that in our game. We need to stay in that fight for 80 minutes. This week, we have prepared for the best version of the Sharks, they can put out a Springbok pack if they want and that is a massive challenge and an exciting one. Every time you play a South African side it is going to be physical and you have to step up.”

Scarlets team to play Hollywoodbets Sharks at Parc y Scarlets on Friday, April 26 (19:35; BBC Wales)

15 Ioan Nicholas; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Eddie James, 11 Tomi Lewis; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias (capt), 3 Sam Wainwright, 4 Morgan Jones, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Vaea Fifita.

Reps: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Ryan Conbeer

Players unavailable because of injury

Alex Craig, Wyn Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Steff Evans, Joe Roberts, Jarrod Taylor, Josh Macleod, Teddy Leatherbarrow, Isaac Young, Jac Davies.