Wales duo return to boost Scarlets side for Benetton clash

Wales internationals Jake Ball and Ryan Elias have been included in the Scarlets team to take on Benetton for the resumption of Guinness PRO14 action on Saturday.

Ball and Elias have been released from Wales’ Six Nations squad to get some game-time during the fallow week of the tournament and are among five personnel changes to the Scarlets starting line-up.

Steff Evans has recovered from a dead leg and returns to the No. 11 jersey, taking his place in a back three that also includes fellow Wales international Johnny McNicholl and Ryan Conbeer.

Tyler Morgan and skipper Steff Hughes continue in midfield, while Sam Costelow and Dane Blacker are again the starting half-backs.

Elias packs down alongside Phil Price and Javan Sebastian in the front row, while Ball starts next to Morgan Jones at lock.

In the back row, Sione Kalamfoni and Jac Morgan have been cleared to play. Kalamafoni has recovered from the head knock sustained at home to Cardiff Blues, while Morgan has overcome a knee injury and is set for his first appearance since the Champions Cup win over Bath in December. Uzair Cassiem switches from No. 8 to blindside flanker.

On the bench, prop Steff Thomas is set for his PRO14 debut and he joins Marc Jones, the fit-again Pieter Scholtz, Sam Lousi and Ed Kennedy as the forward cover.

Will Homer, Dan Jones and Paul Asquith are the backline subs.

Head coach Glenn Delaney
“We have had a productive few weeks since the Leinster game. It is important that we are patient and we have to build ourselves into the contest, which we did well in a tight affair in horrendous conditions out in Treviso. We need to get the right level of application and we need to execute.
“There is a huge amount to play for in these final four games. Champions Cup places are on the line and it is going to be a real scrap in our Conference.”

Scarlets v Benetton (Parc y Scarlets, 15:00, Premier Sports)
15 Johnny McNicholl; 14 Ryan Conbeer, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Steff Hughes (capt), 11 Steff Evans; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Phil Price, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Javan Sebastian, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Morgan Jones, 6 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Sione Kalamafoni.
Reps: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Pieter Scholtz, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Ed Kennedy, 21 Will Homer, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Paul Asquith.

Unavailable because of injury
Josh Macleod (Achilles), Blade Thomson (concussion), Lewis Rawlins (neck), Tomi Lewis (knee), Samson Lee (concussion), Tom Rogers (knee), Rob Evans (concussion), James Davies (concussion), Kemsley Mathias (back), Aaron Shingler, Rhys Patchell.

Unavailable because of international duty
Ken Owens, Wyn Jones, Kieran Hardy, Gareth Davies, Jonathan Davies, Johnny Williams, Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny.