Wales internationals return as Scarlets aim for hat-trick of derby wins

Scarlets welcome back five Wales internationals to their starting line-up for Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Cardiff Blues at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Johnny Williams and Gareth Davies are included among 10 changes to the team that started in the win over the Dragons on New Year’s Day.

Halfpenny and Williams link up with Steff Evans in the back three, while Davies takes over the captaincy from fellow centre Steff Hughes. The British & Irish Lion partners Johnny Williams, who has recovered from a calf issue picked up on Wales duty. Gareth Davies and Dan Jones are the half-back pairing.

There is an all new front row of Phil Price, hooker Marc Jones and Pieter Scholtz, who will make his first Scarlets start since his arrival from South Africa.

Tevita Ratuva replaces the injured Jake Ball at lock and will pack down alongside Sam Lousi. Josh Macleod is the other change in the pack, coming in for Dan Davis at openside.

Among the replacements, Kemsley Mathias will make his PRO14 debut if he comes off the bench, while Josh Helps returns from suspension to provide second-row cover. Kieran Hardy, who is set to make his 50th Scarlets appearance, Sam Costelow and Paul Asquith cover the backs.

Scarlets, third in Conference B, are aiming to make it three wins from three over their Welsh rivals, but head coach Glenn Delaney is preparing his players for a fierce challenge at the Cardiff City Stadium.

He said: “We have been pleased with two wins from two in tough derby games and the challenges don’t get any easier this weekend. We are going to be playing a really creative side which in adversity tends to stand up and play really well. They will be a very tough opponent. Something like what has happened this week (with their coaching set-up) always has a galvanising effect. We know the threats they pose and we are expecting them to put everything on show.”

Scarlets team v Cardiff Blues (Saturday, January 9)

15 Leigh Halfpenny; 14 Liam Williams, 13 Jonathan Davies (capt), 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Steff Evans; 10 Dan Jones, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Phil Price, 2 Marc Jones, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 4 Tevita Ratuva, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Blade Thomson, 7 Josh Macleod, 8 Sione Kalamafoni.
Reps: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Josh Helps, 20 Ed Kennedy, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Paul Asquith.


Unavailable because of injury
Ken Owens (shoulder), Jake Ball (knee), Tyler Morgan (groin), Lewis Rawlins (neck), Tomi Lewis (knee), Alex Jeffries (elbow), Tom Phillips (hip), Dylan Evans (shoulder), Taylor Davies (shoulder), Wyn Jones (concussion), Samson Lee (concussion), Jac Morgan (knee), Jac Price (ankle), Tom Rogers (knee), Rob Evans, Rhys Patchell, James Davies, Aaron Shingler.