Forget URC - Scarlets face Test match in Dublin
Scarlets make five changes to their side as they prepare to face Leinster at Dublin's Aviva Stadium in the United Rugby Championship.
Leinster beat Scarlets 33-21 at the Aviva Stadium last May in the quarter-final of the URC play-offs [Getty Images] Scarlets head coach Nigel Davies says his side are preparing for a Test-match level challenge as they travel to face Leinster in Dublin. Leinster return home after a heavy defeat by Glasgow last weekend and make 12 changes to a starting side that features 13 internationals. It underlines the scale of the task facing Scarlets who have lost two of their own internationals and face a hooker crisis.
Wales fly-half Sam Costelow rolled his ankle in training and captain Josh Macleod has a hamstring injury and are both ruled out. They are also dealing with a hooker shortage following head injury assessments to Marnus van der Merwe and Ryan Elias. It means their side to face Leinster shows five changes from the one that started in the 36-17 victory over Zebre last time out.
Joe Roberts returns at outside centre as Joe Hawkins is handed the number 10 jersey - with Carwyn Leggatt-Jones also unavailable through injury. The other alteration among the backs sees Dane Blacker start at scrum-half in place of Archie Hughes who drops to the bench. In the pack, hooker Harry Thomas is handed a second United Rugby Championship (URC) start of the season while Dan Davis comes in at openside flanker in place of skipper Macleod.
For Scarlets, the week has been framed less like a league fixture and more like an international assignment. "We're basically playing an international rugby game in an international venue against pretty much an international rugby team," said Davies. "I think it's very difficult to look at last week, I'm sure we'll face a slightly different Leinster team.