Scarlets V Connacht

Scarlets:

Gareth Owen,
Andy Fenby,
Nick Reynolds,
Adam Warren,
Kristian Phillips,
Owen Williams,
Aled Davies;
Phil John,
Emyr Phillips,
Samson Lee,
George Earle,
Johan Synman,
Rob McCusker (capt),
Josh Turnbull,
Kieran Murphy

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Shaun Hopkins, Deacon Manu, Jake Ball, Lewis Rawlins, Gareth Davies, Aled Thomas, Gareth Maule.

Connacht:
T O'Halloran;
D Poolman,
E Griffin,
K Tonetti,
F Vainikolo;
D Parks,
K Marmion;
B Wilkinson,
J Harris-Wright,
N White (capt);
M Swift,
M Kearney;
A Browne,
J O'Connor,
E McKeon.

Replacements: E Reynecke, R Ah You, R Loughney, W Faloon, J Muldoon, P O'Donohoe, M Nikora, G Duffy

Referee: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

Looking forward to this match, it is a bit of a must win game for the Scarlets if we want to be in the play off stops come the end of the season. I am a bit disappointed to see Kris Phillips on the wing and Gareth Maule sitting on the bench, would rather have seen Maule or Reynold take to the wing with the other in the centre. Otherwise not too far off the side I was expecting. Preying the pack can continue to man up the way they did against Leicester in the LV= last week.

If you're anyway interested in going to the game I'd say get down to Parc y Scarlets.

Its free entry for children, rugby players, rugby coaches and rugby referees.

Scarlets want their stadium full!

Why was Henshaw released to the u20's when he could have played in this game??? Then another player could have got his chance to shine for the u20's at full back. Henshaw should be playing at senior level not u20 there is nothing for him there.

red_stag wrote:If you're anyway interested in going to the game I'd say get down to Parc y Scarlets.

Its free entry for children, rugby players, rugby coaches and rugby referees.

Scarlets want their stadium full!

Really?

Sometimes I think I doesn't actually pay to be a season ticket holder. There were tickets going for the HEC V Clermont for £5 per person, free tickets to the Tigers, free tickets to this match

Still I guess it will be important to do whatever it takes to get people through the turnstyles right now especially with the 6N being on.

Yes Scarlet,

Announced on Scarlets Twitter.

Free for U11s and free to players, refs and coaches who are registered with WRU.

red_stag wrote:Yes Scarlet,

Announced on Scarlets Twitter.

Free for U11s and free to players, refs and coaches who are registered with WRU.

I guess there will be no excuse for a poor turnout then. 7.30pm kick-off gives plenty of time for folk to be able to get there from work, even from the more remote areas of the region. That said I have a feeling a 6,700 attendance (it always seems to be 6,700 ot 7,600) is pretty much the best we will see.

I would say Connacht will fance their chances

glad that we've kept with the aled davies & owen williams partnership, they looked promising against the tigers. slightly concerend that we look defensively weak with reynolds & phillips. possibly might have been better having maule in there. big game in many ways for phillips, he really needs to start showing he's good enough to play in the rabo.

Connacht are pretty much full strenght, Missing Griffen and Henshaw, to Ireland duty, senior and U20 (for some reason).

Connacht have depth to cover them in Tonetti, Pooleman or Vainikolo,

am going to consider putting a few £ on Connacht.

Scarlets at home are a tough team, but with them missing internationals, and Connacht not really missing much, and being used to playing together, I feel this is one they could win.

Brendan wrote:I would say Connacht will fance their chances

I think that they may well think that this is a weak side, however the pack is pretty much first choice (that are fit) bar the hookers. And the backs whilst not first choice are very capable. The likes of the half backs, Adam Warren in the centre, and the back three are all out to prove they deserve to be starting week in week out.

spiderman:

are adriaanse and rhodri jones injured?

Players not available for selection are:
Rhys Priestland (Achilles)
Johnathan Edwards (hamstring)
Dan Newton (groin)
Joel Galley (ribs)
Craig Price (knee)
Rhodri Jones (shoulder)
Jacobie Adriaanse (dead leg)
Sione Timani (not available after birth of his daughter this week).


I am preying that Rhodri is just a tweak and precautionary rest, and not a return of his last injury.

Also congratulations to Sione for his little baby.

wonder what's the story with tomos vallejos? hasn't really played for us, and seems to be below earle,snyman,ball, kelly and timani in the pecking order.

I personally think the fact he isn't that good may have something to do with that. Although I am hoping he is suffering from burn out, and will be able to come good soon. Either that or he is shipped out asap.

wasn't a player i thought we needed to sign in the 1st place. not your typical argentinian lock, more athletic and lean. we needed the bigger srummaging enforcer type. like you said hopefully he will come good soon.

Looks more like a backrower to me, i was shocked by the difference in size when i saw him next to Carrizza in the Argentinian team.

A really poor signing.

Oh big plus side to tonight, a penny off beer for ever point we score! That should ensure the crowd stay behind the team right until the final whistle!

da iawn y scarlets!!! ( well done the scarlets)

also positive priestland might struggle to get back in with owen williams playing so well. looks more a complete player than priestland, and mentally stronger.

I still think Timani/Ball with Kelly is your best 2nd row partnership. I haven't seen much of a Vallejos either. Scarlets have back 5 players in abundance right now, they just need to get the balance right.

so far this season earle been the most consistent work horse (possibly captain potential next season) but snyman and ball have looked so impressive. ball possibly the signing of the season. wouldn't be surprised if ball is capped shortly, and snyman in 3 years time. huge improvement on reed,day and welch.

Wouldn't surprise me either. 2nd row isn't an area we've produced well in for the past few years. The Blues Cory Hill (Ponty) has potential but can't get a look in over... Cooke .

In Snyman and Earle we have two hard grafting locks, and Ball and Timani are two brick poop-houses that put in the big hard hits.

That said I was not too impressed yesterday, we had a solid defence, and kept the score board ticking, but something was missing. Maybe if we can now stop the Kris Phillips experiment and start with 15 fit and willing players, because eitehr he is carrying and injury or his heart isn't in it. And that is hampering us from the start