Match Preview: Scarlets vs. Ulster Rugby

[ADM]

[tag=image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... go.svg.png[/tag][tag=content]Last week was certainly a very pleasant surprise for us!

Our performance was one of the best opening match performances we’ve seen from an Ulster team in many years and if that is an indicator of what is to come this season then perhaps this year might be better than some on here have been forecasting. It was the perfect way to start the season and we need to build on that.

In recent seasons the Scarlets have been the side on the outside looking in, but they made big strides last season and with Wayne Pivac now a year wiser for his experiences in the Pro12 this could be a big year for them. They got their season off to a spectacular start by taking down defending champions Glasgow at Scotstoun last weekend and they will definitely be using that as motivation for tomorrow.

We all knew this week would be a tough prospect, probably even harder than the Ospreys match, but just to emphasise how difficult this week will be is the Scarlets’ imperious home record – they’ve only lost one domestic match at the Parc y Scarlets since Boxing Day 2013, and that was to Edinburgh on the 28th March.

In contrast our record in Llanelli isn’t exactly stellar either: two wins, two draws and five defeats since the Scarlets left Stradey Park is all we’ve mustered – although who could forget that exhilarating 32-32 draw to kick last season off? In fact our away record is patchy enough – three wins from our last six games on the road, however one of those defeats was our defeat to Glasgow on the final day of the regular season.

That said, last week snapped a three-game winless streak in the Pro12 and certainly gives us plenty of confidence heading across to Llanelli. And the fact that we have won seven of our last eight clashes with the Scarlets in the Pro12 also goes in our favour, our sole defeat coming two seasons ago when we lost 17-9.

Let’s hope that record can be prolonged tomorrow with not just an impressive win at one of the toughest away venues in the league, but also another impressive performance to back up what we did last Friday. The ease with which we defeated the Ospreys will have raised some eyebrows, so now it’s time to make our opponents sit up and take notice.

And only a win tomorrow will do that.

The teams
Wayne Pivac has opted for an unchanged starting line-up to that which defeated Glasgow last weekend, with only one change to the overall squad as scrum-half Kieran Hardy comes onto the bench in place of Rhodri Williams. John Barclay takes over the captaincy from Hadleigh Parkes.

Two enforced changes for Neil Doak from last week’s team as winger Andrew Trimble and lock Dan Tuohy both drop out due to injury. Into the team come Rory Scholes and Peter Browne, the latter of whom makes his competitive debut for us. Callum Black and Robbie Diack both return from injury and are named on the bench, while there is also the possibility of a debut for utility back David Busby who is also among the replacements.

Scarlets vs. Ulster Rugby
Saturday 12th September, 15:00
Parc y Scarlets
Guinness PRO12 – Round 2

Live on Sky Sports 1

SCARLETS
15. Steffan Evans, 14. Hadleigh Parkes, 13. Regan King, 12. Gareth Owen, 11. Michael Tagicakibau, 10. Daniel Jones, 9. Aled Davies; 1. Phil John, 2. Emyr Phillips, 3. Peter Edwards, 4. Tom Price, 5. Lewis Rawlins, 6. Aaron Shingler, 7. James Davies, 8. John Barclay (capt.).

Replacements: 16. Kirby Myhill, 17. Rob Evans, 18. Will Taylor, 19. George Earle, 20. Rory Pitman, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Aled Thomas, 23. Tom Williams.

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Craig Gilroy, 13. Luke Marshall, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Rory Scholes, 10. Peter Nelson, 9. Paul Marshall; 1. Andrew Warwick, 2. Rob Herring (capt.), 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Peter Browne, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Roger Wilson 7. Willie Faloon, 8. Nick Williams.

Replacements: 16. John Andrew, 17. Callum Black, 18. Ricky Lutton, 19. Robbie Diack, 20. Clive Ross, 21. David Shanahan, 22. Sam Arnold, 23. David Busby.

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 2nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Neil Hennessy, Justin Williams (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Aurwel Morgan (WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)[/tag]