18 December 2009, 11:02 amBy Editor
Davies names Scarlets line-up for Leinster away
The Scarlets have named their starting line-up for the return Heineken Cup clash at the RDS in Dublin on Saturday.
Head Coach Nigel Davies has opted to bring in Rhys Priestland at full back behind British Lions and Wales international fly half Stephen Jones while centre partnerships of Jonathan Davies and Sean Lamont remain unchanged.
Andy Fenby stays on the wing after showing his potential last weekend with Darren Daniel brought in at 14. Daniel, who scored a try in his first start for the region against Worcester in November, has recorded an impressive string of tries in his recent appearances in the premiership for Carmarthen Quins with five tries in two games.
Flanker Johnathan Edwards gets his first start for the region in the European campaign.
Nigel Davies said: “This will be another big game for a number of our younger players who are new to the rigours of the Heineken Cup. It will be a true test of character and spirit after last weekend’s result but the disappointment from our last performance has now been replaced by a desire to go out to Dublin and show what this Scarlets team is capable of.
“We are now just focused on putting in a good performance at the weekend and we have everything to play for.
“We have got to bring an intensity and an accuracy to our play that we didn’t have for large parts of our game last weekend. We need to be much more clinical on Saturday. If you are going to beat Leinster at their home, you have got to be on top of your game – not a few per cent off.
“We’ve made a couple of changes which is part of our aim to look to develop competition within this squad and if players are a couple of per cent off then others pushing for places will be given their chance.”
Former Scarlets captain and now player coach Simon Easterby said that his team would look to take their chances and stand up to the stature and experience of the Leinster line-up.
He said: “Last weekend was a big anti-climax for us and we made hard work for ourselves - we gave them a lot and we created a lot but we didn’t take our chances. We gave them a couple of soft tries and what this group learnt hard last weekend is that you can’t switch off against Leinster.
The experienced former Irish international said: “This will be a tough hunting ground for us, but we need to get a win or at the very least come away with something to keep our round four and five hopes alive – there is still plenty to play for.
“We must have a street wise mentality. Leinster know how to win we can’t let them get too far ahead like last weekend – we will need to match them and stay in the game.”The Leinster squad to face the Scarlets in Saturday afternoon's Heineken Cup round 4 clash in the RDS (KO: 3.45pm) has been named.
Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Horgan, Sean O'Brien and Shaun Berne - each try scorers in last weekend's victory in Parc Y Scarlets - are included in the panel for Saturday's return fixture in the RDS. Jamie Heaslip, who made his 100th appearance for the province last weekend, is one of seven Ireland international forwards in the panel.
Rhys Ruddock - who made his debut in the recent Magners League game against the Dragons - joins Chris Keane, Simon Keogh, Ronan McCormack and Devin Toner in the extended panel which is expected to be reduced on Friday lunchtime.
Leinster squad to face the Scarlets: FORWARDS: Leo Cullen, John Fogarty, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Nathan Hines, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Keogh, Ronan McCormack, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Malcolm O'Kelly, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock, Devin Toner, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright
BACKS: Shaun Berne, Gordon D'Arcy, Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Chris Keane, Rob Kearney, Simon Keogh, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Paul O'Donohoe, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin Reddan
Scarlets selection v Leinster Saturday 19th December 2009, 3.45pm, RDS.
15 Rhys Priestland, 14 Darren Daniel, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Martin Roberts, 1 Iestyn Thomas, 2 Ken Owens 3 Deacon Manu, 4 Lou Reed, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Simon Easterby, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 David Lyons (captain).
Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Phil John, 18 Jamie Corsi, 19 Vernon Cooper, 20 Rob McCusker, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Daniel Evans, 23 Gareth Maule.
