By Gareth James
Dwayne Peel has promised the weekend’s Welsh derby between his Scarlets side and Cardiff will be “edgy” with both teams desperate to avoid another defeat.
The Scarlets head coach has made six changes to his starting XV as the west Walians go in search of their first win of the season.
Peel’s side will be smarting after a disappointing defeat in Treviso last Saturday but have a Cardiff Rugby side who are looking to set the record straight standing in their way, and one disrupted by an ongoing investigation into player behaviour in a pub last Saturday night, following a match they had lost.
Last season the Scarlets inflicted two heavy defeats on Dai Young’s side, and will be hoping history repeats itself in Llanelli on Saturday afternoon.
“We have been in all three games at the end and haven’t come away with the win, which is frustrating for everyone,” said Peel.
“It is a big derby and the reality is neither of us have won the last two games.We need to win, they need to win, it will be a good edge.
“There is always a bit of needle and the reality is that it’s not long since we played them, back-to-back, and we got the victories.
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📅 Saturday, 8 October (KO 5.15pm)
🎟 https://t.co/TRdnyd7JyA🔥 @whalaholo is back in the Cardiff starting line-up for the first derby of the season!
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“They will be looking to come here and get into us, but sometimes things happen that galvanise teams as well. I am not too concerned about what’s gone on there, but for us we know what to expect – physicality.”
Johnny McNicholl, Corey Baldwin, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies, Ryan Elias and Blade Thomson start. Johnny Williams is ruled out with a calf injury with captain Jonathan Davies switching to inside centre.
Josh Macleod is side-lined after suffering a head injury against Benetton with Thomson slotting in at openside flanker.
Wales front-row duo Ken Owens and Wyn Jones are again named among the replacements.
Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young has also made six changes to his side following their home loss to the Lions last weekend.
Young has turned to the experience of Wales centre Uilisi Halaholo, who forms a formidable centre partnership with Rey Lee-Lo, and replaces Max Llewellyn, with the academy product named on the bench after an impressive start to the campaign.
The final change amongst the backline sees Jason Harries taking his place on the wing for the first time this season.
A front row of Rhys Carré, Kristian Dacey and Dmitri Arhip are supported by the unchanged lock partnership of Lopeti Timani and Seb Davies.
Josh Turnbull captains the team from blindside flanker and is joined in the back row by Taulupe Faletau and Thomas Young.
“It promises to be a significant challenge at Parc y Scarlets but it is one we are looking forward to,” said Young.
“They will be really eager to get their season started so we know it’s going to be a tough game and that’s what we have focused on this week.
“We were frustrated with the result last Friday, because it was a game I felt we should have won and we certainly had the opportunities to do so.
📢 Here’s our 23 to take on @Cardiff_Rugby on Saturday
👊 Corey at centre
🔪 Blade in at 7️⃣Dyma tîm y Scarlets i wynebu Caerdydd ym Mharc y Scarlets
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— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) October 7, 2022
“So, we’re looking forward to getting back out there and having the opportunity to produce a good performance, which will hopefully be enough to secure the result we want.”
Scarlets: Leigh Halfpenny; Johnny McNicholl, Corey Baldwin, Jonathan Davies (capt), Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Steff Thomas, Ryan Elias, Javan Sebastian; Tom Price, Sam Lousi; Vaea Fifita, Blade Thomson, Sione Kalamafoni.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Wyn Jones, Harri O’Connor, Jac Price, Shaun Evans, Dane Blacker, Dan Jones, Steff Evans.
Cardiff Rugby: Rhys Priestland; Jason Harries, Rey Lee-Lo, Uilisi Halaholo, Theo Cabango; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carré, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, Lopeti Timani, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull (capt.), Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Corey Domachowski, Will Davies-King, Teddy Williams, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Lloyd Williams, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn
