Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac believes his champions have finally turned themselves into a side addicted to winning.
Last season’s Guinness Pro 12 conquerors host Connacht on Friday night, seeking their fourth win in five matches – an early season record in sharp contrast to the other three struggling Welsh regions.
But as the Scarlets aim to keep that streak on track at Parc Y Scarlets with a win that could move them to the top of Conference B, Pivac says the transformation in his squad has not happened overnight.
“This group of players now they want to win every week and so it’s a different mentality and focus,” said the New Zealander.
“It’s come with time. When you have a season like we did last year, that’s what the players do the hard work for. To see the joy in the changing room each week it builds an atmosphere in the group and they understand that each game is very important.
“Connacht is now our biggest focus. What we don’t want to do is take an eye off the ball and drop four or five points this week.
“We have to make sure we get the performance right and that we improve in the areas that we need to from the Edinburgh experience.
“It was important last week to get back to those winning ways and to get a bonus point against a tricky opponent. It wasn’t the prettiest performance but the boys did well to get the bonus point.”
Pivac has made five changes to that side, with three of them forced through injuries.
Gareth Davies, Samson Lee and John Barclay all unavailable as they follow return to play protocols following head knocks last weekend. Centre Hadleigh Parkes passed his HIA on the weekend but has been rested for Friday’s clash.
Centre Scott Williams returns to the starting line-up with Aled Davies coming in at scrum-half in two backline changes.
Tighthead prop Werner Kruger, who crossed the whitewash for his first Scarlets try last Saturday, replaces Lee in the front row.
David Bulbring and Tadhg Beirne exchange places to starting line-up and bench respectively whilst Josh Macleod fills the number eight birth in place of Barclay.
Hooker Tom McCartney is set to captain Connacht. McCartney takes his place in the front row alongside Denis Buckley and Conor Carey. In the back row, Jake Heenan and Eoin McKeon come into the side for their second and first starts of the season respectively.
The side is also boosted by the return of Tiernan O’Halloran from injury and he takes his place on the wing with Darragh Leader being retained at full-back.
After coming off the bench against Cardiff last week, Tom Farrell forms the centre pairing with Bundee Aki. Caolin Blade gets his second start of the season as he forms a half-back partnership with Jack Carty.
Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Josh Macleod, 7 Will Boyde, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Ken Owens (c), 1 Rob Evans
Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Lewis Rawlins, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Paul Asquith, 23 Tom Prydie
Connacht: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Tiernan O’Halloran, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Tom Farrell, 11 Cian Kelleher, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Eoin McKeon, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Jake Heenan, 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Conor Carey, 2 Tom McCartney (c), 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Denis Coulson, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Gavin Thornbury, 20 Eoghan Masterson, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Steve Crosbie, 23 Eoin Griffin
Kick-off: 19:35 local (18:35 GMT)
Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
