Scott Williams will show signs of rust when he returns for the Scarlets – but his coach still believes the Wales centre is pure gold.
Wayne Pivac has had no hesitation in picking Williams for his first regional game of the season on Saturday in the Judgement Day clash against the Newport Gwent Dragons at the Principality Stadium.
The Wales centre has not played since damaging his knee in the World Cup pool clash against England at Twickenham in September.
It has been a long road to recovery for the 25-year-old, but after coming through a fitness test on Thursday, Williams has been thrust straight into the Scarlets’ side for a critical Pro12 clash.
“I am pleased for Scotty because he has worked really hard and for the rehab boys who have worked with him,” said head coach Pivac.
“He is a great player, but, obviously, he is going to be a bit rusty having not played since the Rugby World Cup.”
Williams was class act for club and country throughout 2015, even though he appears to always be a back-up plan rather than a go-to man for Wales coach Warren Gatland.
That is in spite of creative skills and an eye for the gap that generally illuminate Welsh back play whenever he gets an opportunity – gifts that, despite his inactivity, Scarlets fans will be hoping to catch a glimpse of on Saturday evening.
Williams is one of four personnel changes to the side thumped at home, 46-10, by Glasgow in their last game.
Michael Collins returns at full-back, so Liam Williams switches to the wing to cover for the season-ending shoulder injury suffered by DTH van der Merwe.
Aled Davies gets the nod ahead of Wales international Gareth Davies at scrum-half, while up front the fit-again Lewis Rawlins slots into the back row alongside James Davies and John Barclay, who wears the No. 8 jersey.
The Scarlets need a win to keep their play-off hopes alive. A victory will also secure Champions Cup qualification for next season.
Pivac added: “We are busting to get back out on the playing field and show our supporters and show the public that we are better than that performance against Glasgow.”
The Dragons are without Wales international Tyler Morgan, who picked up an ankle injury in training this week.
Dragons: Carl Meyer; Adam Hughes, Adam Warren, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos; Angus O’Brien, Charlie Davies; Phil Price, Elliot Dee, Brok Harris, Rynard Landman, Nick Crosswell, Lewis Evans (capt), Taulupe Faletau, Nic Cudd. Reps: Rhys Buckley, Luke Garrett. Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Ed Jackson, Sarel Pretorius, Dorian Jones, Geraint Rhys Jones.
Scarlets: Michael Collins; Liam Williams, Hadleigh Parkes, Scott Williams, Steffan Evans; Steven Shingler, Aled Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens (capt), Samson Lee, Jake Ball, David Bulbring, Lewis Rawlins, John Barclay, James Davies. Reps: Ryan Elias, Dylan Evans, Peter Edwards, Jack Condy, Morgan Allen, Gareth Davies, Aled Thomas, Gareth Owen.
