The Scarlets will be without 11 key players for their United Rugby Championship opener against Cardiff in Llanelli on Saturday night, with several star names sidelined through injury.
Wales playmaker Sam Costelow misses out with concussion, while New Zealand No 8 Fletcher Anderson has a groin injury. Wales backrower Taine Plumtree, Australian tighthead Archer Holz, centre Johnny Williams and props Corey Domachowski and Kemsley Mathias are also unavailable.
Anscombe to make competitive debut
Former Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe will make his competitive debut for the Scarlets at outside-half, with Eddie James starting at inside centre alongside Joe Roberts at 13.
Wales U20s lock Will Evans and young No 8 Osian Williams also make competitive debuts. Hooker Ryan Elias will make his 200th appearance for the club, while 125kg Welsh-qualified lock Gabe Hawley is named on the bench.
“What we’re going to see is a Scarlets team with intent, wanting to play quickly, wanting to excite our crowd and wanting to be hugely competitive and abrasive,” said head coach Nigel Davies.
“We have seen a lot of growth, particularly among the younger group. We have seen players like Will Evans and Osian Williams, who have been exposed to that level of intensity, step up and both were outstanding for us against a strong Saracens side last weekend.”
Cardiff name new-look side
Cardiff have selected summer signing Scott Sio at loosehead, with club captain Liam Belcher packing down alongside the former Exeter prop and former Scarlet Javan Sebastian. Josh McNally and Teddy Williams form the second-row partnership, with Alex Mann, Dan Thomas and Taine Basham in the back-row.
Johan Mulder and Callum Sheedy continue their half-back combination, while Ben Thomas and Le Roux Malan form a new-look midfield. Cam Winnett returns at full-back after illness, with Jacob Beetham moving to the wing and Mason Grady completing the back-three.
“We are really looking forward to kicking-off the season and the fact that it’s a Welsh derby first up makes it even more exciting,” said Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl.
“We had two really close and competitive games against the Scarlets last season. They were two crazy games where I believe both home side’s should have won but on both occasions the away team took the win. So we are expecting another full-blooded derby but we have prepared well and are looking forward to it.”
