Scarlets Connacht
15. Steffan Evans 15. Mils Muliaina
14. Harry Robinson 14. Danie Poolman
13. Michael Tagicakibau 13. Bundee Aki
12. Regan King 12. Dave McSharry
11. Kristian Phillips 11. Matt Healy
10. Steve Shingler 10. Jack Carty
9. Aled Davies 9. Kieran Marmion
1. Phil John 1. Denis Buckley
2. Kirby Myhill 2. Tom McCartney
3. Peter Edwards 3. Rodney Ah You
4. George Earle 4. Quinn Roux
5. Johan Snyman 5. Andrew Browne
6. Aaron Shingler 6. John Muldoon (capt)
7. James Davies 7. Eoin McKeon
8. John Barclay (capt) 8. George Naoupu
Replacements
16. Ryan Elias 16. Dave Heffernan
17. Wyn Jones 17. Ronan Loughney
18. Jacobie Adriaanse 18. Finlay Bealham
19. Lewis Rawlins 19. Mick Kearney
20. Rory Pitman 20. Willie Faloon
21. Kieran Hardy 21. John personey
22. Josh Lewis 22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Gareth Owen 23. Darragh Leader

connachta wrote: We all know the importance of this "8 pointer". No rotation except tactical one, we've to bring a 110% team :
I'd see (before squad update)

5) Browne (for defence and lineout)

I'm very pleased Lam listened to me.


Weird for Faloon indeed, disappointed for Henshaw... good team overall

Browne is probably in for Kearney to run the lineout, he does that better than anyone in the squad. McKeon for Faloon may be to give us an extra jumper, but in any case I didn't think Willie had his best game against Zebre, they turned us over at the ruck way too easily.

I'm not happy with that team, if I'm honest
Willie had great game vs Zebre and pat now thinks we don't need a flanker to contest the ball on the ground. Big mistake
Mick Kearney dropped! Strange call
Hooker, we've a hooker who can't throw. Start heff, and then have Mccarthy to cover him.

Any explanation of Robbie's unavailability?

To answer my own question, he has a minor hip flexor injury.

Little surprised to see both Kearney and Faloon on the bench. Big fan of McKeon though.
Nikora dropped from the squad completely

Great looking set of backs starting though. Responsibility will fall to Carty for all of our kicks though. Hope he gets a couple of easy ones early on, to settle himself

Connacht team to face Scarlets

15. Mils Muliaina
14. Danie Poolman
13. Bundee Aki
12. Dave McSharry
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Quinn Roux
5. Andrew Browne
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Eoin McKeon
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Mick Kearney
20. Willie Faloon
21. John Cooney
22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Darragh Leader

Unavailable/Injured: Jason Harris-Wright, Sean Henry, Nathan White, JP Cooney, Aly Muldowney, Jake Heenan, Robbie Henshaw, Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun.

Regan King, Kristan Philips and John Barclay all playing in the Sportsground.. will be a difficult battle for Connacht

Diom wrote:

Borders no.2 wrote: Benetton Treviso 33 - 41 Scarlets
Ulster Rugby 26 - 13 Scarlets
Glasgow Warriors 14 - 6 Scarlets
Cardiff Blues 17 - 13 Scarlets
Bath Rugby 26 - 26 Scarlets (Friendly)
Leinster Rugby 42 - 12 Scarlets
Edinburgh Rugby 20 - 20 Scarlets
Munster Rugby 17 - 6 Scarlets
RC Toulon 28 - 18 Scarlets
Cardiff Blues 19 - 13 Scarlets

Would we have done much better? To be honest maybe we'd sneak a win against Edinburgh but we did draw with Cardiff at home so cannot say that we should be buoyed too much by that.

My big hope for this game is that we get a win and hopefully prevent them getting an LBP. If can can push them close away and pick up an LBP then we'll come our +1 in this particular head-to-head. Then it is a straight race to the finish.

I'd agree I don't see it as having much relevance for Saturday either but in the bigger picture Scarlets are a team with aspirations a bit above ours at this point in time, they see themselves as part of the group of the top 6 rather than the best of the next batch of teams. For a team hoping to prove its credentials as being able to mix it in the top 4/6 that isn't a good run.

clanman wrote:

connachta wrote: Scarlets centre Regan King will play v Connacht on Saturday after pulling out of last weekend's game against Glasgow due to tight hamstring

still a class player at 34 but has'nt played for 8 weeks as far as I am aware so probably needs a game or 2.

conditions are going to be perfect saturday evening, no wind or rain for a change.

I know another 34 year-old Kiwi who is back from a long injury.. Some say he's sniffing around Galway, can't remember his name though..

clanman wrote: conditions are going to be perfect saturday evening, no wind or rain for a change.

Hopefully this will help Mils and Bundee express themselves, and rip the Scarlets to shreads

connachta wrote: Scarlets centre Regan King will play v Connacht on Saturday after pulling out of last weekend's game against Glasgow due to tight hamstring

still a class player at 34 but has'nt played for 8 weeks as far as I am aware so probably needs a game or 2.

conditions are going to be perfect saturday evening, no wind or rain for a change.

Scarlets centre Regan King will play v Connacht on Saturday after pulling out of last weekend's game against Glasgow due to tight hamstring

Borders no.2 wrote: Benetton Treviso 33 - 41 Scarlets
Ulster Rugby 26 - 13 Scarlets
Glasgow Warriors 14 - 6 Scarlets
Cardiff Blues 17 - 13 Scarlets
Bath Rugby 26 - 26 Scarlets (Friendly)
Leinster Rugby 42 - 12 Scarlets
Edinburgh Rugby 20 - 20 Scarlets
Munster Rugby 17 - 6 Scarlets
RC Toulon 28 - 18 Scarlets
Cardiff Blues 19 - 13 Scarlets

Would we have done much better? To be honest maybe we'd sneak a win against Edinburgh but we did draw with Cardiff at home so cannot say that we should be buoyed too much by that.

My big hope for this game is that we get a win and hopefully prevent them getting an LBP. If can can push them close away and pick up an LBP then we'll come our +1 in this particular head-to-head. Then it is a straight race to the finish.

Just to elaborate on Scarlets away record, this is their record in away games since February, admittedly they haven't played any poor side since they won in Treviso but its still a poor stat for a team who expect to be Top 6 and hope to be Top 4.

Benetton Treviso 33 - 41 Scarlets
Ulster Rugby 26 - 13 Scarlets
Glasgow Warriors 14 - 6 Scarlets
Cardiff Blues 17 - 13 Scarlets
Bath Rugby 26 - 26 Scarlets (Friendly)
Leinster Rugby 42 - 12 Scarlets
Edinburgh Rugby 20 - 20 Scarlets
Munster Rugby 17 - 6 Scarlets
RC Toulon 28 - 18 Scarlets
Cardiff Blues 19 - 13 Scarlets

Connacht v Llanelli Scarlets – Galway Sportsground Guinness Pro 12 Round 9
Saturday 29th November 2014 Kick Off 19:30 On TV: Sky/TG4

After victories for both sides in Round 8 left Connacht and Scarlets in 6th and 7th respectively, both will be keen to strike a significant blow in the battle for a European Cup spot for 2015/16.

Other Match Stats
Scarlets have won the last 5 matches between the two teams. Connacht's last victory over Scarlets was in September 2011
Scarlets won on their last two visits to Connacht but prior to that Connacht won the previous 3 matches at the Sportsground
Scarlets have scored an average of just over 23 points per game in the league this season and conceded an average of just over 18
Scarlets have yet to win away from home this season, picking up just one draw away to Edinburgh in the league and a losing bonus away to Cardiff in the Anglo-Welsh Cup
Scarlets last away win was against Treviso on the 8th of February 41-33.

Scarlets Stats
Website: www.scarlets.co.uk/
Founded: 2003
Ground: Parc Y Scarlets
Capacity: 14,870
Coaches: Wayne Pivac
Captain: Ken Owens

Pro 12 Position 2013/14: 6th P:22 Points:55
Pro 12 Position 2014/15: 6th P:8 Points:22
Heineken Cup 2013/14: 3rd in Pool 4 Points: 11
European Cup: 2014/15: 2nd in Pool 3 Points: 4
Anglo-Welsh Cup 2013/14: 3rd in Pool 4 Points 8
Anglo-Welsh Cup 2014/15: 4th in Pool 3 Points 1

Previous Fixtures
Scarlets 28-13 Zebre (Pro 12 Round 7)
Scarlets 7-24 Northampton (Anglo-Welsh Cup)
Cardiff Blues 19-13 Scarlets (Anglo-Welsh Cup)
Scarlets 19-9 Glasgow (Pro 12 Round

Next Fixture:
Saturday 6th December Ulster v Scarlets @ 19.45 @ Ravenhill (European Champions Cup)

European Rugby Cup Standings (Pool 3)
Toulon 8
Scarlets 4
Leicester 4
Ulster 1

Scarlets Ins and Outs 2014/15
Players Ins
Regan King from Clermont Auvergne
Harry Robinson from Cardiff Blues
Peter Edwards from London Welsh
Rory Pitman from Wasps
Chris Hala'ufia from London Irish
Michael Tagicakibau from Saracens

Players Out
Jonathan Davies to Clermont Auvergne
Josh Turnbull to Cardiff Blues
Aled Thomas to Gloucester Rugby
Deacon Manu to Hong Kong Cricket Club (Head Coach)
Sione Timani to Tarbes
Gareth Thomas to Ospreys
Nic Reynolds to London Welsh
Olly Barkley to London Welsh
Gareth Maule to Bristol Rugby

Previous Meetings
Sunday 30th March 2014
Scarlets 32-30 Connacht
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/14606.php

Saturday 23rd November 2013
Connacht 21-24 Scarlets
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/13442.php