RaboDirect Pro12 -
Rugby Match Preview: Scarlets vs Ulster
Parc y Scarlets based Irish professional Rugby Union outfit, Scarlets, will host Ulster in their next RaboDirect Pro12 encounter. Both teams have announced their squad for the upcoming match,
which marks the return of a number of key players for both sides in the match day squads.
Scarlets will take on Ulster at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday, October 29. Ulster and Scarlets are currently placed at 8th and 9th position in the RaboDirect Pro 12 season
2011/12 table with 12 and 11 points respectively.
The ides have played six matches each in their domestic competition so far, with Ulster winning 3 and Scarlets ending on the winning side on two occasions only. Scarlets will enter the match
looking forward to register their 100th victory in the competition, which will definitely help them to improve their ranking on the points table. Additionally, Scarlets will be playing in front of their home crowd where they have won their last
three matches. The match promises great action, as they continue their rivalry. Scarlets lost both matches during 2010/11 season against the Ulster by a difference of just two points.
Scarlets' head coach, Nigel Davies, has termed Saturday’s game as a crucial match for their prospect in the tournament. He added, “This is a big game for us and we know how close we run with
Ulster both in performance and how closely we'll compete in getting a top four spot. The results against them will have an important bearing later on the four positions in the league and we're looking forward to Saturday's game.”
However, Ulster with return six players in their starting xv, after performing their Rugby World Cup duties might prove to be difficult opponent to beat.
Commenting on his team’s chances, Ulster’s head coach, Brian McLaughlin said, “We have a long run of games no and it's important that we get off on the right foot against Scarlets. We will
be looking for a good performance as well as a good result.”
Squads of both sides are given below-
Scarlets
Starting XV: 15 Daniel Evans, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 6 Rob McCusker
(capt), 5 Damian Welch, 4 Dominic Day, 3 Rhys Thomas, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Rhodri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Phil John, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Aaron Shingler, 20 Richie Pugh, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Daniel Newton, 23 Scott Williams.
Ulster
Starting XV: 15 Simon Danielli, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Nevin Spence, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Chris Henry, 7 Mike McComish, 6 Pedrie
Wannenburg, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Johann Muller (capt), 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 2 Andi Kyriacou, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Paddy McAllister, 18 Adam Macklin, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Robbie Diack, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Darren Cave, 23 Adam D'Arcy.
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