After losing to Llanelli last Saturday, Neath dropped four places to fifth which emphasises just how tight it is at the top of the Principality Premiership so the Welsh All Blacks will be looking for a massive improvement when they host Llandovery at The Gnoll on Saturday (kick off 2.30pm).
Head Coach Patrick Horgan said his side must move on form last week’s loss. “After last week’s defeat by Llanelli who deservedly took the spoils, we are looking to bounce straight back against a Llandovery side who will be smarting themselves after their recent good run came to an end at Cross Keys.
“Until then, Llandovery had been going well and they have some good runners behind an always serviceable pack in which Scarlets back-rower Johnathan Edwards is most influential. Llandovery have a small colony of former Neath players so it will be good to see them back at The Gnoll.
“We were very poor last week so we have a lot to prove to our supporters and a lot to prove to ourselves. We must re-assert ourselves and get a rapid resumption of the Neath way.
“We have an unusually heavy crop of injuries at the moment but we still have the skill and experience in our squad to get results.”
Arwel Thomas, Neil Edwards and Gareth Gravell have joined Neath’s walking wounded list and, due to their unusually heavy spate of injuries, the Welsh All Blacks select from a preliminary squad of 25.
Neath v Llandovery (Home) From
G.King, K.James, A.Jenkins, R.Smith, K.Phillips, S.Thomas, W.Mitchell, G.McCarthy, K.Farrell, T.James; N.Downs, M.Jones, E.Lewis, J.Reeves, A.James, A.Littlehales, G.Price, E.Evans, H.Pugh, P.Sidoli, A.N.Other, L.Evans, J.Bowd, C.Price, A.Whitney
Referee : Mr. Wayne Davies (Llannon)
AR1 : Mr. Jason Griffiths (Tycroes), AR2 : Mr. Steve Lewis (Felinfoel)
