The Scarlets will be looking to round off their season on a positive note on Friday evening as they come up against a strong Glasgow side in the Magners League.
After picking up a record Magners League victory of 58 – 10 and nine tries against Connacht last time out, the Scarlets will want to give the loyal home crowd another pride boosting performance with plenty of attacking rugby to take them into pre-season on a high.
The in-form Scottish club will be looking to secure an away win at Parc y Scarlets and with it the chance to get a crucial home tie for their play-off in the Magners League.
And the Scarlets Friday night fixture kicks-off a big weekend of rugby for West Wales with Carmarthen Quins and Llanelli going head-to-head in the all-West SWALEC Cup Final on Saturday, kick-off 6pm at the Millennium Stadium. To finish a long weekend of rugby, Parc y Scarlets plays host to the Scarlets Cup Age Grade Finals on Sunday 9th May.
Parc y Scarlets will to looking to host a good home crowd at the finish of the season and with it the chance to break through the 100,000 total home attendance for the season. The Glasgow game will also be the Scarlets’ 150th Celtic League fixture.
Another landmark could be reached by Scarlets star outside half, Stephen Jones who returns to fitness from an ankle injury. The British & Irish Lions and Wales star only has to score seven points to become the highest ever Scarlets point scorer in the club and region’s history – currently held by Andy Hill on 2596 points.
Martin Roberts is at scrum-half, Lee Williams gets a start on the wing ahead of Andy Fenby and experienced Scarlets campaigner Vernon Cooper (352 appearances for the Scarlets) starts in the second row with lock Damian Welch out with a broken arm.
Head Coach Nigel Davies said: “This is an important fixture for us to finish off the season on a high point and after the win over Connacht the boys are eager to continue playing with that level of commitment, energy and intensity to show what that they can do and that they can perform against teams at the top of the Magners League table as well.
“Glasgow will come down with a lot of confidence and plenty to play for so we are expecting a big game with some interesting contests – particularly in the back row where they have very good players with experience. It will be a test for us, but players like Josh Turnbull and Rob McCusker have been going really well at the moment, they are eager and committed and they’ve matured a lot this season physically and mentally and can push the bar as far as they want to.”
Stephen Jones said: “We’re really looking forward to this last game at home against a good Glasgow side and hopefully we can perform again at the level we did against Connacht and play an open game.
“It’s important for our supporters, ourselves and for continuity. We want to start next season well so it’s important to finish on a positive and hopefully with a brand of rugby that makes our supporters happy.
“It has been a learning curve this season, it’s been frustrating to lose games narrowly but it’s been the nature of the season for us. We have to look to the positives as well and there have been a lot of good things in our game, a lot of the younger guys have have had opportunities and we will be a better side next year. Consistency is one of key things – good teams play well week-in-week-out and we need to make sure we don’t take the foot off the accelerator.”
Scarlets selection v Glasgow; Magners League Friday 7th May (kick off 1905) at Parc y Scarlets.
15 Daniel Evans, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Regan King, 12 Jonathan Davies 11 Lee Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Martin Roberts, 1 Iestyn Thomas, 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Rhys Thomas, 4 Vernon Cooper, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Rob McCusker, 7 Josh Turnbull, 8 David Lyons (capt).
Replacements: 16 Phil John, 17 Ken Owens, 18 Lou Reed 19 Johnathan Edwards, 20 Tavis Knoyle, 21 Rhys Priestland, 22 Andy Fenby.
