MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Sportsground, Galway Date: 30 October Kick-off: 1830 GMT
Coverage: Updates on BBC Sport website, highlights on Sunday's Scrum V

Morgan Stoddart makes his first Scarlets appearance since suffering a knee injury in March in the Magners League at the Sportsground on Friday.

Welsh international Stoddart, 25, has been out since damaging ligaments in a league win over Edinburgh in March.

With six leading Scarlets now in Wales' pre-November Tests camp, coach Nigel Davies has called in some fresh faces.

Rhys Priestland is at fly-half after standing in for Stephen Jones against Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday.

Priestland struggled with his place kicking early in the season, but landed all six of his attempts at goal as his side beat the Dragons 18-3.

"It was good to see Rhys come of age and take the ball-kicking duties on, he did extremely well," said Davies.

"He's put in a lot of work with extra help from Neil Jenkins as well."

Jones is absent along with fellow Wales squad members Matthew Rees, Dafydd Jones, Martin Roberts, Jonathan Davies and Mark Jones.

606: DEBATE Have your say on Connacht v Scarlets

Richie Pugh takes over from Dafydd Jones at open-side flanker, Ken Owens replaces Rees, Tavis Knoyle is scrum-half instead of Martin Roberts, Rob Higgitt fills Davies' centre spot while Stoddart fills Mark Jones' wing spot.

Stoddart proved his fitness by playing 20 minutes of Llanelli RFC's 32-32 Principality Premiership clash at Aberavon at the weekend.

Regan King and Rhys Thomas remain long-term injuries.

Connacht have slipped to three straight defeats in the Magners League, while Scarlets have won their last three games in all competitions.

The Scarlets' only victory in their last five visits to Ireland was 17-14 in this fixture last season, while Connacht have won just one of their last six matches against the Llanelli-based side, 20-18 at the Sportsground in January last year.

Connacht: tbc

Scarlets: Daniel Evans; Morgan Stoddart, Sean Lamont, Rob Higgitt, Lee Williams; Rhys Priestland, Tavis Knoyle; Iestyn Thomas, Ken Owens, Deacon Manu, Vernon Cooper, Damien Welch, Simon Easterby, Richie Pugh, David Lyons.
Replacements: Phil John, Emyr Phillips, Aaron Shingler, Josh Turnbull, Gareth Davies, Dan Newton, Gareth Maule.

Referee: Graham Knox (SRU)

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version