Wales and Lions star Liam Williams has been left out of the Scarlets match-day 23 altogether for Saturday’s big derby clash with his future team Cardiff (7.35pm).
The 78-times capped back-three man is available again following the Six Nations and not on the injured list, but there is no place for him in Dwayne Peel’s squad for the Parc y Scarlets showdown.
Fellow Welsh international Johnny McNicholl starts at full-back, with youngsters Tom Rogers and Ryan Conbeer employed on the wings. There isn’t even a place on the bench for the soon-to-be 31-year-old Williams, who will be heading to the Arms Park this summer. Since rejoining the Scarlets from Saracens in February 2020, he has made just six appearances for the region amid various injury issues.
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There’s no starting spot either for another Lions Test back in 96-cap Jonathan Davies, with skipper Scott Williams and Johnny Williams prefered in the centre. But Davies does feature among the replacements, along with front row duo Ryan Elias and Wyn Jones, who are also returning following their Six Nations exploits.
Wales squad scrum-half Kieran Hardy misses out, with Gareth Davies wearing No 9 and Dane Blacker providing the bench back-up. Scott Williams will make his 150th Scarlets appearance and McNicholl his 100th, as the region show four changes from the bonus-point win over Zebre last weekend, with fit-again winger Rogers and fly-half Sam Costelow coming into the side, along with Johnny Williams and prop Steff Thomas.
The Scarlets are without 12 players through injury, including Welsh internationals Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny, Samson Lee, Aaron Shingler and James Davies, along with national squad flanker Josh Macleod.
For Cardiff, Wales trio Josh Adams, Tomos Williams and Seb Davies all return, along with fit-again centre Rey Lee-Lo, as Dai Young makes eight changes from the bonus point triumph against Glasgow.
Having recovered from concussion, Lee Lo replaces Willis Halaholo, who has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks with a hamstring injury, ending a season that has been ravaged by Covid and fitness problems. It's yet another untimely blow for Halaholo, who had performed so well in the 32-28 comeback win over Glasgow, picking up the Man of the Match award.
Flanker Ellis Jenkins comes into the starting line-up to skipper the side, with Josh Turnbull rested due to a number of niggles, while fellow back rows Josh Navidi (groin) and Will Boyde (illness) are unavailable. Young wonder-wing Theo Cabango, who scored two tries versus Glasgow, is sidelined by an ankle problem, with returning Wales star Adams taking his place, while there is an all-new front row.
The two teams will meet again next weekend at the Arms Park in a match re-arranged from Boxing Day, amid an extended sequence of crucial derby clashes. You can read all about the run-in and what's at stake here.
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “We have five derby games coming up and realistically, we need to win the majority of them if we are going to be challenging for the top eight, there is European qualification as well which we are very keen on.
“The back-to-back nature of these games against Cardiff poses a challenge in itself. It will be different, but it will be good, the boys are excited about it. It has been good to have the rest of the Welsh players back this week as well, there has been a buzz in training and everyone is looking forward to this block of Welsh derby matches.”
Cardiff Director of Rugby Dai Young, said: “When you play against each other, the rivalry is there, the bragging rights are there and you want to get one over your mates. But we have a responsibility to demonstrate high skill levels, play with intensity and bring a complete performance to deliver a good spectacle.
“Everyone likes to play against local rivals, no matter where you are. I’ve got huge respect for them as a club in terms of history and tradition. We know we’ll need to be at our best to go there and get the win and that’s what we’re going there for.
“It’s quite a unique experience because the week after they’ll be coming back down here. But form always seems to go out of the window when it comes to derbies.
“Sometimes home advantage does as well. These players know each other inside-out. We know they’re a real quality team who will want to win on their own patch. We’ll also need to be a lot better."
Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Scott Williams (capt), Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Steff Thomas, Shaun Evans, Javan Sebastian, Sam Lousi, Jac Price, Blade Thomson, Tomas Lezana, Sione Kalamafoni.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones, Harri O’Connor, Morgan Jones, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Dane Blacker, Dan Jones, Jonathan Davies.
Cardiff: Hallam Amos; Jason Harries, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Corey Domachowski, Kristian Dacey, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, Matthew Screech, James Botham, Ellis Jenkins (capt.), James Ratti
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Rhys Carré, Dmitri Arhip, Rory Thornton, Gwilym Bradley, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Matthew Morgan
