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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Steffan Thomas

Scarlets v Edinburgh team news as Peel understands Gatland decision not to release Wales players and appoints new captain

Sione Kalamafoni will lead the Scarlets for their United Rugby Championship clash with Edinburgh on Saturday.

The talismanic No 8 will, who just last week announced he is to leave Llanelli for French Pro D2 outfit Vannes at the end of the season, takes over the captain's armband from the injured Aaron Shingler.

Head coach Dwayne Peel has made two personnel changes and one positional switch from their stunning victory over the Blue Bulls last month.

READ MORE: English team could join WRU, merge with Welsh region and play in London under radical proposal

The back division remains unchanged with Johnny McNicholl, Steff Evans and Ryan Conbeer in the back three, Ioan Nicholas and Joe Roberts in midfield and Sam Costelow and Gareth Davies linking up at half-back.

There is one change in the front row with hooker Shaun Evans coming in for Daf Hughes, who is ruled out with a neck injury. Sam Wainwright again gets the nod at tight-head prop.

Morgan Jones is named at lock alongside Sam Lousi, while Vaea Fifita starts at blindside flanker alongside Dan Davis and Kalamafoni in the back row.

“The boys are excited about playing again," said Peel.

"It is a big game and an important game for us. Edinburgh are a side who like to play football, we are fully respectful of them, but for us it is about focusing on ourselves and maintaining momentum.

"We have to make sure that areas of our game improve and we know we have to be at our best on Saturday.”

The Scarlets have not had any player released from the Wales camp by Warren Gatland.

“I have spoken to Warren (Gatland), we won’t have anyone back," said Peel.

"I understand the reasoning, we will just crack on and do the best with the players here. We have a good group left behind, we didn’t lose too many to Wales so it is about consistency in selection after the Bulls game which is good.”

Scarlets: J McNicholl; S Evans, J Roberts, I Nicholas, R Conbeer; S Costelow, G Davies; K Mathias, S Evans, S Wainwright, M Jones, S Lousi, V Fifita, D Davis, S Kalamafoni (captain). Replacements: T Davies, S Thomas, J Sebastian, B Williams, C Tuipulotu, D Blacker, D Jones, E James.

Edinburgh: W Goosen; D Hoyland, M Bennett, J Lang, J Blain; C Savala, C Shiel; B Venter, D Cherry, M McCallum, G Young, J Hodgson, N Haining, H Watson, V Mata. Replacements: A McBurney, J Jack, L Atalifo, M Sykes, C Boyle, B Vellacott, J van der Walt, C Dean.

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