Three summer signings feature in Scarlets team for Munster

Scarlets have named three summer arrivals in their starting line-up as they face Munster in the opening round of the new URC season at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.

Wales international Joe Hawkins starts at inside centre, while former Scarlet Jake Ball partners Sam Lousi in the second row.

Tristan Davies packs down at blindside flanker.

Ball has played for the Scarlets in four seasons. The 6’6, 121kg lock returns to Llanelli following four seasons with the Green Rockets Tokatsu in Japan.

Head coach Dwayne Peel has selected a side that also features a number of other Wales internationals who were involved against Japan this summer.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Scarlets

21 - 34

Full-time

Munster

All Stats and Data

In the back three, Tom Rogers returns after missing pre-season and lines up alongside Blair Murray and Ellis Mee. Hawkins joins Joe Roberts in midfield, with Sam Costelow partnering Gareth Davies at half-back. The 34-year-old scrum-half is entering his 18th season with the region.

Up front, Kemsley Mathias starts at loose-head prop, Harry Thomas earns his first URC start at hooker, and Henry Thomas returns from injury at tight-head. Behind them, Ball and Lousi form a powerful second-row pairing, while Davies joins captain Josh Macleod and No. 8 Taine Plumtree in the back row.

Among the replacements, loan signing Kirby Myhill provides cover at hooker, while Australian lock Max Douglas is in line for his first appearance since a shoulder injury sustained against Ulster in March.

“We had a fair bit of momentum from the end of last season and it is important we carry that on,” said Peel. “When you have a bit of momentum, taste a bit of success, you want more. Having a positive start is vital. We were chasing the top eight last season after a mixed start, if we want to qualify for the play-offs again, we need to hit the ground running against a strong Munster side.”

Scarlets team to face Munster: 
15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Harry Thomas, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Jake Ball, 6 Tristan Davies, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Max Douglas, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Johnny Williams, 23 Macs Page