Llanelli Rotate Squad For Bridgend

Llanelli have made nine changes to the side that beat Glasgow to secure a place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals for their Welsh premiership meeting with Bridgend at the Brewery Field on Saturday (Kick-Off 5.30pm)

Wales internationals scrum-half Dwayne Peel, wing Wayne Proctor and centre Matt Cardey are joined by fly-half Gareth Bowen in four changes to the back line replacing Guy Easterby, Mark Jones, Matthew Watkins and Stephen Jones, respectively.

Its all change in the front row with Phil John, Marcus Thomas and John Davies in for Iestyn Thomas, Robin McBryde and Martyn Madden. New Wales cap Dafydd Jones returns with Ian Boobyer to the back row in place of Simon Easterby and David Hodges.

Despite the changes the Scarlets are still fielding two current Welsh internationals in Dwayne Peel and Dafydd Jones, three players tipped to return for Wales’ Six Nations campaign in Leigh Davies, Chris Wyatt and Garan Evans and some seasoned pros in the likes of Proctor, Cardey, Scott Quinnell and John Davies.

And director of rugby Gareth Jenkins says the Scarlets’ luck with injuries this season is holding out allowing him to fully utilise his strong squad of players.

‘There are one or two players with bumps, dead legs and bruises who are not training at the moment but there is nothing long term that will stop anyone playing apart from Salesi Finau (Knee operation),’ said Jenkins.

And the coach is adamant his side will maintain their momentum throughout the Six Nations period as they build towards their European return in April, with three new fixtures added to their schedule.

‘There will be no shut down period at Stradey Park during the Six Nations period like in previous seasons,’ added Jenkins.

‘The focus of our coaching has been to keep the momentum and the confidence that we have as a side at the moment.

‘There would be no better time than now for us to play Perpignan, but that is not the case and it is our challenge now to recreate the feeling we have at the moment come quarter-final day.

‘The re-arranged fixture programme is part of that and it will keep us occupied. We have to guard against the negative, we don’t want to create bad habits and losing can do that.

‘We know a little of what Bridgend are about and we know the Welsh league is a main focus in their season so we have picked a side that we think can win the game.’

Llanelli have three new fixtures on the calendar to cover the Six Nations period all on the eve of Wales matches against Italy, Ireland and France. The Scarlets now play Neath at the Gnoll on Friday 14 February (KO 7.00 pm), Ebbw Vale at Stradey Park on Friday 21 March (KO 7.00 pm) and Pontypridd at Stradey on Friday 28 March (KO 7.00 pm), with all other fixtures as published.

Llanelli: Barry Davies; Wayne Proctor, Matt Cardey, Leigh Davies (Captain), Garan Evans; Gareth Bowen, Dwayne Peel; Phil John, Marcus Thomas, John Davies, Luke Gross, Chris Wyatt, Dafydd Jones, Ian Boobyer, Scott Quinnell
Replacements: Iestyn Thomas, Aled Gravell, Paul Clapham, David Hodges, Guy Easterby, Tal Selley, Matthew Watkins.