The Ironmen have been in good form of late, especially at home, and they came out on top in an 88 point, 12 try thriller against Llandovery in the Cup last weekend with a 48-40 victory. There are positive signs that the impact of new head coach Rowland Phillips is beginning to bear fruit.
Merthyr have always had a good set-piece, driving line-out and big ball carriers, but this season their defence has improved dramatically. That where Phillips, a former Wales defence coach and rugby league international for both Wales and Great Britian, comes into his own.
He has instilled patience, judgment and a new spirit into the defensive approach of his team and they are certainly reaping the benefit.
As for the Quins, they are not as mighty as they once were. New coach Marc Jones is having a tough time of it in his first coaching role since retiring as a player at the Scarlets.
Their only win to date was a last-gasp, 28-27 victory at home over arch-rivals Llanelli and they find themselves one point clear of the bottom two, Newport and Bridgend, but having played one game more than them. Perhaps it’s just as well there is no relegation this season.
To stand any chance of pulling off a shock result tonight the Quins will have to be stronger up front and put Merthyr under pressure on an all-weather track that has served up dozens of tries already this season.
Merthyr: 15 Ben Jones 14 Adam Hoskins 13 Jac Keenan 12 Morgan Sieniawski 11 Sam Jones 10 Gareth Thompson 9 James Soanes; 1 Callum Lewis 2 Rhys Williams 3 Jordan Rogers 4 LLoyd Ashley (Capt) 5 Callum Bradbury 6 Paddy MacBride 7 Thomas Jevons 8 Phil Rees
Carmarthen Quins: Dale Ford; Ryan Davies, Craig Woodall, Josh Batcup, Dylan Richards; Jac Wilson, Lucca Setaro; Oliver Evans, Torin Myhill, Ben Leung, Josh Helps, Lee Taylor (captain). Richard Bloomfield, Thomas Curry, Lewys Millin Reps: Steffan Phillips, Lewis Morgan, Dom Booth, Ryan Bean, Lawrence Reynolds, Gethin Davies, Aron Hemmings, Steff Marshall
