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CELTIC CUP: Evans boosts Scarlets for Munster visit

CELTIC CUP: Evans boosts Scarlets for Munster visit

Scarlets A plan to keep their hopes of a Celtic Cup final place alive when they travel to Irish Independent Park to face Munster A on Friday night.

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The men from Llanelli go into the game top of Pool 2 and with designs on reaching the knock-out stages, they have named a strong side for their trip over the Irish Sea.

Wales wing Steffan Evans is joined by fellow senior Scarlets Clayton Blommetjies, Dan Jones and captain Steffan Hughes in the starting XV.

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Kieran Hardy is alongside Jones at half back as the Scarlets go for broke.

Head coach Richard Kelly said: “We’re hoping to keep moving forward again this week. I feel we’ve made really good progress so far and I hope we can execute the game plan we’ve devised and express ourselves and attack.”

Munster are unbeaten in the competition and sit joint top of Pool 1 alongside Irish rivals Leinster.

Kelly added: “Munster are up there with one of the toughest games in the competition.

“They’re a really competitive team with several good attackers and a strong set-piece. We’re really excited about the challenge that lies ahead of us.

“This is what we’re after; to challenge ourselves against some of the best and hopefully come out with another win.”

While the Scarlets are on Irish soil, the Ospreys are at home to Ulster A.

Richard Fussell’s side are three points behind their nearby rivals over the Loughor Bridge and know victory is vital at the Brewery Field in Bridgend.

Former Ospreys full-back Fussell has livewire scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams available from the off while Cai Evans begins at full-back.

Tighthead Alex Jeffries, captain and flanker Morgan Morris, and captain Guido Volpi bolster the pack.  

“We’re really excited for this group of players to get another game under their belt,” said Fussell.

“We’ve made a few changes to the team and we’ve got a few players coming back into the frame which is pleasing and exciting at the same time.

“This tournament has been great for the boys’ progression and we’ve put ourselves in a decent position in the competition. Our destiny is in our own hands, the boys have had a decent week together, and all the coaches have put a lot of effort in.

“Hopefully we can put in a solid performance at the Brewery Field on Friday night.”

Cardiff Blues A and Dragons A complete the weekend’s fixtures with both in action on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues are away to Connacht with Wales’ record cap holder Gethin Jenkins starting the game on his comeback from injury.

Meanwhile, the Dragons are at home to the daunting Leinster A in Ystrad Mynach.

Jenkins, who is the Blues A side’s defence coach, is one of eight changes made to Richie Rees’ team as Alun Lawrence remains captain.

A new-look front-row sees Liam Belcher and Keiron Assiratti drafted into the starting line-up, while the other change amongst the pack sees University of South Wales’ Sion Edwards named at openside flanker.

Dan Fish, who impressed from the bench against Munster A last week, has been given the nod at outside-half, and will be partnered by Dane Blacker. He replaces Lewis Jones in the number nine jersey.

Head coach Rees belives the presence of Jenkins will be a huge boost for the side’s youngsters.

“We’ve shown in parts over the last few weeks that we’re more than capable of beating these sides, but must learn to put in a complete performance if we’re to secure the result,” he said.

“We’ve let ourselves down in areas, but we’re worked hard on identifying and improving those in training and the attitude from the boys throughout the week has been excellent.

“After winning the opening game against Dragons, we do feel that we could be sitting here with three wins from four games, but that’s the harsh lessons of professional rugby that we will all learn from in this process.

“Having the experience and quality of Wales’ most capped international in Gethin will be massive for this side. He sets the standard both on and off the field and he’s the type of player who will lift those around him.

“He knows this group well having worked with them on the training pitch over the last few weeks, but playing alongside him will be another fantastic experience for the younger players.”

CELTIC CUP FIXTURES

Friday, October 5
Munster A vs Scarlets A (7.30pm)
Ospreys A vs Ulster A (7.00pm)
Saturday, October 6
Connacht A vs Cardiff Blues A (2.00pm)
Dragons A vs Leinster A (2.30pm)

CELTIC CUP TEAMS

Munster A:  Stephen Fitzgerald; Calvin Nash, Shane Daly, Matt More, Liam Coombes; Bill Johnston (capt), Jack Stafford; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman; Fineen Wycherley, Darren O’Shea; Sean O’Connor, Jack Daly, Dave O’Callaghan
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Cronan Gleeson, Keynan Knox, Paddy Kelly, Dan Walsh, John Poland, Ben Healy, Alex McHenry

Scarlets: Clayton Blommetjies; Morgan Williams, Corey Baldwin, Steff Hughes (capt), Steff Evans; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy; Rhys Fawcett, Dafydd Hughes, Javan Sebastian, Josh Helps, Chris Hughes, Stuart Worrell, Shaun Evans, Tom Phillips
Replacements: Torin Myhill, Kemsley Mathias, Berian Watkins, Morgan Jones, Joe Miles, Declan Smith, Osian Knott, Ryan Conbeer

Ospreys A: Cai Evans; Tom Williams, Callum Carson, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Dewi Cross; Josh Thomas, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Jordan Walters, Garin Lloyd, Alex Jeffries, Matthew Dodd, Jay Williams, Rob McCusker, Morgan Morris (capt), Guido Volpi
Replacements: Robert Jones, Rhys Davies, Rhys Henry, Charlie Davies, Joe Grabham, Harri Morgan, Ben Cambriani, Caine Woolerton
 
Ulster A: Iwan Hughes; Robert Balacoune, Stewart Moore, Ben Power, Aaron Sexton; Bruce Houston, Jonny Stewart; Peter Cooper, John Andrew, Rodney Ah You, Bradley Luney, Caleb Montgomery, Marcus Rea (capt), Clive Ross, Greg Jones
Replacements: Zack McCall, Corrie Barrett, Paul McGookin, Alex Thompson, David McCann, Joe Dunleavy, Graham Curtis, Lewis Finlay
 
Cardiff Blues A: Tom Williams; Aled Summerhill, Cam Lewis, Harri Millard, Tom James; Dan Fish, Dane Blacker; Gethin Jenkins, Liam Belcher, Keiron Assiratti, Shane Lewis-Hughes, James Down, Sion Bennett, Sion Edwards, Alun Lawrence (capt)
Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Rhys Carre, Will Davies King, Callum Bradbury, Ioan Rhys Davies, Lewis Jones, Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn

Connacht A: Darragh Leader, Sean O’Brien, Eoin Griffin, Kieran Joyce, Hugh Lane, Conor Fitzgerald, Stephen Kerins; Matthew Burke, Jonny Murphy, Conán O’Donnell, Cillian Gallagher, Joe Maksymiw (capt), Mikey Wilson, James Connolly, Neal Moylett
Replacements: Dylan Tierney, Jordan Duggan, Conor Kenny, Peter Claffey, Cian Huxford, Conor McKeon, Luke Carty, Conor Dean.

Dragons A: Carwyn Penny; Calvin Wellington, Tom Hoppe, James Benjamin, Deon Smith; Jacob Botica, Rhodri Davies; Josh Reynolds, Rhys Lawrence, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, James Thomas, Lennon Greggains (capt), Taine Basham
Replacements: Zac Hewlett, Scott Evans, Luke Yendle, Max Williams, Ben Fry, Dafydd Buckland, George Gasson, Will Kelly

Leinster A: Jack Kelly (capt); Adam Byrne, Jimmy O’Brien, Conor O’Brien, Michael Silvester; Ciarán Frawley, Nick McCarthy; Michael Milne, Ronan Kelleher, Vakh Abdaladze, Charlie Ryan, Jack Dunne, Josh Murphy, Scott Penny, Caelan Doris
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Giuseppe Coyne, Jack Aungier, Ryan Baird, Ronan Watters, Patrick Patterson, David Hawkshaw, Liam Turner

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