Benetton Rugby won’t want for any inside knowledge about Parc y Scarlets and the approach the Scarlets will take against them when they clash on Saturday, 10 October (5.30pm kick-off) as their head coach is Wayne Pivac and their kicking coach is Rhys Patchell.
Both men are woven into the recent history at Parc y Scarlets as coach and player, with their greatest moment coming in Dublin in 2017. That’s when the Scarlets beat Munster 46-22 to take the PRO12 title.
Pivac also guided the Scarlets to a second final in 2018, as well as a semi-final in the Champions Cup. The New Zealander then left west Wales to take up the post of head coach for Wales in succession to Warren Gatland.
He took over in Treviso at the start of the season, and the Italians have struggled to date, drawing 19-19 with the Dragons at home and then going down to a 22-19 defeat to Connacht last weekend in a second home fixture.
It means both teams will be chasing their first win of the season and whoever comes out on top will go ahead of the other in the table.
Director of rugby Nigel Davies will be delighted to have powerhouse No 8 Fletcher Anderson back in harness on the bench, while Wales centre Johnny Williams also makes a return from injury.
Wales centre Joe Hawkins is handed his first start of the campaign alongside his international colleague Eddie James at centre, while Henry Thomas and Will Evans return to the pack.
“Two defeats from our opening two games is not where we wanted to be, and we’ve been pretty clear with each other this week. We understand the frustration that comes with that, particularly when they are Welsh derbies,” said Davies.
“We also need a healthy perspective and continued belief in what we are building. We are two games into a long season, with 20 fixtures yet to play and this is not the time to retreat.
“It’s the time to have clarity about what is hurting us, address it and go after the next opportunity. Despite having just over 30 per cent possession and just over 30 per cent territory against the Dragons last Saturday, we were still capable of creating opportunities and staying in the contest with a lead at 60 minutes.
“We look forward to welcoming back two former Scarlets Wayne Pivac and Rhys Patchell to Parc y Scarlets and we know that as part of the Benetton coaching set-up they will be very driven to get a result over their old team.”
TEAMS
Scarlets: Blair Murray; Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Macs Page; Sam Costelow, Dane Blacker; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Will Evans, Alex Groves, Sam Lousi, Josh Macleod (captain), Osian Williams
Reps: John McKee, Sam O’Connor, Harri O’Connor, Harvey Cuckson, Fletcher Anderson, Gareth Davies, Joe Roberts, Johnny WilliamsBenetton Rugby: Matt Gallagher; Louis Lynagh, Francois Mey, Leonardo Marin, Onisi Ratave; Jacob Umaga, Alessandro Garbisi; Mirco Spagnolo, Siua Maile, Giosuè Zilocchi, Niccolò Cannone, Mattia Midena, Giulio Marini, Federico Ruzza, Michele Lamaro (captain)
Reps: Bautista Bernasconi, Matias Medrano, Simone Ferrari, Sootala Fa’aso’o, Jadin Kingi, Louis Werchon, Jean Smith, Federico Zanandrea