Scarlets reshuffle as injuries mount before Connacht

United Rugby Championship: Connacht v Scarlets

Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway Date: Saturday, 4 October Kick-off: 13:45 BST

Johnny Williams leads Scarlets for the first time at Connacht on Saturday as injuries force head coach Dwayne Peel into three starting changes.

Williams takes over the captaincy after Josh Macleod was ruled out by a pectoral injury in training - one of several key players missing for the United Rugby Championship (URC) trip to Galway.

Williams takes over at centre in place of Joe Hawkins who replaces fly-half Sam Costelow following his concussion against Munster, while Jarrod Taylor and Dan Davis are called into the back-row.

"Josh is a great captain and will be sorely missed. We're carrying a small squad but there are opportunities for guys to step up," said Peel.

Teenage back-rower Osian Williams is set for a URC debut off the bench having come through the age-grade pathway and captained Scarlets U18s last season.

Versatile back Ioan Nichoas also comes into the match-day 23.

Connacht make nine changes to the starting fifteen from last weekends win over Benetton with Cian Prendergast captaining the side from blindside flanker in his 88th appearance for the province.

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Scarlets came away from a bruising opening round encounter with Munster empty handed, but Peel was encouraged by aspects of the 34-21 defeat.

"We finished strongly [even though] it was one of the biggest collision games we've had in a number of years," said Peel.

"Connacht have been on a good run of form in the last couple of weeks and look a good unit with [former England head coach] Stuart Lancaster involved."

Connacht head coach Lancaster said: "I was really pleased with the result last weekend against a really strong Benetton side. There was a lot of positives to take from it, but still plenty to improve on.

"We've made a few changes for the game with the new faces coming, it's exciting to see how they'll go."

Line-ups

Connacht: Naughton; Mullins, Hawkshaw, Forde, Bolton; Carty, Murphy; Buckley, Heffernan. Aungier, Murray, Joycet, Prendergast (capt), Boyle, Jansen.

Replacements: De Buitlear, Duggan, Illo, O'Connor, O'Brien, Devine, Gavin, Treacy.

Scarlets: Murray; Rogers, Roberts, J Williams (capt), Mee; Hawkins, G Davies; Hepburn, Harry Thomas, Henry Thomas, Douglas, Ball, Taylor, Davis, Plumtree.

Replacements: Myhill, S O'Connor, H O'Connor, T Davies, O Williams, Blacker, Nicholas, Page.

Officials

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Assistants: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Max Weston (Ireland)

TMO: Colin Brett (Scotland)