Scarlets' Macleod returns from injury for Stormers test
United Rugby Championship: Scarlets v StormersVenue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Date: Saturday, 22 March Kick off: 15:00 GMTCoverage: Live in S4C & via BBC iPlayer. Updates on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app, followed by report and reaction
Captain Josh Macleod returns from injury to start for Scarlets in their United Rugby Championship (URC) fixture against Stormers.Macleod, 28, was ruled out of his side's past two matches with a hamstring injury but will lead his side at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.Wales internationals Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Taine Plumtree, Kemsley Mathias and Henry Thomas are all included in the matchday squad as head coach Dwayne Peel makes six changes from the side that took the field against Ulster.Mee will feature in a back three that includes Ioan Nicholas and Macs Page against the South African side.James and Joe Roberts form the midfield as Ioan Lloyd and Gareth Davies continue at half-back.
Marnus van der Merwe is recalled at hooker to pack down in the front row between Alec Hepburn and Sam Wainwright.Alex Craig and Sam Lousi form the second row as Scarlets go for a new-look back row, with Macleod joined by Vaea Fifita and Taine Plumtree."You look at how tight the league is at the moment and it is clear it is going to go down to the wire in terms of the play-off race," said Peel. "Our form here in Llanelli has been excellent this season with the supporters really getting behind the boys. "We are going to need that again against a Stormers side who have come here with pretty much a full crew with a couple of Springboks back from injury."Ryan Elias, Mathias and Thomas provide back row cover on the bench - with former Stormer Jarrod Taylor and Dan Davis also among the forward replacements. Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe and Tomi Lewis cover the backline.Blair Murray and Johnny Williams are both ruled out due to calf injuries.
Scarlets sit 10th in the URC table following defeats in Ulster and Munster.Peel's side boast a strong record on home soil though, winning their past six matches at Parc y Scarlets.Stormers are 12th in the league standings but are level with Scarlets on 28 points.Their narrow win at Bulls on 1 March ended a run of four successive defeats across all competitions.Stormers director of rugby John Dobson said: "Scarlets have been impressive this season and we know that it will have to be an 80-minute performance to get the result that we need from this one."
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree.Replacements: Ryan Elias, Kemsley Mathias, Henry Thomas, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Tomi Lewis.Stormers: Warrick Gelant; Ben Loader, Wandisile Simelane, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Herschel Jantjies; Ali Vermaak, Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat (capt), Ruben van Heerden, Deon Fourie, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos.Replacements: André-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Sazi Sandi, Gary Porter, Willie Engelbrecht, Dewaldt Duvenage, Jurie Matthee, Damian Willemse.Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)Assistant referees: Mike English (WRU), Tom Spurrier (WRU)TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
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