Scarlets welcome back Wales duo to face Leinster
United Rugby Championship: Scarlets v LeinsterVenue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Date: Saturday, 26 April Kick off: 17:15 BSTCoverage: Watch live on S4C via iPlayer. Highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.
Wales duo Sam Costelow and Johnny Williams return to play-off chasing Scarlets for their crucial United Rugby Championsip (URC) game against leaders Leinster in Llanelli on Saturday.Fly-half Costelow has recovered from the shoulder injury he picked up against Gloucester in January, while centre Williams has overcome a calf issue that has sidelined him for the last three matches.Costelow replaces Ioan Lloyd who drops to the replacements bench, while Williams comes in for Eddie James who is not included in the 23-man squadThe only other changes to the side that beat Dragons with a bonus-point win is centre Joe Roberts replacing Macs Page and hooker Ryan Elias coming in for Marnus van der Merwe.
Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher will captain Leinster for the first time in a side that does not not include most of their first-choice Ireland internationals with the Dublin-based side facing Northampton in Europe's Challenge Cup semi-final next weekend.Leinster still include the likes of Ireland internationals Cian Healy, Ryan Baird, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne and Ross Byrne.
Play-off hopes
Scarlets remain in the hunt for the URC play-offs, going into round 16 in ninth place, two points off the top eight qualifying spots.They are looking to win three games in a row for the first time since October.Runaway league leaders Leinster have lost just once this season - by a single point at Bulls in March - and have not been defeated by a Welsh region since a visit to Cardiff in January 2022.Scarlets have not beaten an Irish opponent since a 40-36 win at home to Connacht in March 2021.Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: "It is a big week, a big occasion, the last home game of the season against a team who are probably in the best form in world club rugby. "It is a massive challenge, an opportunity and one we are excited about, especially with three games left and things being so tight in the league."There is a lot of rugby still to be played and I wouldn't be surprised if it all goes down to the last week."For us, we have got to be accurate and not allow them to get into the rhythm of their game. We also have to be brave and we have to be bold."
Scarlets: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree.Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Louie Trevett, Sam Wainwright, Jac Price, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page.Leinster: Ciarán Frawley; Andrew Osborne, Liam Turner, Jamie Osborne, Jimmy O'Brien; Ross Byrne, Fintan Gunne; Cian Healy, Ronan Kelleher (captain), Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Brian Deeny, Alex Soroka, Will Connors, James Culhane.Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, Diarmuid Mangan, Scott Penny, Cormac Foley, Charlie Tector, Ruben Moloney.Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)Assistant referees: Matthew Leon & Aaron Perry (WRU)TMO: Colin Brett (SRU)
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