Scarlets v Racing Metro 92 - Preview

Wales scrum-halves past and present face each other when Racing 92 look to cement their place in the Champions Cup knock-out stages against Scarlets.

Gareth Davies was selected ahead of Racing's Mike Phillips for the World Cup, with Phillips subsequently retiring from international rugby.

A win will seal top spot in Pool Three for Racing with a game left.

World Cup winner Dan Carter will play at centre for the French side, with Remi Tales starting at fly-half.

Scarlets have lost all four of their pool matches, including a 29-12 defeat at home to Racing in November.

The injury-hit Welsh region have 14 players unavailable, including seven internationals.

But flanker Rory Pitman is back after nearly four months on the sidelines with a torn bicep, and George Earle returns in the second row after recovering from a calf muscle injury.

Head coach Wayne Pivac says his team - top of the Pro12 table - will benefit from the experience of playing against the Parisian club.

"Racing are a class side and they're playing very well at the moment," he said.

"You're up against some of the great players in the world. It's a great challenge for us and that's the way we're approaching it."

Racing 92

Brice Dulin; Louis Dupichot, Dan Carter, Casey Laulala, Juan Imhoff; Remi Tales, Mike Phillips; Eddy Ben Arous, Dimitri Szarzewski (capt), Ben Tameifuna, Luke Charteris, Manuel Carizza, Yannick Nyanga, Bernard Le Roux, Antonie Claassen.

Replacements: Camille Chat, Julien Brugnaut, Martin Castrogiovanni, Thibault Dubarry, Chris Masoe, Maxime Machenaud, Henry Chavancy, Johannes Goosen

Scarlets

Michael Collins; Steffan Evans, Regan King, Hadleigh Parkes, DTH van der Merwe; Steven Shingler, Gareth Davies; Phil John, Ken Owens (capt), Samson Lee, George Earle, Maselino Paulino, Rory Pitman, Aaron Shingler, Morgan Allen

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Wyn Jones, Rhodri Jones, Tom Price, Tom Phillips, Rhodri Williams, Daniel Jones, Steffan Hughes

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

Touch judges: Ian Tempest (England), Wayne Falla (England)

TMO: David Grashoff (England)

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Scarlets v Leinster - Preview

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Scarlets coach Simon Easterby has made two changes to his starting XV for Saturday's Heineken Cup clash with Leinster at Parc y Scarlets.

Andy Fenby, the Scarlets' joint top try-scorer this season, returns to the line-up on the wing after recovering from a dead leg with Gareth Maule in a centre partnership with Scott Williams to replace the injured Jon Davies (groin).

Easterby has kept faith with his forwards - backing the same pack that delivered a strong, brave and committed first 40 minutes in last weekend's defeat to Clermont.

New second-row signing Argentina international Tomas Vallejos comes onto the bench with the opportunity to earn his first appearance in a Scarlets jersey. Second rower Sione Timani (knee) misses out.

Morgan Stoddart is free to play after a double yellow carding last weekend and is amongst the replacements.

As for the visitors, Gordon D'Arcy returns to the Leinster starting line-up to earn his 209th cap for the province.

The inside centre, who is now the most capped Leinster player of all time having overtaken Shane Horgan in his last game three weeks ago - is one of two changes to the starting line-up that defeated Exeter last time out.

Fergus McFadden switches to the wing and is named in a back three alongside Isa Nacewa and Ian Madigan, who will again wear the number 15 jersey.

The other change to the starting XV sees hooker Sean Cronin, a second-half replacement last weekend, make his 30th appearance in a front-row where he is joined by fellow Ireland internationals Cian Healy and Mike Ross.

Leo Cullen leads the team and is named again alongside Damian Browne in the second row, with Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings and Kevin McLaughlin again forming the back-row unit.

Scarlets coach Simon Easterby

"We can't read too much into our first result, we know that Leinster will come here with a renewed intensity and ambition not least because it's Heineken Cup second round but they are the holders of the European Cup and showed last week against Exeter that they won't give up that crown without a fight," he said.

"Our games against Leinster are always highly competitive and tightly fought contests and we know that after our fortunes in France last week, we need to get a result here this afternoon to maintain a grip on our European campaign. The boys have had an excellent attitude this week.

"With four players making their Heineken Cup debuts last weekend, Samson Lee, George Earle, Joe Snyman and Richard Kelly there was no lack of edge, spirit, courage or determination from the boys and we can take confidence from our opening 40 minutes.

"This is a must win game for us but one that is still firmly in our grasp. I have no doubt it will be another great Scarlets European occasion and we'll be delighted to welcome crowds of supporters from across our region."

Scarlets: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Gareth Maule, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Andrew Fenby, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Rob McCusker, 7 Josh Turnbull, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Johan Snyman, 4 George Earle, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Phil John.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Shaun Hopkins, 18 Deacon Manu, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Jon Edwards, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Aled Thomas, 23 Morgan Stoddart.

Leinster: 15 Ian Madigan, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Damian Browne, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Cian Healy.

Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Andrew Conway, 23 Fionn Carr.

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Simon Easterby is Scarlets Boss

Simon Easterby has been appointed as the new Scarlets coach after Nigel Davies' decision to move to Gloucester in the English Premiership.

Easterby had been part of Davies's backroom team since 2010.

Davies, who had been in charge at Parc Y Scarlets since 2008, has given Easterby's appointment his full backing.

“It is a big blow we are losing Nigel when he was really coming into his prime”Phil BennettLlanelli legend

"I wish Simon all the very best and he has my full support in his appointment as the new head coach," said Davies.

Easterby, a former British and Irish Lions and Ireland flanker, is a former Scarlets captain and retired from rugby in 2010.

Davies leaves the Scarlets to take up his new role with Gloucester Rugby with immediate effect.

The Scarlets have promoted from within their own coaching set-up, with Easterby taking charge as head coach and leading a strengthened Scarlets coaching group alongside backs coach Mark Jones, strength and conditioning coach Brad Harringon and the newly appointed forwards coach Danny Wilson.

Easterby played more than 200 games for the Scarlets and has become an integral part of the region's bootroom policy out West.

Davies is confident he has left a lasting coaching and player legacy at Parc Y Scarlets.

"During the past four years I've have worked with real intensity with a talented and committed group of ambitious coaches and players," said Davies.

"I believe I leave the Scarlets on a very firm footing in terms of results, performance and the development of players and it's great to see that there will be another group of young talented players that have come through the Scarlets system getting their first caps at Wales' game against the Barbarians.

"My decision is underpinned by my belief that the coaching group at the Scarlets has progressed significantly over the past two seasons.

"Simon [Easterby] and Mark [Jones] with the added impetus of Danny Wilson, will create a talented, dynamic and energetic coaching environment and I have no doubt they will move it forward successfully."

Legend Phil Bennett was quick to pay tribute to the departing Davies and the work he had done at the Scarlets and is confident he will be a success at Gloucester.

"I think Nigel Davies has grown into the job as Scarlets coach," said Bennett.

"He had two hard years to start, when the Scarlets were in the doldrums, but he gradually built a good side, not a great side, because they haven't gone that far in Europe.

"He has been responsible for the likes of Rhys Priestland, George North, Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams coming through.

"It is a big blow we are losing Nigel when he was really coming into his prime."

Stephen Jones Prefers Wasps

Head coach Nigel Davies says veteran fly-half Stephen Jones turned down a potential Scarlets coaching role to join London Wasps.

Jones, 34, has signed a two-year deal to play for the Aviva Premiership club.

Davies said: "I said that we could look to find an opportunity for him in the coaching set-up here. But Steve was adamant that he wanted to play."

He added that Wasps's offer to Jones, Wales' most capped player, was "probably too good to turn down".

"He has never shied away from a challenge and at his age, I think a new challenge is exactly what he would need if he's going to continue playing," said Davies.

"Se he'll see it as a big challenge and want to prove himself in that league and I'm sure that's what he'll do."

Jones is out of contract at Parc Y Scarlets at the end of the season and agreed to join Wasps despite an "imminent takeover" of the Premiership outfit having fallen through.

Jones, who won six Lions Test caps on the tour of New Zealand in 2005 and South Africa in 2009, was part of Warren Gatland's 2012 Grand Slam squad, but failed to make an appearance.

He is being signed by the English club on a player's contract but his move to High Wycombe to join up with former Blues coach, David Young, could see him move into a coaching role at the end of the two-year stint as a player.

Jones has never played in the Premiership but enjoyed a successful two-year-stint playing for Clermont Auvergne in France. He returned to the Scarlets in 2006.

London Wasps released a statement on Tuesday claiming they were seeking new backers after interest from four parties had stalled.