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[ourla]

Murphy:

We will maybe rest a couple of bodies there and give guys who have played a lot of rugby over the last few weeks the opportunity to have a down week

[JP14]

I’d imagine most of the England players, apart from Genge, will be given their mandatory game off, but please we neeed no repeat of Castres.

[Scott1]

Good thinking GM,and spot on! Get these combinations bedded!

[JP14]

Denton and Jimmy Stevens back training, great news re Denton and relief re Stevens especially if TPN doesn’t recover.

[Mark62]

Jonny May on holiday in Dubai not sure Denton is available yet as training with a pink bib on.

There is a certain argument for playing the England guys as if they unfortunately got injured they wouldn’t be available anyway

[RagingBull]

Reckon.
10. Joe Ford
12. Eastmond
13. Owen

[Scott1]

I hope not RB!! Let's get Toomua at 10 with Eastmond. Ive got a feeling we will revert back to our strongest team v Ulster to go out with a bang so one game v Saints seconds isn't enough for new combinstions. In the Scarlets and Saints game we need to play as close to as possible the XV we will be using for our first GP game sans 6N players.

[Scott1]

Well done GM,good team!

[ourla]

Leicester Tigers (v Scarlets, away, Saturday 5.30pm)

15 George Worth
14 Jonah Holmes
13 Gareth Owen
12 Kyle Eastmond
11 Jordan Olowofela
10 Matt Toomua (c)
9 Ben White

1 Greg Bateman
2 Jake Kerr
3 Joe Heyes
4 Harry Wells
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Mike Williams
7 Will Evans
8 Valentino Mapapalangi

Replacements
16 Ross McMillan
17 Facundo Gigena
18 David Feao
19 Mike Fitzgerald
20 Brendon O’Connor
21 Ben Youngs
22 Joe Ford
23 Sam Aspland-Robinson

[ourla]

Head coach Geordan Murphy shuffles the backline with Australia international Toomua leading the team out and Gareth Owen set to face his former club.

Loosehead prop Greg Bateman and centre Kyle Eastmond both come into the starting team after appearing from the bench in the bonus-point win over Gloucester on league duty last weekend in their first games back after a period on the sidelines.

Tonga international Valentino Mapapalangi is named in the No8 shirt in his first senior appearance since early November and there is also a place for England Under-20s prop Joe Heyes at tighthead prop.

There could be a club debut for former England Under-20s cap Sam Aspland-Robinson who is named in the matchday squad for the first time since his summer move from Harlequins.

[ourla]

Scarlets: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Paul Asquith, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Joshua Helps, 5 David Bulbring, 6 Ed Kennedy, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Ken Owens (c)

Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Tom Price, 20 Joshua Macleod, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Steff Hughes, 23 Ioan Nicholas

Gareth Davies is back in at scrum-half after a rest, forming a half-back partnership with Dan Jones. Johnny McNicholl stays at full-back, with Paul Asquith and a recalled Steff Evans completing the back-three. With Jon Davies rested after playing 11 of the last 12 games, Kieron Fonotia comes into the midfield alongside Hadleigh Parkes.

After appearing for the first time at the back of the scrum last weekend, captain Ken Owens sticks at number eight, as the whole pack remains unchanged from last week’s victory against Dragons. Josh Macleod returns to take a place in the 23.

[CitizenSmiff]

Hard to get excited about contesting a dead rubber with a game to spare. Ah well, be a good day out for the young lads as long as we don't get absolutely stomped on. Not sure about Mapapalangi at 8 when our pack is already chronically lightweight.

[TigerCam]

Hard to get excited about contesting a dead rubber with a game to spare. Ah well, be a good day out for the young lads as long as we don't get absolutely stomped on. Not sure about Mapapalangi at 8 when our pack is already chronically lightweight.

Not even bothered about the scoreline to be honest? Just as long as they enjoy themselves and are injury free after 80 mins. Maybe the Tigers can entice the unhappy Steff Evans to WR? Great set of finishing wheels!!

[Spicer]

Pretty expected tbh. It's sensible to change the team and prepare the players for the time of the 6 Nations.

Evans vs Holmes on the same wing. Could be a direct battle to make the Wales squad.

[jgriffin]

Pretty expected tbh. It's sensible to change the team and prepare the players for the time of the 6 Nations.

Evans vs Holmes on the same wing. Could be a direct battle to make the Wales squad.

Holmes a better line taker and team player IMO, Evans too much of a glory boy.