Paver calls for reaction at home

PIRATES still top Pool 5 on points difference despite their 18-10 away defeat to Scarlets on Monday evening.

For what promises to be pre-Christmas cracker of a contest, the Pirates and their supporters will get the opportunity to applaud Canadian international Matt Evans, who, on his second match since returning from injury, will be making his 100th appearance for the club.

Coach Alan Paver said: “Scarlets were worthy winners on Monday evening.

“We had a mix of guys looking for an opportunity and others who haven’t played for a long time, so maybe, from a coaching perspective, we should on reflection have kept the core of the squad relatively the same.

“The effort was there, it was just the cohesion and performance that wasn’t and we have asked for a response from our lads.”

Toby May returns at fullback, with centre Nicolas De Battista and flanker Rupert Cooper both starting. Paver starts at loose-head, whilst named on the bench is recent signing Sam Matavesi.

Welsh international Tom Prydie comes in at full back for Scarlets and coach Euros Evans said: “We will go down to Cornwall on Sunday with a little bit of confidence and see if we can pick something up on the road. It’s been a good start.

“We forget sometimes how young the boys are. They showed plenty of maturity and we controlled the last few phases of the game.

“Some of these young boys are pushing the senior players within the region and it’s looking positive for the future.”