A family affair for Nicholas as Scarlets seek a repeat display
RDS ARENA 7.35pm LEINSTER v SCARLETS
REFEREE Nigel Owens will take charge of the Scarlets’ clash with Leinster tonight – with his cousin Ioan Nicholas among the replacements for Wayne Pivac’s side.
Guinness Pro12 chiefs are understood to be satisfied, in conjunction with both teams, there is no issue in terms of impartiality.
Wales Under-20s centre Nicholas, 18, has only made five senior appearances for the Scarlets since his senior debut against Ulster last season.
Meanwhile, Pivac has selected an unchanged line-up from that which secured the region’s first win away to Munster in 14 years last Friday.
Scrum-half Declan Smith, who will be on the bench, is the only change to 23-strong squad, with Aled Davies having gone back to the senior Wales camp.
Pivac said: “For us it’s really important to maximise the opportunities in these two away Irish games. There are points on offer and we want to get as many as we can.
“That was a really big result for us against Munster and we’ve got another big challenge this weekend against Leinster.
“The result this weekend is huge for us. We don’t really want to be leaving it down to that last weekend because there’s enough riding on that game as it is, without top four riding on it as well.
“There’s a long way still go but it’ll be feet on the ground this week and prepare as normal.
“These boys have got a proud record. They’re three from three at the moment; they’re desperate to go four from four in this phase.
“That’s what we’re trying to achieve. If we can do that it sets us up nicely for the run home. We really want to go there (RDS) and try and get the points.”
Leinster make four changes to the starting XV that won in Newport last Friday.
Irish international Richardt Strauss captains the team for the first time at the RDS as he comes in at hooker, with Luke McGrath partnering Ross Byrne at half-back.
Hayden Triggs starts at lock, with Dan Leavy coming in at open-side to join Rhys Ruddock and Jack Conan in the back row.
Ahead of the game, Leinster announced the signing of Australian forward Scott Fardy.
The 32-year-old Fardy will join Leinster once the Super Rugby season with the Brumbies concludes. He has represented Australia on 39 occasions since his debut in 2013 and has also played 83 times for the Brumbies.
Fardy said: “I am delighted to be joining Leinster Rugby a club with a rich heritage and a proud tradition.
“I’ve enjoyed hugely my time with the Brumbies since making my debut in 2012 but this is an exciting opportunity for me to challenge myself in a new club and a different country.” Leinster: J Carberry; A Byrne, Z Kirchner, N Reid, F McFadden; R Byrne, L McGrath; P Dooley, R Strauss, M Bent; R Molony, H Triggs; R Ruddock, D Leavy, J Conan. Reps: B Byrne, E Byrne, M Ross, M McCarthy, M Deegan, J Gibson-Park, T Daly, B Daly. Scarlets: J McNicholl; T Williams, S Hughes, H Parkes (c), DTH van der Merwe; D Jones, J Evans; W Jones, R Elias, W Kruger; T Price, T Beirne; A Shingler, J Davies, W Boyde. Reps: D Hughes, L Garrett, N Thomas, R Bernardo, M Allen, D Smith, A Thomas, I Nicholas. Referee: Nigel Owens (Wal).