SA signing getting up to speed, says Pivac

THE Scarlets have explained the absence of new South African signing Clayton Blommetjies, saying the former Cheetahs star has been on a ‘conditioning programme’ to build his fitness.

After featuring in both pre-season matches, Blommetjies started the opening Guinness PRO14 game of the campaign against Ulster, but hasn’t been part of Wayne Pivac’s match-day squad since.

He faces stiff competition for the No.15 jersey from the in-form Leigh Halfpenny and Johnny McNicholl, who have both returned from earlyseason injuries.

But Pivac has also revealed the new arrival has been told to put in some extra work to get himself up to speed.

“There is an adjustment period for Clayton and we are asking him to work on his conditioning,” said Pivac.

“He has been asked to do a bit of extra work just to sharpen up on his match fitness.

“We do things a bit differently from the Cheetahs and expectation on the players is to be in a certain shape and Clayton has a bit of work to do in that area.

“He is doing that and is not far off making his return.”

Meanwhile, Wales openside James Davies is to see a specialist amid concerns over the knee injury he picked up in the Scarlets’ win over Benetton on Saturday.

Davies limped off in the first half of the 38-29 victory at Parc y Scarlets, adding to the region’s injury concerns in the opening weeks of the campaign.

“He has had a scan, but we won’t know the length of time James will be out until the specialist has had a look at the scan. He is definitely out this weekend,” confirmed Pivac.

Davies and the Scarlets will hope the specialist’s report is a positive one, particularly with the European campaign kicking off next month, followed by a four-Test autumn series with Wales.

Of immediate concern for Pivac will be his back-row combination for Saturday’s next PRO14 assignment against Connacht in Galway.

The New Zealander is already without Aaron Shingler (knee), Will Boyde (shoulder) and Josh Macleod (shoulder), but South African No. 8 Uzair Cassiem could make his first competitive appearance for the region after making a rapid recovery from the calf injury he picked up in the pre-season game in Bath,

The Scarlets are also set to welcome back Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell, who has missed the last two matches because of a head injury assessment.

British and Irish Lions centre Jonathan Davies is hoping to make his much-anticipated comeback next week against the Southern Kings, while prop Rob Evans and backrower Macleod are targeting the derby clash with the Ospreys next month for their returns.