Halfpenny ruled out as Scarlets bid to leapfrog Bath in bid for a place in the quarter finals

Wales star Leigh Halfpenny has been ruled out of the Scarlets’ crunch European Champions Cup clash against Bath tonight.

Halfpenny had originally been named to start the Pool 5 encounter, but he failed a fitness test on a pectoral muscle injury and is now sidelined.

Wing Johnny Mcnicholl (shoulder injury) also misses out, with a reshuffle seeing Rhys Patchell replacing fullback Halfpenny, Paul Asquith moving from centre to wing and Hadleigh Parkes lining up alongside Scott Williams in midfield. Dan Jones wears the No 10 shirt vacated by Patchell.

Bath boss Todd Blackadder, meanwhile, has underlined the “real challenge” that awaits his team in the Recreation Ground meeting.

Bath top Pool 5 in the race for a quarter-final place, but three-time European champions Toulon are level with them and Scarlets lie third, just one point behind.

It is the tightest of the five Champions Cup groups, and a Bath defeat by a side they beat in west Wales three months ago could destroy their last-eight ambitions.

“It is a real challenge,” Blackadder said. “We did a lot of homework and analysis on them before the first game, and I can clearly see why they are a quality side. They will come firing. They are still in this competition with a lot to play for, so it’s a big game for both teams. They are a quality team, and in no way would we underestimate just what damage they can do with the ball in hand.” Bath are boosted by the return of international flanker Sam Underhill, who has not played due to concussion symptoms since England’s victory over in Australia in November, while wing Matt Banahan also features after recovering from a foot injury.

Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac said: “It’s like a knockout game in itself. Competitive people like these sorts of situations, so we are looking forward to it.”

● Wales back-row Ross Moriarty, pictured, makes only his second start of the season when Gloucester tackle Agen in France in the Challenge Cup tonight. Moriarty, who has been troubled by a back problem, lines up in a side showing ten changes after losing to Northampton last weekend. A win would take Gloucester above Pool 3 leaders Pau.

“The mindset, as always, will be to have a really strong start and push on from there,” said Gloucester assistant coach Tim Taylor. “It’s important we are accurate in what we do, get our processes right and everyone knows their roles and understands what we need to do to get a quick start.”