South African to make debuts, but Cuthbert misses his Blues reunion
NEW South African signings Clayton Blommetjies and Uzair Cassiem will make their Scarlets debuts in Saturday’s opening pre-season friendly against Bristol Bears in Carmarthen (2.30pm), while there is a long-awaited return from injury for Wales lock Jake Ball.
Full-back Blommetjies and Springbok No. 8 Cassiem have arrived in West Wales from the Cheetahs and will get a first run-out for their new side in the unfamiliar surroundings of Carmarthen Park.
Ball, meanwhile, will return following a ninemonth lay-off recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered during last autumn’s Wales Test against New Zealand.
As well as the South African duo, centre Kieron Fonotia, Scotland international scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Aussie back-rower Ed Kennedy will make their first appearance in a Scarlets jersey, while former Wales Under-20s scrum-half Kieran Hardy - who has returned from Jersey also features.
Head coach Wayne Pivac has named a separate squad for each half.
The majority of his Wales internationals aren’t included - they are expected to have some gametime against Bath next Friday - although summer tourists Tom Prydie and Ryan Elias are named.
Centre Steff Hughes will skipper a youthful line-up that includes rising stars Tomi Lewis, Ioan Nicholas and Dan Davis.
Cardiff Blues fans hoping to see a glimpse of former winger Alex Cuthbert will be disappointed as the former Wales international is absent for their clash with Exeter Chiefs this weekend.
Cuthbert left the Arms Park this summer to join the Aviva Premiership side, looking to rediscover the form that saw him become a British and Irish Lion in 2013.
He injured his pectoral muscle near the end of last season and is still recovering from an operation this summer. It is understood that he is close to a return but won’t be risked this weekend.
Blues fans will, however, get a glimpse of new signing Dmitri Arhip.
Scarlets first-half squad:
Clayton Blommetjies; Tomi Lewis, Ioan Nicholas, Steff Hughes (capt), Morgan Williams; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy; Dylan Evans, Daf Hughes/Taylor Davies, Javan Sebastian/ Simon Gardiner, Tom Price, David Bulbring, Ed Kennedy, Dan Davis, Josh Macleod.
Clayton Blommetjies; Tom Prydie, Kieron Fonotia, Steff Hughes (capt), Tomi Lewis; Dan Jones, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; Phil Price, Ryan Elias, Simon Gardiner/Werner Kruger, Jake Ball, Steve Cummins, Ed Kennedy/Josh Macleod, Dan Davis / Shaun Evans, Uzair Cassiem. Replacements: Rhys Fawcett, Tom Phillips, Declan Smith, Corey Baldwin, Ryan Conbeer.
Matthew Morgan; Owen Lane, Garyn Smith, Steve Shingler, Aled Summerhill; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Rhys Gill, Kirby Myhill, Dmitri Arhip; George Earle, Rory Thornton; Josh Turnbull, Olly Robinson (C), Seb Davies. Reps: Ethan Lewis, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, James Down, Alun Lawrence, Lewis Jones, Harri Millard, Willis Halaholo, Jim Botham, Jason Harries, Tom James, Tom Williams.
Second-half squad: Cardiff Blues: