Marmion joins Connacht’s 200 club as province clashes with depleted Scarlets

Scarlets v Connacht
Parc y Scarlets 7.35pm (Live TG4, Premier Sports)

A recharged Connacht travel to Parc y Scarlets with hopes of pushing up the table towards middle ground, having returned to training last week after a short break.

Scarlets, who have completed just seven matches to Connacht’s 10, are three places below and in more desperate need of something positive with just three wins this season.

Ireland scrumhalf Kieran Marmion, on his way to becoming just the fifth Connacht player to make it to 200 caps, joins John Muldoon, Michael Swift, Denis Buckley and Tiernan O'Halloran, all members of the Connacht 200 club.

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Head coach Andy Friend makes six changes from the side that lined out against Ulster two weeks ago, with international players Jack Carty and Dave Heffernan returning from Ireland camp to take their place in the side.

It is a good time for Connacht to make the trip with Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel without 19 players. He has 13 on the injury list and six remain away with Wales. Peel makes three personnel changes from the side who faced Ulster, with Aaron Shingler returning in the back row ahead of Carwyn Tuipulotu, who drops to the bench. Tom Rogers features on the right wing having recovered from a nasty head knock sustained against Ulster in Belfast.

Scarlets: I Nicholas; T Rogers, J Williams, S Williams (c), R Conbeer; D Jones, D Blacker; S Thomas, D Hughes, S Lee, S Lousi, M Jones, A Shingler, S Evans, S Kalamafoni. Replacements - M Jones, P Price, J Sebastian, J Price, C Tuipulotu, K Hardy, R Patchell, J Roberts.

Connacht: T O'Halloran; P Sullivan, S Arnold, Tom Daly, J Porch; J Carty (capt), K Marmion; J Duggan, D Heffernan, T Tuimauga, N Murray, L Fifita; C Prendergast, J Butler, Boyle. Replacements - S Delahunt, G McGrath, J Aungier, E Masterson, A Papali'i, C Blade, C Fitzgerald, T Farrell.

Referee: M Adamson (SRU)

Verdict: Connacht