Captain Scarlet Returns For Ponty Dress Rehearsal

Scott Quinnell returns for Llanelli on Tuesday night to face Pontypridd at Stradey Park (Kick-off 7.15pm), in the dress rehearsal match for the Principality Cup Final.
The Scarlets and Wales captain has recovered from the knee problems which sidelined him for the last two weeks, in time for the Welsh/Scottish League fixture.
Quinnell missed Wales’ international defeat to Scotland in the final match of the Six Nations and could only watch as Llanelli booked their place in the Principality Cup Final, with a win over Ebbw Vale at Millennium Stadium last weekend.
His return is a welcome boost to the Scarlets as they build towards a
Heineken Cup semi-final against Leicester on 28 April, stay in the hunt for the domestic league title and prepare for the Cup final against Ponty.
“Scott is a massive influence on us, just as any captain is at any club,” said Llanelli team manager Anthony Buchanan.
“We are at that time of the season where it is vital we win every match
and we need everybody fit and at the top of their game. “We have won nothing yet and we must maintain our momentum on all frontsif we are going to give ourselves a chance to meet our own expectations in these games.
“Pontypridd are coming here off the back of a great victory over Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium and they have their own European semi-final as well as the Principality Cup Final to look forward to.
“They will be setting their standards just as highly as us, so we need to keep our feet firmly on the ground and just get through this week and see where it leaves us.”
Llanelli have made ten changes, three positional, to the side that beat Ebbw Vale on Saturday due to squad rotation, but they still field a formidable side on paper.
Last season’s U21 captain Tal Selly comes in for Leigh Davies to partner Stephen Jones who switches to the centre. Jones’ position at fly-half is taken by Gareth Bowen and Salesi Finau moves from centre to wing, in place of Mark Jones who switches wings himself for the injured Wayne Proctor.
Guy Easterby starts at scrum-half in favour of Dwayne Peel and Phil Booth and Marcus Thomas come in for Martyn Madden and Robin McBryde in a double change to the front row. Chris Wyatt starts in the second row in place of Vernon Cooper and Quinnell returns to the back row at the expense of David Hodges.
Llanelli: Garan Evans; Mark Jones, Tal Selley, Stephen Jones, Salesi
Finau; Gareth Bowen, Guy Easterby; Phil Booth, Marcus Thomas, John Davies, Luke Gross, Chris Wyatt, Simon Easterby, Ian Boobyer, Scott Quinnell (Captain)
Replacements: Martyn Madden, Robin McBryde, Vernon Cooper, Dafydd Jones, Dwayne Peel, Leigh Davies, Barry Davies.