Patchell has joined the Scarlets from Cardiff Blues for the new season and figured in two of Wales’ three tests against the world champion All Blacks in New Zealand during the summer at full back after being called up as a replacement.
Head coach Wayne Pivac has also picked two other new recruits, lock Rynier Bernardo and scrum half Jonathan Evans to face last season’s English Premiership finalists and will also have Aaron Shingler back in action for the first time in February after recovering from concussion.
“The new boys have all fitted in well and the work that everyone has put in has been very pleasing. We want to have a slight change in style this year and move a little bit more ball,” said Pivac.
“It will be a good opportunity this weekend to see the new boys and young fellas get an opportunity and slot the more experienced, international boys in a week later. We want to get competition for positions across the park.
“Rhys brings a lot of speed to the position and his positional play, in terms of taking ball to the line, means he’s a genuine threat. At training he’s directing the troops around the field and he’s a good communicator.”
Pivac is also looking forward to seeing some of the region’s young, home grown talent make their debuts. Ioan Nicholas appears on the wing with Steff Evans and Steff Hughes appears at centre alongside Hadleigh Parkes.
“There are a lot of players we’ll have a look at this weekend because they’ve trained well. Ioan Nicholas is looking very good at training, Declan Smith at half-back is fitting in well as are the three young hookers – they’re all impressing at training. Steff Hughes is also training very well and looking very good,” said Pivac.
Scarlets: Aled Thomas; Ioan Nicholas, Steff Hughes, Hadleigh Parkes (captain), Steff Evans; Rhys Patchell, Jonathan Evans; Dylan Evans, Ryan Elias, Peter Edwards, Rynier Bernardo, Tom Price, Aaron Shingler, Will Boyde, Morgan Allen
Replacements: Wyn Jones, Taylor Davies, Dafydd Hughes, Werner Kruger, Will Taylor, David Bulbring, Tadhg Beirne, Lewis Rawlins, Josh Macleod, Tom Phillips, Declan Smith, Dan Jones, Richard Smith, Matthew Owen
