Jason Hyatt’s Wizards might not be conjuring up quite as much magic as they did in the first half of last season, having lost to Carmarthen Quins and RGC 1404 in their last two outings, but that will only served to make them even more dangerous according to Evans.
“They’ve been rotating their squad a bit, as we all have in this early part of the season, but I know they’ll want to get back on track against us. It is going to be our biggest test of the season so far,” said Evans.
“They play an open, expansive brand of rugby and score a lot of tries. I’m sure they’ll look to use all the field against us and we have to be ready for that.
“We’ve already had a few sleepless nights this week examining how they play, particularly at home, and it promises to be an exciting contest. We had a really tough test against a much improved Neath side last week and we’re expecting the same thing at Aberavon.
“The way the season is fashioned, every club is able to blood some youngsters and test out other combinations at this time of the year. It has been interesting seeing Bedwas and Cardiff doing so well in the East and we’ll have to see what happens when we all come together after Christmas.
“I’ve got an 18-year-old tight head prop on the bench, two members of the Wales U18 side from South Africa this summer. Tomi Lewis, at full back, is showing himself to be a massive talent with a Shane Williams style side step.
“It is great to see so many of the clubs giving their younger players a chance at this stage of the tournament and it will be great experience for them.”
Neath head coach Gareth Llewellyn has made two changes to the side that lost at Llandovery for the visit of Llanelli to The Gnoll. Mike Evans and Matthew Pearce return to the threequarter line, while up front back row man Leon Ward will make his 150th appearance and prop Ben Uphill is poised for his 50th off a bench that also features former Narberth prop Liam Tobias and Tata Steel flanker David Griggs.
“Although we played well for the most part at Llandovery, we have not done quite enough to win the last two games and we will need to do that little bit extra and take our chances against Llanelli who are bringing a strong team,” said Llewellyn,
Carmarthen Quins have the luxury of a second successive home game when they host Bridgend, while Swansea will be seeking to build on their win over the Ravens in their last home outing when they entertain RGC 1404.
Principality Premiership West Division – Round 5
23 September 2017
Aberavon v Llandovery
Carmarthen Quins v Bridgend
Neath v Llanelli
Swansea v RGC 1404
Teams
Aberavon v Llandovery
Aberavon: Jonathan Phillips; Chris Banfield, Rheon James, Joe Thomas, Shaun Pearce; James Garland (captain), Dai Pritchard; Rowan Jenkins, Ieuan Davies, Rhys Forse, Jon Thomas, Ben Davies, James Ratti, Craig Price, Lee Purnell (captain)
Reps: Jacob Flynn, Stuart Nicholas, Liam Popham, Jordan Walters, Mike Burgess, Ben Jones, Marc Breeze
Llandovery: Tomi Lewis; Lee Williams, Rhodri Wall, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Lee Rees; Berian Watkins, Emyr Phillips, Greg Cunniffe, Jack Jones, Lewis Rawlins, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Shaun Miles, Richard Brooks (captain)
Reps: Llyr Green, Dean Howells, Bryn Griffiths, Emyr Price, Ryan Williams, Duane Eager, Kristian Jones, Kieran Charles
Carmarthen Quins v Bridgend
Carmarthen Quins: Morgan Williams; Tom Williams, Jack Price, Josh Batcup, Morgan Griffiths; Dan Jones, Jonathan Evans; Gwethin Robinson, Torin Myhill, Steff Thomas, Rhys Minchin, Haydn Pugh (captain), Lewys Millin, Shaun Evans, Lee Taylor
Reps: Steff Phillips, Rhodri Clancy, Javan Sebastian, Sion Colella, Aron Hemmings, Steff Marshall, Dylan Morgan, Dale Ford
Bridgend: Tyler Williams; Ed Doe, Joe Gatt, Owen Watkin, Dylan Moss; Cai Evans, Connor Tantum; Rhodri Apsee, Iestyn Merriman, Cai Lewis, Jack Pope, Kieran Martin, Owain Lloyd, Zac O’Driscoll (captain), Adam O’Driscoll
Reps: Owen Thomas, Ollie Evans, Garyn Daniel, Chris John, Tom Morgan, Harri Morgan, Ryan Evans, Aaron Grabham
Neath v Llanelli
Neath: Ed Howley; Richard Smith, Keiran Williams, Matthew Pearce, Mike Evans; Gavin Evans (captain), Scott Gibson; Neil White, Ifan Phillips, Geraint James, Rhys Jones, Matthew Davies, Leon Ward, Ryan Bean, Scott Hicks
Reps: Ben Uphill, Sion Crocker, Liam Tobias, Elis Hopkins, David Griggs, Chris Morgans, Iwan Evans, Geraint Llewellyn
Llanelli: Ashley Evans; Ioan Nicholas, Oli Reyland, Billy McBryde, Ryan Conbeer; Ioan Hughes, Declan Smith; Tom Kaijaks, Taylor Davies, Simon Gardiner, Chris Long, Tom Price, Tom Phillips (captain), Dan Davis, Jack Condy
Reps: Craig Thomas, Rhys Thomas, Ben Leung, Richard Bullough, Lloyd Pike, Gareth George, Matthew Jenkins, Jake Newman
Swansea v RGC 1404
Swansea: Owen Howe; Joe Jenkins, Jedd Evans, Tom Williams, Jake Randall; Phil Jones, Matthew Aubrey; Tom Sloane (captain, Ashley James, Chris Thomas, Jay Williams, Adam Thresher, Morgan Morris , Will Jones , Rory Gallagher
Reps: Tom Ball, Richard Murphy, Hugh Gustafson, Jon Fox, Ben Davies, Josh Guy , James Davies, Callum Carson
RGC 140: Dion Jones; Afon Bagshaw, Tom Hughes, Iolo Evans, Ianto Pari; Jacob Botica, Efan Jones; Joe Simpson, Evan Yardley, Sam Wainwright, Maredydd Francis, Robin Williams, Andrew Williams, Dan Owen, Alex Taylor
Reps: George Roberts, Curtis Reynolds, Jordan Scott, Tim Grey, Bryn Edwards, Cam Davies, Danny Cross, Rhys Williams
