They lead the table with a perfect 20 points and the Welsh regions need to pick up some wins against the top three Irish teams to try to move up into the top two places to try to make this season’s final. At present it is Leinster, Ulster and Connacht that lead the way.
The Ospreys kicked off their campaign with a creditable draw in Munster and were big winners over Cardiff Blues A last weekend with a 29-5 triumph. Now comes the acid test against a Leinster side that has already accounted for Cardiff Blues A 47-28 and the Scartlets A 50-12, scoring 15 tries in the process.
Scarlets A were runners-up last season after winning the Welsh Conference. They head to Connacht looking to make it three wins in a row after back-to-back wins over the Ospreys (55-14) and Dragons (40-35), racking up 14 tries in the process.
Head coach Richard Kelly has once again made wholesale changes from the side that won at Rodney Parade last weekend. Shaun Evans and Javan Sebastian return to the front row, while Chris Long and Lewis Ellis-Jones form a new second-row partnership.
Behind the scrum, outside half Ioan Hughes and centre Osian Knott are the lone survivors from the backline.
“There were lots of positives to take out of the Dragons game. We scored some great tries and were also put under a lot of stress at times, but the boys stuck in there and came through with the win,” said Kelly.
“Connacht will be another tough test for a young side, but we will be going there with a really positive mindset.”
Dragons skipper Ben Roach has seen his side beat Munster A, but lose by one score to Connacht and the Scarlets. They meet second placed Ulster A at Ystrad Mynach on Saturday (3.00pm)
“The result against the Scarlets wasn’t what we wanted, but I thought the intent to play a fast and attacking game was definitely there and the intensity was good. We have just come out the wrong side of a few results and there are things to learn.”
Cardiff Blues A make three changes for their trip to Cork to meet Munster A as they look to bounce back from their defeat against the Ospreys. Ben Murphy comes into the second row to join skipper Macauley Cook, Alun Lawrence takes over at No 8, Ioan Davies returns at full back and Wales U18 loose head prop Theo Bevacqua retains his place in the front row.
“Munster is always a tough place to go, and we’re expecting another big challenge in Cork, with a typically strong pack and set piece game, which means we’ll have to be on the money in that area,” said Blues A head coach Gethin Jenkins.
TEAMS
Scarlets A: Kallum Evans; Tomi Lewis, Ryan Davies, Osian Knott, Harry Doel; Ioan Hughes, Daf Land; Dylan Evans, Shaun Evans, Javan Sebastian, Chris Long, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Gethin Davies, Jac Morgan (captain), Lewys Millin
Reps: Dom Booth, Steff Thomas, Alex Jeffries, Jac Price, Aron Hemmings, Luke Treharne
Ospreys Development XV: Phil Jones; Ben Cambriani, Tom Williams, Kieran Williams, Dewi Cross; Josh Thomas, Connor Tantum; Rhys Davies, Garin Lloyd, Rhys Henry, Matthew Dodd, Jay Williams (captain), Morgan Morris, Will Jones, Guido Volpi
Reps: Josh Moore, Rhys Forse, Ben Warren, Joe Grabham, Travis Huntley, Liam Seaward, Callum Carson, George Gasson
Cardiff Blues A: Ioan Davies; Alex Varney, Dafydd Smith, Josh Male, Mason Grady; Rhys Davies, Ethan Lloyd; Theo Bevacqua, Ethan Lewis, Will Davies King, Ben Murphy, Macauley Cook (captain), Tim Grey, Jim Botham, Alun Lawrence
Reps: Cameron Lewis, Rob Lewis, Ben Warren, Teddy Williams, Aled Ward, Zak Bartlett, Jacob Beetham, Dylan Williams
Dragons XV: Will Talbot-Davies, Rio Dyer, Connor Edwards, Aneurin Owen, Joe Goodchild, Arwel Robson, Dafydd Buckland; Jack Cosgrove, Ellis Shipp, Chris Coleman, Ed Scragg, Max Williams, Ben Fry, Ben Roach (captain), Taine Basham
Replacements: Will Griffiths, Josh Reynolds, Luke Yendle, Ben Carter, Garin Price, Dan Babos, Jacob Botica, Carwyn Penny
