Following three warm-up friendly triumphs last month, the Welsh All Blacks have started their league campaign with a bang, beating Swansea 39-16 and then edging Carmarthen Quins 18-15. Now they put their unbeaten record on the line against one of last season’s play-off sides.
Head coach Gareth Llewellyn has made three changes to last weekend’s side with Alec Jenkins coming in on the wing, Chris Morgans taking over at scrum half and Ryan Thomas joining the front row.
“We are building momentum and integrating team patterns. RGC really showed their capabilities last year and, after losing at Llandovery on day one they beat Llanelli last week,” said coach Gareth Llewellyn.
“At this stage of our development, we are looking to add another scalp. We are setting higher standards, the supporters are enjoying the style of rugby we are playing, but we know we need to keep improving.”
Llewellyn’s opposite number, Mark Jones, was bitterly disappointed at his side’s performance at Llandovery, but enjoyed the battling spirit that saw them edge out his former club Llanelli with a last-gasp Jacob Botica penalty last weekend. It was a boost to everyone at a club that enjoyed so much success last season.
“It was good to get that first win under our belt, but we still have a lot to work on. It is a long season, so we won’t be looking too far ahead, and we must improve again if we are to get any result away at Neath,” said centre Tiaan Loots.
“The positive is that we are making chances, but we are not taking them. Looking back at the Llanelli game we showed some maturity when it went all square with five minutes to go.
“Llanelli had some momentum but we worked the ball up the pitch, and got the penalty by doing the basics right. We didn’t perform at Llandovery so, as a squad, we want to get that first away win of the season.”
Aberavon will be chasing a third successive bonus point victory when they host Carmarthen Quins, who will have Wales international Tom Prydie at full back, while Llandovery will be hoping to keep up with them by making it three from three in their derby clash at Parc y Scarlets against Llanelli.
Wales Under 20 skipper Will Jones packs down in the back row for Swansea for their home tie against Bridgend. Wales Under 18 centre Callum Carson, fresh back from the International Series in South Africa, also figures in the All Whites line-up.
Principality Premiership West
Saturday, 9 September
Aberavon v Carmarthen Quins
Llanelli v Llandovery
Neath v RGC 1404
Swansea v Bridgend
Teams
Aberavon v Carmarthen Quins
Aberavon: TBC
Carmarthen Quins: Tom Prydie; Tom Williams, Nick Reynolds, Scott Lloyd, Dylan Morgans; Jac Wilson, Aron Hemmings; Gethin Robinson, Torin Myhill, Javan Sebastian, Shaun Jones, Morgan Minchin, Rhodri Clancy, Lewys Millin, Lee Taylor (captain)
Reps: Nathan Williams, Andrew Green, Sion Colella, Luke Rogers, Daniel Jones, Jack Price, Aled Thomas
Llanelli v Llandovery
Llanelli: Kalum Evans; Ashley Evans, Ioan Nicholas , Oliver Reyland, Ryan Conbeer; Lewis Williams, Matthew Flanagan; Rhys Fawcett, Craig Thomas, Ben Leung, Chris Long, Bryce Morgan, Ellis Thomas, Nathan Hart, Tom Phillips
Reps: Taylor Davies, Rhys Thomas, Tom Kaijaks, Jack Davies, Dan Davis, Glen Williams, Billy McBryde, Ryan Davies
Llandovery: Tomi Lewis; Lee Williams, Rhodri Wall, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Lee Rees; Dylan Evans, Ricky Guest, Greg Cunliffe, Jack Jones, Joseff Powell, Lewis Jones, Stuart Worrell, Richard Brooks (captain)
Reps: Llyr Green, Berian Watkins, Emyr Price, Duane Eager, Matthew Moore, Ryan Evans, Kristian Jones, Jack Parkinson
Neath v RGC 1404
Neath: Ed Howley; Richard Smith, Keiran Williams, Matthew Pearce, Alec Jenkins; Gavin Evans, Chris Morgans; Ben Uphill, Sion Crocker, Ryan Thomas, Rhys Jones, Matthew Davies, Leon Ward, Jordan Collier (captain), Scott Hicks
Reps: Neil White, Ifan Phillips, Geraint James, Jon Barley, Elis Hopkins, Scott Gibson, Iwan Evans, James Roberts
RGC 1404: TBC
Swansea v Bridgend
Swansea: Owen Howe; Andrew Claypole, Callum Carson, John Williams, Tom Williams; James Davies;
Rhodri Wells; Tom Sloane, Tom Ball, Richard Murphy, Jon Fox (captain), Jamie Williams, Jon Vaughan, Will Jones, Morgan Morris
Reps: Ashley James, Jack Powell, Chris Thomas, Adam Thresher, Emyr Williams, Josh Guy, Philip Jones, Joe Jenkins
Bridgend: TBC
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