Well beaten, 45-3, at Exeter Chiefs last weekend, the top placed Welsh region in the Guinness PRO12 last season will have Welsh international Scott Williams back in action this weekend ready to link-up once again with his old midfield sparring partner Jonathan Davies.
Davies has returned to his former club from France, where he reached a Champions Cup final with ASM Clermont Auvergne, and will play at Colwyn Bay according to head coach Wayne Pivac. Ken Owens, Jake Ball, John Barclay, Gareth Davies, Aled Davies and Liam Williams will also play some part in the game.
Williams only managed one game for the Scarlets last season after suffering a knee injury in the Rugby World Cup campaign and can’t wait to get back into regional action. The Scarlets kick-off their season with a home game in the PRO12 against Munster on 3 September.
“It was a disappointing season for me last year and I’m looking forward to getting more game time now and to starting the season. It’s great to have a player like Jonathan coming back and he’s enjoying it back here too,” said Williams.
“It’s only our second week in but we’ve been straight back in the mix. Competition in our positions is what we want -it keeps you on your toes and brings out the best in you.”
The return to Davies, along with the recruitment of fellow Welsh international Rhys Patchell, should enable Pivac to field one of the most potent attacking back lines in the PRO12 this season and Williams is certainly excited at the potential. He also realises it is vital that a Welsh side reaches the play-offs this season
“That is massively important and it’s one of our goals. We were really disappointed last season not to be in the top four because we’d been in such a good position all season and slipped off towards the end,” said Williams.
“Every game is massive. There were a couple of matches last season that we should have won and they came back to haunt us at the end of the season – we have to make sure every point counts.”
The Scarlets will be conducting an open training session at Parc Eirias on Friday, 19 August from 4.30pm. Tickets for the game the following day are available from http://venuecymru.co.uk
