AFEAKI HANDED SCARLETS ARMBAND

Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions Published 3:39 pm 9th Sep 2005 News

The match north of the border will see the Tongan second-row start for the first time in the Celtic League, replacing Vernon Cooper who led the Welsh region in their defeat to Edinburgh Gunners in the season’s opener. Afeaki is joined in a new-look second row by Adam Jones who comes in for South African Hottie Louw, who along with Cooper has been axed from the squad following the 21-15 reverse to the Scottish side.

Changes have also been rung in the three-quarters where Matthew Watkins moves to the bench to make way for Aisea Havili. The Tongan international starts on the left wing, with former British Lion Dafydd James moving to outside centre and Tal Selley switching from the left to the right flank.

A finger injury to Wales flanker Dafydd Jones in the Edinburgh defeat forces Jenkins into a third change in the forwards with Jonathan Mills joining Gavin Thomas and Alix Popham in the back row. Former Bath man Mills will be hoping to impress with Jones likely to be out for up to three months following surgery leaving the number six jersey up for grabs.

Dave Duley and Chris McDonald are given places on the bench as the 2003 Celtic champions seek an immediate return to form.

Scarlets:
B Davies
T Selley
D James
R King
A Havili
M Hercus
C Stuart-Smith
I Thomas
C Hawkins
J Davies
I Afeaki
A Jones
J Mills
G Thomas
A Popham

Replacements:
D Williams
A Yelland
D Duley
G Quinnell
C McDonald
G Bowen
M Watkins

Border Reivers:
S Moffat
G Law
B MacDougall
C Hore
S Danielli
G Townsend
C Cusiter
P Thomson (capt)
R Ford
B Douglas
O Palepoi
C Stewart
S Gray
K Brown
W McEntee