One unenviable record is set to go as Scarlets welcome Leinster for their RaboDirect PRO12 opener at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday. The Welsh side have not beaten Leinster in their last seven attempts, last season’s 15-10 loss in the same fixture last season proving to be their only home defeat in the RaboDirect PRO12. Leinster on the other hand, have won their opening game of the season just once in the last eight seasons, and go into the game having lost to Welsh opposition on the opening day last season, a thumping 27-3 defeat to eventual champions the Ospreys. And Scarlets backs coach Mark Jones revealed that the intensity of training ahead of the opener has made it clear that the Scarlets are ready to end that run against the European champions. He said: “The guys are smashing each other in training with a bit of vigour. “So when that happens you know it's time to start smashing someone else. “I think they're ready for a competitive game, there's no doubt about that. “There's no better game to focus the mind than the European champions coming to your home crowd. “They're a top outfit. They're the sort of side everyone's trying to emulate, in terms of how they're trying to structure their rugby on the field and off it. “They're very professional and there's no doubt Joe Schmidt has a very well-oiled machine there. “It's going to be a tough, tough match but hopefully it will be a match-up which throws up some attractive rugby and, fingers crossed, we'll come out on top.” The Scarlets are able to call on Wales internationals Liam Williams, George North and Scott Williams in their starting XV, while Welsh team-mates Matthew Rees, Rhys Priestland and Jonathan Davies are named on a strong-looking bench. Aaron Shingler returns to the back row alongside Josh Turnbull and new skipper Rob McCusker at No.8, with new South African signing George Earle and former Osprey Richard Kelly in the second row. For Leinster Ian Madigan will make his 50th appearance alongside Isaac Boss at half-back, the latter handing the captaincy over from pre-season to Shane Jennings. The Leinster midfield will see Noel Reid continue his fledgling partnership with Brendan Macken while the replacements bench includes six products from the academy, with Tom Denton set to make his competitive debut if called upon. Regular Leinster skipper Leo Cullen is missing and admits his side are still playing catch-up as they head into the season without their Irish internationals. While the likes of Cullen, Brian O’Driscoll and Rob Kearney are being rested following the summer tour to New Zealand, Leinster face a tough task against the Scarlets. And he is wary of the threat posed by a Scarlets team itching to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish where they missed out on the play-offs by just three points. Cullen said: “There are points up for grabs every week now and we have a very tough start in Llanelli and they are probably a couple of weeks ahead of us at the moment with the players they have available. “A lot of their Welsh guys are already back and have played games. So it’s a challenge but we’ve got to get on with where we are. We aren’t a team that looks too far down the track. “This weekend is the be all and end all for us at the moment.” Parc y Scarlets, 6.30pm. Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 41st competition game) Assistant Referees: Tim Hayes, Martyn Lewis (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Geraint Edwards (WRU) TMO: Nigel Whitehouse (WRU) Live on S4C and TG4
