Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac knows his side face an acid test first up in their Guinness PRO12 opener against Munster on Saturday. Pivac’s side have lost their last two matches at the venue, to Cardiff Blues and Glasgow Warriors but have never lost three in a row at home in the Guuinness PRO12 since moving to their new stadium in 2008. But Pivac has named a strong side packed full of 11 internationals as they bid to kick off the new campaign in style. “It’s been nice to have an edge in training. Munster bring a lot of physicality, we played them in the last game of the season last year, it’s fresh in our minds and they will attack us around the fringes,” he said. “We know a lot about them, they’re a strong and proud side with a lot of history like we are. It’s going to be a tough game, as the home games against them have been in the last few seasons.” Captain Ken Owens will lead the side to the field at Parc y Scarlets in what promises to be a thrilling opening encounter; Dylan Evans and South African international Werner Kruger join him in the front row. The second row pairing sees Lewis Rawlins link up with Wales international Jake Ball who makes his first appearance of the season whilst Aaron Shingler and John Barclay are joined in the back row by 19-year-old Josh MacLeod. The stellar backline sees the return of Liam Williams and Scott Williams, who were both absent for the majority of the 2015-16 campaign, and they’re joined by Rugby World Cup star DTH van der Merwe also making a return from injury as well as newcomer Rhys Patchell. Munster’s only defeat in round 1 since 2009 was by a single point to Edinburgh in Limerick in 2014 but they have not won in Wales since visiting Ospreys in round 2 last season. New director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has named his first Guinness PRO12 matchday squad making just one change from the starting XV that defeated Worcester Warriors last Friday with Dave Foley coming into the second row. Academy centre Dan Goggin retains the number 13 jersey and will make his first competitive start tomorrow. Returning internationals Dave Kilcoyne and Donnacha Ryan could see some game time this weekend after being named on a bench that sees academy prop Brian Scott and second row Jean Kleyn included in a Guinness PRO12 matchday squad for the first time. James Cronin, Niall Scannell and John Ryan make up the front row with Foley coming in to partner captain Billy Holland in the second row. It’s as you were in the back row with Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell and Jack O’Donoghue all remaining in situ. Duncan Williams starts at scrum-half and joins Tyler Bleyendaal in the half-backs. The New Zealander will make his first Guinness PRO12 appearance since December. Goggin will be well-acquainted with his midfield partner Rory Scannell, while Ronan O’Mahony, Darren Sweetnam and full-back Simon Zebo again make up the back three. At Parc y Scarlets, 3.00pm. Live on Sky Sports Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU, 11th competition game) Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (SRU), Wayne Davies (WRU) Citing Commissioner: Ray Wilton (WRU) TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)
