Magners League Official Website : Front row problems for the Scarlets

Front row problems for the Scarlets

1 September 2005, 4:00 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

With British Lions hooker Robin McBryde having announced his retirement from the game earlier this week, Welsh International hooker Matthew Rees’ likely absence for a further three weeks with a knee problem and Aled Gravelle having surgery to remove an abscess Llanelli Scarlets boss Gareth jenkins has not had his troubles to find when selecting a side to face Edinburgh on Friday night.

Further pressure comes over the uncertainty of  John Davies following a lucky escape from a car crash last week.“Unfortunately these things happen” says Jenkins. “These are these are things that you don’t account for – let’s just hope we can get rid of this chalice we carried around last year of having an injury-ridden season and there aren’t too many other injuries like these out there”.

However the Scarlets have had some good news with the return of Dafydd Jones to the team. “Dafydd is raring to go. It is good to news for him and us as he missed much of last season through injury. It is an exciting back row with Alix Popham coming in. He is a rounded player now with plenty of experience, and with Gavin Thomas there as well I like the look of that trio, it has got great balance”, said Jenkins on the club's website

Scarlets Team:
15. Barry Davies; 14. Dafydd James; 13. Matthew J Watkins; 12. Regan King; 11. Tal Selley; 10. Mike Hercus; 9. Clive Stuart-Smith; 1. Iestyn Thomas; 2. AN Other; 3. AN Other; 4.   Vernon Cooper; 5. Hottie Louw; 6. Dafydd   Jones; 7. Gavin Thomas; 8. Alix Popham
Replacements
16. AN Other; 17 AN Other; 18. Adam   Jones; 19. Gavin Quinnell; 20. Liam Davies; 21. Gareth Bowen; 22. Lee Byrne