Scarlets have named Johnny McNicholl at full-back for the huge EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final against Glasgow Warriors in Llanelli on Saturday (5.30pm), with no place in the matchday squad for the departing Leigh Halfpenny.
It means Halfpenny, named last week among 15 Scarlets end–of-season leavers, has played his final home game for the west Walians at Parc y Scarlets.
Hugely popular in the region, the veteran will watch on as the Scarlets head into their first European last-four clash on home soil, with a crowd of around 13,000 expected.
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The hosts have four Test men coming back in the shape of McNicholl, Gareth Davies, Wyn Jones and Sam Lousi, an injection of quality they will need against opponents who'll arrive in Wales with momentum, having banked six straight wins.
McNicholl will add adventure from the back, while the in-form Davies is the choice at scrum-half and Wyn Jones takes over the No. 1 jersey, with Lousi back at lock.
The quartet should lift Dwayne Peel’s side after their Judgement Day misadventure against the Dragons.
After sitting out the last two games, Lousi — one of Welsh rugby’s players of the season — figures at the heart of the pack alongside Morgan Jones.
There is a reshuffle in the back row. Josh Macleod leads the side from blindside, Vaea Fifita is handed the No, 8 jersey for the first time this season, while Dan Davis makes his return from injury at openside.
Aaron Shingler hasn’t recovered from a back issue, so Iestyn Rees is named among the replacements.
Rhys Patchell, another who is leaving the Scarlets at the end of the season, misses out on selection, while Scotland international Javan Sebastian packs down alongside Ken Owens and Wyn Jones in the front row.
For Glasgow, Argentinian wing Sebastian Cancelliere comes back after injury. Their starting side is powerful, with a strong-looking bench as well, but the Scarlets have been the Sharks, Brive and Clermont Auvergne at home this season and so will have no fears about taking on anyone in their Llanelli stronghold.
Head coach Peel said: “You have to be bold and go and win the game in semi-finals, not sit on leads. We have to try and go and play and that's what I will try and encourage the players to do. I am sure it will be a great occasion with a good crowd, so it will be fantastic for them."
Scarlets: 15 Johnny McNicholl; 14 Steff Evans, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ryan Conbeer; 10 Sam Costelow 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Javan Sebastian, 4 Morgan Jones, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Josh Macleod (capt), 7 Dan Davis, 8 Vaea Fifita.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 20 Iestyn Rees, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Ioan Nicholas.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith; 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Kyle Steyn; 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne; 1 Jamie Bhatti, 2 George Turner 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Scott Cummings, 5 Richie Gray, 6 Rory Darge, 7 Sione Vailanu, 8 Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Simon Berghan, JP du Preez, 20 Lewis Bean, 21 Matt Fagerson 22 Ali Price, 23 Duncan Weir.
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