Corey Baldwin plays his first competitive game since returning from English rugby when the Scarlets face the star-studded Sharks in Friday’s United Rugby Championship clash in Durban (5.10pm UK time).
The encounter sees the west Walians create history as the first northern hemisphere team to play in South Africa in the new championship.
Sharks field a powerful side that includes Springboks World Cup captain Siya Kolisi and an all-international front row made up of Ox Niche, Bongi Mbonambi and Thomas du Toit.
There’s also electric pace behind in the shape of back-three men Aphelele Fassi, Sbu Nkosi and Makazole Mapimpi, all of whom are Test players.
As well as the fit-again Baldwin coming in on the wing for his first league start since returning from Exeter Chiefs, with Ryan Conbeer sidelined by injury, the Scarlets change at half-back with Sam Costelow taking over from Rhys Patchell, who picked up a bump against Glasgow Warriors, and Dan Blacker replacing Gareth Davies, who has been recalled to the Wales camp.
The Llanelli-based region also hand starts to young guns Tom Rogers, Steff Thomas, Daf Hughes, Jac Price and Dan Davies, with Kemsley Mathias, Harri O’Connor, 19-year-old Archie Hughes, Joe Roberts and Carwyn Tuipulotu on the bench. Potentially, 20-year-old Tuipulotu could directly oppose Kolisi at some point in the game.
Alongside the youth, Peel will look to Scott Williams, Johnny Williams, Samson Lee, Sam Lousi, Blade Thomson and Sione Kalamafoni to provide experience, with the message from the head coach Dwayne Peel to his L-platers being to embrace the occasion.
“Coming to South Africa to play a team who are as star-studded as the Sharks will be an experience that’s right up there for our younger players.," said Peel.
“It’s a big challenge, but we’re all looking forward to it.
“The Sharks have a lot of Springbok internationals and physicality is something that’s taken for granted here. If you don’t turn up with good physicality you’ll be in trouble.
“Sharks also have pace out wide in abundance, with their back-three players able to hurt you with their speed.
"The starting point for us is to match their physicality, then we have to limit opportunities for their outside backs because they are world stars who are dangerous.
“So we have to be clinical, disciplined and take our opportunities when they come.”
The likes of Kolisi, Mbonambi, Mapimpi and Niche featuring in the United Rugby Championship can only be a plus for the tournament, according to Peel.
“It’s great for the competition moving forward,” he said.
“The introduction of the four sides at the start of the year brought excitement, but Covid and so forth has been a bit of an issue. Now we’re able to talk about the rugby and play these sides.
“Like anyone else, we’ve grown up watching Super Rugby from years ago and you see the names that are synonymous with that competition. So it’s huge for the Scarlets to come out here to play the Sharks. It’s a great opportunity.”
It will be another chance, too, for Scott Williams to remind Wales of his talents.
The Scarlets’ captain this weekend has been to the fore for the region since returning from the Ospreys, hitting a high level in almost every game. His form has led to suggestions he should be in the Wales set-up, and Peel believes if he maintains his performance level he could feature in Wayne Pivac’s plans heading towards next year’s World Cup.
“I’d say he’s in their thoughts at least,” he said.
“All he can do is let his form do the talking.
“He leads from the front and has been good for us on and off the field.
“I’m a fan of his.
“He has to be in the thoughts somewhere.”
The Scarlets coach said there was no obvious sign of the likes of injured internationals Ken Owens and Leigh Halfpenny making a return to playing action soon.
“It’s a long process for those guys,” he added.
“They are not imminently coming back.”
Asked if Halfpenny would feature at all this season after his long-term knee injury, Peel said: “I’m not sure. If he does it’ll be right at the very end.”
Sharks : 15 Aphelele Fassi; 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi; 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse; 1 Ox Niche, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Reniel Hugo, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt), 7 Henco Venter, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Tito Bonilla, 23 Werner Kok.
Scarlets : 15 Tom Rogers; 14 Steff Evans, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Scott Williams (capt), 11 Corey Baldwin; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Steff Thomas, 2 Daf Hughes, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Jac Price, 6 Blade Thomson, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Sione Kalamafoni.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Aaron Shingler, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Joe Roberts.
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