Return to Scarlets

Scarlets vs Saracens, Anglo Welsh Cup, Friday 27 January, Parc Y Scarlets.  Less than two weeks after that dramatic Champions Cup draw, Anglo Welsh Cup holders Saracens return to Carmarthenshire for the third of four pool games, with the visitors currently in second spot of Pool 1, one point behind Northampton Saints, who travel to Leicester and host Scarlets in their two remaining games. Only the top side from each of the four pools goes through to the semi-finals in March, just a week before the final at The Stoop on Sunday 19 March.

Looking elsewhere, the four sides in Pool 2 are separated by just two points, as Ospreys head a group also featuring Exeter Chiefs, Worcester Warriors and Sale Sharks, whilst Pool 3 sees Harlequins enjoy a two point lead over Wasps, with Bristol just behind, but Cardiff Blues taking just one point from their two games so far, and Pool 4 completes the picture with Leicester, visitors to Allianz Park a week on Sunday, three points ahead of Gloucester, and a further point in front of Scarlets, whilst Newcastle have failed to take a point yet.

Both sides are likely to field radically different sides to those on show in the round 5 European clash in the spirit of this being a development tournament, which saw Maro Itoje come to prominence at the start of his meteoric rise. Specifically, from a Saracens' perspective, intelligent use of the competition has been an integral part in an effective pathway into the European and Aviva Premiership sides, not only for Itoje, but players such as Ben Spencer (remember his heroics in the final in 2015?).

That said, it has still fallen in profile since losing the Twickenham final, and perhaps the development ethos could be taken a step further, in terms of imaginatively driving engagement with the game. Scarlets' neighbours Ospreys have generally taken their pool clashes out of the Liberty Stadium, with a nostalgic return to Swansea's St Helens for their defeat to Harlequins, and due to face Bristol at Bridgend. Their Welsh colleagues have opted to stay with their home grounds, despite occasionally moving away for friendlies, and taking the British & Irish second tier competition to a range of "traditional" Welsh club grounds such as Aberavon, Bedwas, Carmarthen, Cross Keys, Llandovery, Maesteg, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath, Pontypridd and Ystrad Mynach. Saracens once moved an LV Cup match to Bedford just before the Allianz Park move, more out of necessity.

Back on the pitch, and the opening Anglo Welsh game for Scarlets saw probably one of the best displays in this year's competition as a strong Bath side were seen off 44-21 in West Wales, which brought a stunning second half recovery from being 21-9 at the break. Josh Macleod scored the first of five tries, followed by Tom Phillips, two for Emyr Phillips and a closing score for Jack Condy as their forward power and depletion of the visitors created an impressive success. It was something of an anti-climax when they lost their second game 36-21 at Newport Gwent Dragons. The line up for Friday is likely to be similar to that in the Bath success, so Tom Williams at full back, with a wing duo of Richard Smith and Ryan Conbeer, outside Iaon Nicholas and Gareth Owen in the centre, and a half back combination of fly half Dan Jones and scrum half Aled Davies. Forwards-wise, Dylan Evans, Emyr Phillips and Peter Edwards formed the front row, with Tadhg Beirne and Rynier Bernardo in the second row and a back row comprised of Condy, Macleod and Morgan Allen.

For Saracens, a similar line up to that deployed in last week's 47-31 friendly Storm win against Munster "A" would seem likely with some powerful carries allied to some slick attacking establishing a 40-7 lead at one point. A possible line up has Andrew Fenby at full back, with Mike Ellery and Nathan Earle on the wings outside a centre duo of Matt Gallagher and Tom Griffiths, with Tom Whiteley and Neil de Kock in the half backs. Forwards-wise, Hayden Thompson, Jared Saunders and Vincent Koch are a possible front row, with Mark Flanagan and Nick Isiekwe in the second row, and a back row comprised of Joel Conlon, Kelly Brown and Samuel Vunisa.