RUGBY UNION Scarlets and Chiefs seek first Heineken win

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Created on Friday, 07 December 2012 10:22

Last Updated on Friday, 07 December 2012 15:52

Published on Thursday, 06 December 2012 10:23

Heineken Cup rugby again takes centre stage with bumper crowds set to attend key back-to-back rounds which will go a long way to deciding which of Europe's eilte clubs will make it through to the knockout stages of the tournament.

Exeter Chiefs have lost their previous two Pool 5 matches - 9-6 away to holders Leinster and 46-12 at home to ASM Clermont Auvergne - and now face Llanelli-based Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets tomorrow (ko 1335) before next week's return leg in Devon (Sat Dec 15, Sandy Park 1540).

Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter says: "We enjoy Cup competitions and ultimately, because of the two losses, I think that we can attack a new goal which is to get a win in the Heineken Cup.

"We haven't won one yet but we have performed pretty well and now we have two opportunities to go out there, really fly and attack a win. That's going to be our goal then we can talk about a competition that we can really compete in."

Scarlets have also lost their two opening Heineken Cup ties, 49-16 at Clermont and 20-13 at home to Leinster. The hosts are set to welcome back six Wales squad members including club skipper Jonathan Davies at centre and Rhys Priestland at fly half but are without injured Wales wing George North (hip).

Exeter chief Baxter recalls forwards Simon Alcott, Hoani Tui, Damian Welch and Tom Johnson as well as backs Gonzalo Camacho and Sireli Naqelevuki.

Scarlets starting XV 15 Dan Newton 14 Liam Williams 13 Jonathan Davies (capt) 12 Scott Williams 11 Andy Fenby 10 Rhys Priestland 9 Aled Davies 1 Phil John 2 Matthew Rees 3 Samson Lee 4 George Earle 5 Richard Kelly 6 Aaron Shingler 7 Johnathan Edwards 8 Kieran Murphy

Ready on the bench 16 Ken Owens, 17 Shaun Hopkins, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Johan Synman, 20 Sione Timani, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Aled Thomas, 23 Gareth Maule

Chiefs starting XV 15 Luke Arscott 14 Gonzalo Camacho 13 Sireli Naqelevuki 12 Jason Shoemark 11 Matt Jess 10 Gareth Steenson 9 Haydn Thomas 1 Brett Sturgess 2 Simon Alcott 3 Hoani Tui 4 Tom Hayes (capt) 5 Damian Welch 6 Tom Johnson 7 James Scaysbrook 8 Richard Baxter

Ready on the bench 16 Neil Clark 17 Ben Moon 18 Carl Rimmer 19 Aly Muldowney 20 Dean Mumm 21 Kevin Barrett 22 Ignacio Mieres 23 Ian Whitten

• read Rob Baxter's pre-match thoughts in Mark Stevens' comprehensive match preview at the official Exeter Chiefs website

• this weekend's SW rugby fixtures

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