Match Preview: Scarlets

• 19 Apr 2024
• Previews

Get set for Saturday night's Scarlets showdown at Hive Stadium with our Match Preview!

GET TICKETS

Tickets can be purchased right up until kick-off HERE. Gates open at 6pm ahead of a 7.35pm kick-off at Hive Stadium.

WHAT’S ON

We’ve got plenty on the go at Hive Stadium as we celebrate Family Fest!

With live music, face painting and fun and games in the Fan Zone, you wont be short of entertainment ahead of kick-off.

Find out more in our What’s on Guide.

TEAM NEWS

Edinburgh Rugby make seven changes for Saturday night’s BKT United Rugby Championship encounter with Scarlets at Hive Stadium.

Five of those alterations come in the pack as hooker Dave Cherry packs down alongside props Boan Venter and Javan Sebastian in an all-new front-row.

Lock Jamie Hodgson and flanker Luke Crosbie both start in the back-five with Sam Skinner and Hamish Watson rested.

In the backs, Scotland and British & Irish Lions nine Ali Price – who extended terms with the club earlier this week – takes the place of Ben Vellacott at scrum-half, with the latter named among the replacements.

Elsewhere Matt Currie shifts from centre to wing with Jake Henry out injured (hamstring). James Lang is subsequently handed the start in the capital midfield.

Read more HERE.

WHAT’S BEEN SAID

Head Coach Sean Everitt said: “It’s brilliant to be back home at Hive Stadium with so much travel to South Africa in recent weeks. The boys can’t wait to run out in front of our supporters – there has definitely been a buzz and energy about the squad this week.

“We’ve made a number of changes to freshen things up. Luke [Crosbie] and Jamie [Hodgson] have both impressed from the bench in recent weeks and deserve their starts, while it also gives us the chance to rest a few guys who’ve carried the load for us in recent games.

“We know Scarlets are a dangerous team having faced them in Europe earlier this season. We’ve got to be ready from the get-go. There is no easy game in the URC and this team will be ready for a proper 80-minute battle tomorrow night.”

THE STORY SO FAR

Edinburgh Rugby return to BKT United Rugby Championship action after a tricky period which has seen the capital club travel back and forth to South Africa twice, after drawing the Sharks in the EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals.

With five games to go, every point is crucial in the race for the top eight, starting with Scarlets this Saturday night.

Edinburgh Rugby haven’t hosted Scarlets since the opening game of the 2021/22 season – the first-ever game at Hive Stadium – but faced the Welsh region in the group stages of the EPCR Challenge Cup where they ran out comfortable 13-31 winners on the night.

LAST TIME OUT AT HIVE STADIUM

Edinburgh took on Scarlets in September 2021 where they ran out 26-22 winners in an entertaining contest at Hive Stadium – highlights below:

DID YOU KNOW