Match Preview: Scarlets
17 Feb 2023Get all of the latest stats and info ahead of our crucial United Rugby Championship clash against Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets (Sat 18 February, 5.15pm - live on ViaPlay Sports)
Team news
Match officials
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 31st competition game)
Assistant: Jason Bessant, Simon Mills (both WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Recent URC Meetings
| Date | Venue | S | E | Scarlets scorers | Edinburgh scorers |
| Sat 26 Oct 19 | BT Murrayfield | 7 | 46 | Marc Jones(T) Dan Jones(C) | Mike Willemse(2T) Duhan van der Merwe(3T) Jaco van der Walt(C) Mark Bennett(T) Simon Hickey(3C/P) Eroni Sau(T) |
| Sat 15 Feb 20 | Parc y Scarlets | 9 | 14 | Dan Jones(3P) | Duhan van der Merwe(T) Jaco van der Walt(2C) Matt Scott(T) |
| Sun 1 Nov 20 | Parc y Scarlets | 3 | 6 | Angus O’Brien(P) | Jaco van der Walt(2P) |
| Sat 27 Feb 21 | BT Murrayfield | 27 | 25 | Johnny McNicholl(T) Tyler Morgan(T) Dane Blacker(T) Dan Jones(3C/2P) | Jaco van der Walt(2C/2P) Dave Cherry(T) Magnus Bradbury(T) Darcy Graham(T) |
| Sun 13 Jun 21 | Parc y Scarlets (RC) | 28 | 28 | Tom Rogers(T) Sam Costelow(2C) Kieran Hardy(2T) Dan Jones(2C) Dafydd Hughes(T) | Nathan Chamberlain(2C) Boan Venter(T) Marshall Sykes(T) Jack Blain(T) Jamie Ritchie(T) Blair Kinghorn(2C) |
| Sat 25 Sep 21 | DAM Health Stadium | 22 | 26 | Johnny McNicholl(T) Steff Evans(T) Sam Costelow(C) Kieran Hardy(T) Dan Jones(C/P) | Mark Bennett(T) Blair Kinghorn(T/3C) Darcy Graham(2T) |
Overall URC head-to-head record:
Played 38, Scarlets won 15, Edinburgh won 21, with 2 matches drawn.
Thoughts from Mike Blair
“We’re ninth at the moment, two points off eighth and three points off seventh. These games are really important.
“I spoke to the group about our away wins against Zebre and Cardiff when we had similar squads with guys away for November and how we attacked those games away from home and in adversity.
“We stepped up and took the opposition on in those games and we believe we have to do the same thing against Scarlets.
“Scarlets have got some confidence in their game at the moment. We need to be able to put them under pressure and also take our opportunities.”
Did you know?
- Scarlets only defeat in any competition since early December was 14-34 at Ospreys in the BKT United Rugby Championship on Boxing Day.
- Scarlets have won three of their last four home games in the Championship.
- Scarlets last three fixtures against Scottish opponents have been evenly split with a win, a draw, and a defeat.
- Edinburgh Rugby have won only one of their last six BKT United Rugby Championship fixtures: 24-17 at home to Zebre on 7 January.
- Edinburgh’s most recent away win in the United Rugby Championship was on a trip to Cardiff at the end of October.
- Edinburgh’s only defeat to a Welsh region since March 2021 was 19-23 to Ospreys in Swansea in January 2022.
- Edinburgh have lost just one of their last nine matches against Scarlets: 25-27 at BT Murrayfield in February 2021.
- Edinburgh are unbeaten in their last four visits to Parc y Scarlets including a 28-all draw on their last trip in the Rainbow Cup in June 2021.
| COMPARISON | Scarlets | Edinburgh |
| Last 3 URC results: | 1 Jan – Dragons (H) W 33-17 | 30 Dec – Glasgow (H) L 25-32 |
| 7 Jan – Cardiff Rugby (A) W 28-22 | 7 Jan – Zebre (H) W 24-17 | |
| 27 Jan – Bulls (H) W 37-28 | 28 Jan – Sharks (H) L 19-22 | |
| URC 2022/23 | 14th – W4 D1 L8 – 22pts | 9th – W5 D0 L8 – 31pts |
| URC form | lllWwW (13pts) | lLlLWL (9pts) |
| Top try scorer | 5 – Johnny McNicholl | 9 – Darcy Graham |
| Top points scorer | 58 – Sam Costelow | 45 – Emiliano Boffelli, Darcy Graham |
