Wales internationals return to Scarlets line-up for Arms Park date

Wales international Blair Murray returns as one of eight personnel changes to the Scarlets side to face Cardiff Rugby at the Arms Park on Friday night (19:45; BBC Wales & Premier Sports).

Murray hasn’t featured since the Autumn Nations Series and slots in at full-back.

Behind the scrum, there are also recalls for Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams and Gareth Davies, who all sat out the Champions Cup trip to Bordeaux last weekend.

Rogers joins Murray and Ellis Mee in the back three, with Williams linking up with Eddie James in midfield.

Joe Hawkins continues at fly-half, partnering Davies. Sam Costelow is ruled out with an ankle injury picked up in training this week.

Up front, the front row changes again with Kemsley Mathias and Ryan Elias coming in for Alec Hepburn and Marnus van der Merwe – who are named among the replacements, with Henry Thomas named at tighthead.

Sam Lousi returns to the second row alongside Jake Ball, while Max Douglas shifts into the back row, which sees Josh Macleod revert to his favoured openside spot.

Carmarthen Quins’ fly-half Elis Price is set for his URC debut after being named among the replacements.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “This is a massive game for us, it is important we start climbing the table. The last four games, and I’m counting the Sharks game in South Africa, we look more like the way we want to look, the way we finished towards the end of last season.

“Cardiff have been going well and winning games at the death which shows they have character. These matches have always been high-contested, high-scoring, physical games and we are expecting more of the same. It promises to be another great occasion with a big crowd.”

Scarlets team to face Cardiff Rugby on Friday, December 19 (19:45; BBC Wales & Premier Sports)

15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Eddie James, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Jake Ball, 6 Max Douglas, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Fletcher Anderson.

Reps: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Alec Heburn, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jarrod Taylor, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Elis Price, 23 Joe Roberts.

Unavailable because of injury/illness

Taine Plumtree, Sam Costelow, Ioan Jones, Dom Kossuth.