Scarlets v L Irish: Teams

Daniel Bowden: Back for London Irish

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Fly-half Daniel Bowden is back in the London Irish starting line-up for their LV= Cup clash with Scarlets on at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.

Bowden will form a half-back partnership with Darren Allinson, with Marland Yarde and Kieran Low starting on the wing and at blindside flanker respectively they also recovered from injury.

London Irish head coach Toby Booth has made several changes to the side that lost to Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup last time out and is wary of the threat posed by the Welsh outfit.

"Scarlets are enjoying a good season, so we will have to be at our best to go there and get a result," he said.

The Scarlets, meanwhile, will be looking to maintain a remarkable record against the Exiles, having won all 21 fixtures between the two sides since their first meeting in 1908.

The hosts have opted to mix youth and experience, with Gareth Maule performing skipper duties from centre and Aled Thomas at fly-half following Stephen Jones' Wales call-up.

Andy Fenby returns on the wing after recovering from concussion while centre Adam Warren also comes back into the side after a strong showing in the early part of the season.

Young scrum-half Rhodri Williams is handed the number nine shirt again after impressing in Scarlets' Heineken Cup victory in Castres last time out.

First-teamers Iestyn Thomas, Dominic Day and Johnathan Edwards all retain their starting places in the pack, while Kieran Murphy returns from injury at No. 8.

Mat Gilbert, a try-scorer last weekend, starts at flanker this time out, while scrum-half Liam Davies is named among the replacements after returning to his old club earlier in January.

Scarlets: 15 Dan Newton, 14 Viliami Iongi North, 13 Gareth Maule (c), 12 Adam Warren, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Kieran Murphy, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 6 Mat Gilbert, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Adam Powell, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Emyr Phillips, 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Phil John, 18 Deacon Manu, 19 Craig Price, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Liam Davies, 22 Daniel Evans, 23 Nick Reynolds.

London Irish: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Steven Shingler, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Darren Allinson, 8 Richard Thorpe, 7 David Sisi, 6 Kieran Low, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Brian Blaney, 1 Clarke Dermody (c).
Replacements: 16 Pete Austin, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 Faan Rautenbach, 19 Bob Casey, 20 Kieran Roche, 21. Guy Armitage, 22 Shontayne Hape, 23 Ross Samson.