Toulon v Scarlets: Teams
The Welsh travel to France reeling from an injury blow that sees B&I Lions hooker Mathew Rees ruled out of the match.
Last Updated: 09/04/10 1:30pm
The Scarlets must do without Lions hooker Matthew Rees when they travel to France to take on Toulon in the quarter-final of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Rees suffered a neck injury in training and is replaced in the starting line-up by Ken Owens, with Emyr Phillips named as a replacement for the Saturday evening showdown.
Otherwise, head coach Nigel Davies has opted to run with the same XV that took the Ospreys to the wire last weekend in the Magners League with only one additional name to add to the travelling squad - Gareth Maule who comes onto the bench to provide cover at centre.
"This is a brilliant opportunity for this team to go to Toulon and put in a massive performance and show what we are about," said Davies.
"You don't win in places like Toulon unless you are brave - they are an impressive side and are unbeaten this season.
Hostile
"But we know we have gone away to places like Brive and London Irish this season - which are pretty hostile places to go, and played rugby and not been intimidated by their records or the environment.
"When I look at this team and the individuals we've got and what they can achieve, and there's no reason why we can't compete. The fact we are huge underdogs will just spur us on."
Jonny Wilkinson and Sonny Bill Williams are the 10-12 axis for Toulon, in what is not entirely a full-strength side as the team braces for a tough Top 14 run-in.
Captain Joe van Niekerk is on the bench, as is former French international scrum-half Pierre Mignoni.
Toulon: 15 Luke Rooney, 14 Clement Marienval, 13 Tom May, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Jeremy Sinzelle, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Matt Henjak, 8 Fotunuupule Auelua, 7 Thomas Sourice, 6 Olivier Missoup, 5 Esteban Lozada, 4 Jocelino Suta, 3 Tonga Leaaetoa, 2 Phillip Fitzgerald, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau
Replacements: 16 Jawad Djoudi, 17 Benjamin Basteres, 18 Tim Ryan, 19 Ross Skeate, 20 Joe van Niekerk, 21 Mafi Kefu, 22 Pierre Mignoni, 23 Cedric Beal
Scarlets: 15 Rhys Priestland, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Regan King, 12 Jonathan Davies 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 David Lyons, 7 Richie Pugh, 6 Rob McCusker, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Lou Reed, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Iestyn Thomas
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Phil John, 18 Rhys Thomas 19 Damian Welch, 20 Josh Turnbull, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Daniel Evans, 23 Gareth Maule
