The Scarlets host the Sharks in a Round 15 United Rugby Championship clash in Llanelli on Friday and these teams are side by side in the lower reaches of the standings.
Scarlets v Sharks, Friday 26th April, Llanelli, KO 20:35 (South African time)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales) and Dewi Phillips (Wales)
TMO: David Sutherland (Scotland)
Weather Forecast - Llanelli
Scarlets:
After 14 rounds of matches the Scarlets are third bottom on the log with a record of 3 wins and 11 defeats for 16 log points and their points difference of -277 is the worst in the competition.
The Scarlets went down 43-18 at Edinburgh last weekend and their most recent victory came at home to Benetton in Round 12 when they came out on top 16-13. They began the season in South Africa where they crashed 63-21 at the Bulls and 52-7 to the Stormers. In Round 4 a home fixture against the Lions saw the Scarlets edged out 24-23.
At home to the Sharks last season the Scarlets ran out winners 32-20.
Sharks:
The Sharks went down 21-10 to the high flying Warriors in Glasgow in Round 14. They made wholesale changes to their line up with the forthcoming Challenge Cup semi final in mind and despite conceding 3 tries in the first half they performed with credit after the break.
The Sharks remain thirteenth on the log with a record of 3 wins and 11 defeats for a tally of 18 points.
In earlier matches against Welsh opposition this season the Sharks went down away to the Ospreys (19-5) in Round 3 and they thrashed the Dragons, 69-14 in Durban in Round 6.
Team News
Scarlets: 15 Ioan Nicholas, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Eddie James, 11 Tomi Lewis, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Vaea Fifita, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Morgan Jones, 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Ryan Conbeer
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am ©, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Vincent Tshituka, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Gerbrandt Grobler, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Francois Venter
The Betting,
Scarlets +10.5 points at 9/10
Sharks -10.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 25 April 22h34
Money has come for the Sharks with the early -5.5 snapped up and at the time of positing they are -10.5. They have picked a strong side but this will likely be seen as a warm up for next week so I cant bring myself to back them with any confidence.
The conditions don’t look too bad and with neither team having much to lose I expect some loose rugby and the points to flow.
BET: 4 units over 46.5 points at 9/10 at Betxchange
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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