Gloucester v Scarlets - Teams and prediction

FRIDAY PREVIEW: The EPCR Challenge Cup resumes this weekend with a battle between 2024 runners-up Gloucester and the Scarlets.

The hosts are currently in fifth position in Pool Three following a win and a loss, but are just two points away from first place in a tightly contested group.

They’ll enter this clash high on confidence after a dominant victory over Sale Sharks last weekend.

In the forwards prop Ciaran Knight earns a start after some impressive cameos from the bench in recent weeks, joining Mayco Vivias and Jack Singleton in the front row.

The lock combination remains unchanged with Freddie Thomas and Arthur Clark packing down to complete the tight five

The loose forward combo also stays the same of Jack Clement, Ruan Ackermann and captain Lewis Ludlow.

There’s a new halfback combination with Caolan Englefield replacing Tomos Williams alongside Santiago Carreras who makes the switch from fullback to flyhalf.

Max Llewellyn moves from wing to inside centre with Chris Harris on his outside.

Christian Wade takes comes in at No.14 with Josh Hathaway donning jersey No.11 as academy graduate George Barton slots in at fullback.

They will hope to build on their impressive recent run in the English Premiership having grabbed scalps against Northampton Saints, Harlequins and Sale Sharks as they seek to make the knockout stages.

The article continues below…

Macs Page is set to get his first European start and is one of six changes to the side that took the Dragons down in the URC.

Ioan Lloyd slots in at fullback for the injured Tom Rogers who suffered a groin injury with Blair Murray and Ellis Mee on the wings.

Page will combine with Eddie James with Joe Roberts providing cover on the bench.

Archie Huges starts at scrumhalf partnering Wales international Sam Costelow.

In the forwards Kemsley Mathias starts at loosehead prop alongside Marnus van der Merwe and Henry Thomas.

Alex Craig will come up against his old team when he partners with Max Douglas as the lock combination.

Former All Black and current Tonga international Vaea Fifita returns to the No.8 jumper with Taine Plumtree moving to the blindside flank and Josh McLeod completing the loose trio as captain.

The bench includes tighthead prop Gabe Hawley, who is set for his tournament debut

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “Scarlets have a rich history in European competition so whenever it comes around it is always an exciting time for us and our supporters.

“Kingsholm is an awesome place to play rugby, the atmosphere is always good and we’ll have fantastic travelling support as well.

“This will be a brilliant experience, particularly for the younger players in the squad and an exciting opportunity for us as a group.

“Yes, we have been competitive this year, but going away to somewhere like Kingsholm where Gloucester have been going well of late, will be a good measure for us.”

Peel added: “We have a real competitive pool in the Challenge Cup, so picking up points is important, particularly away from home, as it always has been in Europe.”

Gloucester v Scarlets

(Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester -Kick-off: 22.00 UTC; 22.00 GMT)

The article continues below…

Prediction 

@rugby365com: Gloucester by 13 points

Teams

Gloucester: 15 George Barton, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Josh Hathaway, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Caolan Englefield, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Lewis Ludlow (captain), 6 Jack Clement, 5 Arthur Clark, 4 Freddie Thomas, 3 Ciaran Knight, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Mayco Vivas
Replacements: 16 Seb Blake, 17 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Cameron Jordan, 20 Freddie Clarke, 21 Albert Tuisue, 22 Tomos Williams, 23 Charlie Atkinson

Scarlets: 15 Ioan Lloyd, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Macs Page, 12 Eddie James, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Archie Hughes, 8 Vaea Fifita, 7 Josh Macleod (captain), 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16. Shaun Evans, 17. Alec Hepburn, 18. Gabe Hawley, 19. Sam Lousi, 20. Jarrod Taylor, 21. Gareth Davies, 22. Joe Roberts, 23. Ioan Nicholas

Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Gasnier (France), Jean Lespes (France)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (France)