Boyde ready to bounce back
In what has been a week of debuts, after making his first appearance in the European Rugby Champions Cup last weekend, Boyde is excited by the prospect of heading to Galway for what is expected to be a challenging clash between first and fourth-placed sides.
Speaking about making his Pro12 debut earlier this week, Boyde said: "It's nice it's finally come and to have an opportunity through John's call up and unfortunately Cubby being injured. Hopefully I can stand out a bit and show what I can do at this level.
Despite having a wealth of talent on the openside flank Scarlets have been without firepower in recent months with injuries to John Barclay, James Davies, Boyde and up and coming Josh Macleod.
Boyde went on to say: "I think I set the curse on the jersey. It's been a long 12 months with injuries, really frustrating, but it's nice to be back and playing at this standard.
"It's a really tough position, Wales is notorious for having a strong backrow.
I'm finally having an opportunity and I can show I'm ready for this level. I'll hopefully look to push through and put my mark down and raise some eyebrows.
The deep end is the best place to be thrown in, if you want to make some noise."
The knee, and subsequent foot injury, suffered in the pre-season friendly against Newport Gwent Dragons has hampered Boyde's opportunities so far this season. Reflecting on returning from injury he went on to say: "The previous injury came in a jackal but I was just head in, I didn't think about it, it's all for the team really.
"We're top of the league and have had the best start to the season in a while. We need to get rid of the European blues, concentrate on Connacht this weekend and take them on headfirst."
