'Glasgow's going to be a tough one'
Scarlets wing Sean Lamont is hoping to keep his strong start at his new team going this weekend as the Welsh region travel to take on Glasgow on Sunday evening.
The 28-year-old enjoyed a great debut last weekend, scoring his region’s first try as they toppled European champions Leinster at Parc y Scarlets. All that though is now in the past and the former Northampton Saint and Glasgow star acknowledges that any victory at Firhill will not come easy.
Perth-born Lamont told a Parc y Scarlets press conference: “Glasgow’s going to be a tough one, especially at Firhill and on the back of beating Munster.
“They’ve got a lot of international quality and a great deal of experience so we’ll have to show the same determination that we showed against Leinster. Hopefully we can come away with a win; that’s the important thing and if it means a victory of just 3-0 then we’ll take it.
“The start we made last Saturday was ideal; a win always helps and long may that continue because we must try to make Parc y Scarlets a fortress. We want to have teams fearing to come here and making them fight all the way when they do come here.
“We’re still building, of course, and we’ve worked on some parts of our game this week, trying to out a few things right.”
Scarlets head coach Nigel Davies has made two changes to his starting line-up. Prop Deacon Manu comes in at tighthead for Wales international Rhys Thomas, who sits out the Glasgow game, and experienced backrow Dafydd Jones replaces player-coach Simon Easterby who starts on the bench.
Replacement centre Gareth Maule is in line to make his Scarlets competitive debut following his summer move from the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Glasgow Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, meanwhile has kept faith with the starting XV that defeated reigning Magners League champions Munster 22-9 last weekend.
Only one change is made to the match-day 22, which has been forced upon Lineen, and that sees utility back Colin Gregor take Ruaridh Jackson’s place on the bench following the 21-year-old’s shoulder injury which occurred whilst scoring the only try of the game against Munster.
“Our last few games against the Scarlets have been pretty exciting,” said Glasgow wing Thom Evans.
“It really suits my game when both sides try to play expansive rugby and bring their outside backs into play. That’s probably why I’ve managed to get a few decent scores against them over the past year.”
Looking forward to yet another colossal clash at Firhill, Lineen said: “Llanelli play a very expansive style of rugby and pose a very different threat to Munster.
“Players like Thom Evans can’t do much if the guys inside him, especially in the forward pack, don’t do their job. They put in a fantastic effort against Munster and now that’s the standard.
“Llanelli have a hard edge to their forward pack and have some really quality players in there. The test now is to put in another big performance against another very talented side.”
The Teams:
Glasgow: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Rob Dewey, 13 Peter Murchie, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Alastair Kellock (captain), 4 Tim Barker, 3 Moray Low, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Jon Welsh
Replacement: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Kevin Tkachuk, 18 Dan Turner, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Mark McMillan, 21 Colin Gregor, 22 Colin Shaw
Scarlets: 15 Daniel Evans, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Rob Higgitt, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Mark Jones (captain), 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 David Lyons, 7 Richie Pugh, 6 Dafydd Jones, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Lou Reed, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Iestyn Thomas
Replacements: 16 Phil John, 17 Emyr Phillips, 18 Vernon Cooper, 19 Simon Easterby, 20 Lee Williams, 21 Dan Newton, 22 Gareth Maule.
Date: Sunday 13 September
Venue: Firhill Arena
Time: 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
Referee: TBC
