Edinburgh Rugby name ten internationalists in their starting XV for tomorrow afternoon’s Guinness PRO14 Conference B clash against Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets (Saturday 15 February, kick-off 3pm) – live on Premier Sports.
WP Nel, Grant Gilchrist, Nick Haining, Luke Crosbie, Henry Pyrgos and Matt Scott are all released from Scotland’s Guinness Six Nations camp for the top of the Conference encounter in Llanelli.
Fijian stars Viliame Mata and Eroni Sau are named at No.8 and winger respectively, while Scotland caps Mark Bennett, Damien Hoyland and Lewis Carmichael all retain their place in the starting line-up as the capital club return to action for the first time in four weeks.
Ahead of the fixture, Head Coach Richard Cockerill, said: “We’ve been back in training for two weeks preparing for Scarlets and this next block of fixtures – it’s a big few weeks.
“We’ve got a few guys back from Scotland camp with it being fallow week, so we travel south with a good bit of experience. We face tricky weather conditions on Saturday however, so it’s going to be a battle no matter what.
“These games are pivotal for us and it starts with Scarlets in Llanelli this Saturday. They are a quality team with plenty of internationalists, and they have a great home record as well, so we know how tough a test we face.”
Hoyland keeps his spot at fullback as wingers Duhan van der Merwe – named man of the match in October’s reverse fixture against Scarlets at BT Murrayfield – and Sau complete the back-three.
Scotland duo Scott and Bennett once again link-up in midfield, as scrum-half Pyrgos – who skippers the side – and stand-off Jaco van der Walt are selected at half-back.
Hooker David Cherry gets the nod up front and packs down alongside prop duo Pierre Schoeman and Nel.
An all-Scotland lock combination sees Gilchrist return from international duty to partner Carmichael in the second-row.
No.8 Mata anchors the back-row as flankers Crosbie and Haining form the remainder of the pack.
Edinburgh Rugby team to face Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets in the Guinness PRO14 on Saturday 15 February (kick-off 3pm) – live on Premier Sports
15. Damien Hoyland (71)
14. Eroni Sau (7)
13. Mark Bennett (34)
12. Matt Scott (92)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (54)
10. Jaco van der Walt (52)
9. Henry Pyrgos (33) CAPTAIN
1. Pierre Schoeman (37)
2. David Cherry (21)
3. WP Nel (138)
4. Lewis Carmichael (42)
5. Grant Gilchrist (146)
6. Nick Haining (8)
7. Luke Crosbie (36)
8. Viliame Mata (68)
Replacements: 16. Mike Willemse (15); 17. Jamie Bhatti (10); 18. Pietro Ceccarelli (22); 19. Fraser McKenzie (118); 20. John Barclay (11); 21. Nic Groom (10); 22. Simon Hickey (31); 23. George Taylor (17)
Unavailable: Jack Blain, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn, Magnus Bradbury, Hamish Watson, Jamie Ritchie, Ben Toolis, Rory Sutherland, Stuart McInally, Rory Sutherland
Dillane and Heffernan return for Connacht
