Scarlets look for their second win of the EPCR Challenge Cup campaign as they go up against another Round 1 winner in Toyota Cheetahs at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma at 17h15 (SA Time).
The Welsh side romped to an impressive 39-07 triumph over Aviron Bayonnais in Round 1, running in five tries at Parc y Scarlets.
Toyota Cheetahs won 21-16 at Section Paloise as they underlined the physicality they will bring to the EPCR Challenge Cup in their debut campaign.
Prediction: Toyota Cheetahs by 7.
The Toyota Cheetahs team show several changes from last week.
On hooker, Marko Janse van Rensburg and Louis van der Westhuizen switch places with Marko in the starting line-up. Rynier Bernardo will be starting at lock, and Mzwanele Zito will provide cover on the bench.
Daniel Maartens will be starting on nr 6 flank next to Friedle Olivier. Maartens replace Oupa Mohoje, who was suspended for three weeks after an incident in the match against Pau, Jeandre Rudolph will wear the nr. 8 jersey.
Munier Hartzenbeg plays left wing, and Mafura moves to fullback to replace the injured Frans Steyn (hamstring).
Coach Hawies Fourie said: “Izak (van der Westhuizen, forwards coach) has put in a lot of time on the line-outs this week, and I’m confident we will be sharp on Saturday. We expect Scarlets to target us there and expect a fierce battle.”
Ryan Elias will make his 150th Scarlets appearance and Sione Kalamafoni his 50th as Scarlets take on Toyota Cheetahs in Parma in round two of the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday (15:15).
The pair are part of a line-up showing four changes, one of them positional, to the side that took the field for the bonus-point win over Aviron Bayonnais last weekend.
Newly-capped Wales international flanker Josh Macleod takes over the captaincy from the rested Jonathan Davies.
Davies’s place in the starting XV is taken by Scott Williams, who partners Ioan Nicholas in midfield. The other change in the backline sees Steff Evans replace Tom Rogers, who damaged a hamstring against Bayonne.
Elias, who made his Scarlets debut in an Anglo-Welsh clash against Saracens nine years ago, is again named in a front row alongside Kemsley Mathias and WillGriff John.
Vaea Fifita has recovered from the blow to his nose he suffered against the Emirates Lions and pairs up with Tonga team-mate Sam Lousi in the second row. Sione Kalamafoni reverts to his more accustomed No. 8 role in a back-row containing Macleod and Aaron Shingler.
Harri O’Connor fractured a bone in his hand against Bayonne so Javan Sebastian comes onto the bench, as does Wales and British & Irish Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny.
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “The key for us is consistency and building on last week’s win and the boys have been driving that this week. We want to move forward in this competition, that is the attitude we will take.
“It is a different challenge, both sides are away from home so it will be a very different atmosphere I am sure. We had good energy against Bayonne and it is important we keep that up. The Cheetahs are a physical side with good-quality young players and two elder statesmen in Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn guiding them around. They went to Pau last weekend and won so we know it is going to be a difficult task.”
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15. Tapiwe Mafura, 14. Dan Kapepula, 13. David Brits, 12. David Brits, 11. Munier Hartzenberg, 10. Siyabonga Masuku, 9. Ruan Pienaar, 8. Jeandre Rudolph, 7. Friedle Olivier, 6. Daniel Maartens, 5. Victor Sekekete (c), 4. Rynier Bernardo, 3. Aranos Coetzee, 2. Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1. Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16. Louis van der Westhuizen, 17. Mzamo Majola, 18. Hencus van Wyk, 19. Mzwanele Zito, 20. Sibabalo Qoma, 21. Rewan Kruger, 22. Robert Ebersohn, 23. Cohen Jasper
Scarlets: 15. Johnny McNicholl, 14. Steff Evans, 13. Ioan Nicholas, 12. Scott Williams, 11. Ryan Conbeer, 10. Sam Costelow, 9. Dane Blacker, 8. Sione Kalamafoni, 7. Joshua Macleod (c), 6. Aaron Shingler, 5. Vaea Fifita, 4. Sam Lousi, 3. WillGriff John, 2. Ryan Elias, 1. Kemsley Mathias. Replacements: 16. Ken Owens, 17. Steff Thomas, 18. Javan Sebastian, 19. Tom Price, 20. Tomas Lezana, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Rhys Patchell, 23. Leigh Halfpenny.
