Match Preview: Scarlets
Get the latest ahead of Saturday afternoon's United Rugby Championship opener against Scarlets at ERS (kick-off 5.15pm) with this week's Match Preview.
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GET YOUR TICKETS
Tickets are still available for this weekend's Scarlets match. Secure your place at the ERS and don't miss out on the United Rugby Championship opener!
HOW TO WATCH
The match is live on Premier Sports 2 from 4.45pm ahead of a 5.15pm kick-off at ERS, and will also be broadcast live on BBC Radio Scotland.
You can can also keep up with minute-by-minute updates via the Galbraith Match Centre.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 67th competition game)
Assistant: Sam Grove-White, Graeme Ormiston (SRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
TEAM NEWS
The Edinburgh Rugby team to face Scarlets at ERS in the United Rugby Championship will be named at 12 noon on Friday 24 September via the club's website and social channels.
OVERALL PRO14 RECORD
Played 37, Edinburgh won 20, Scarlets won 15 with 2 games drawn.
STORY OF THE MATCH
Edinburgh Rugby host Scarlets in the first United Rugby Championship clash of the season, and the first-ever league fixture at the ERS.
The match is also Head Coach Mike Blair's first competitive game in charge after back-to-back pre-season fixtures at the the club's new home.
A number of players will be looking to impress following a promising pre-season campaign, including centre Mark Bennett who crossed the whitewash in both matches against Newcastle Falcons and Benetton.
Scarlets will come into Saturday's contest at the ERS buoyed by a win against Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, while their squad will be backed with international talent, including Welsh centre Jonathan Davies, who was this week named captain of the region
LAST TIME OUT
The two sides met in June at Parc y Scarlets in the final round of the Rainbow Cup. Boan Venter scored a last-minute try to secure a hard-fought draw in West Wales.
RECENT MEETINGS
Date | Venue | E | S | Edinburgh Rugby scorers | Scarlets scorers |
Sat 6 Apr 19 | Parc y Scarlets | 20 | 12 | Jaco van der Walt(T/2C/2P) Matt Scott(T) | Gareth Davies(T) Jonathan Davies(T) Leigh Halfpenny(C) |
Sat 26 Oct 19 | BT Murrayfield | 46 | 7 | Mike Willemse(2T) Duhan van der Merwe(3T) Jaco van der Walt(C) Mark Bennett(T) Simon Hickey(3C/P) Eroni Sau(T) | Marc Jones(T) Dan Jones(C) |
Sat 15 Feb 20 | Parc y Scarlets | 14 | 9 | Duhan van der Merwe(T) Jaco van der Walt(2C) Matt Scott(T) | Dan Jones(3P) |
Sun 1 Nov 20 | Parc y Scarlets | 6 | 3 | Jaco van der Walt(2P) | Angus O'Brien(P) |
Sat 27 Feb 21 | BT Murrayfield | 25 | 27 | Jaco van der Walt(2C/2P) Dave Cherry(T) Magnus Bradbury(T) Darcy Graham(T) | Johnny McNicholl(T) Tyler Morgan(T) Dane Blacker(T) Dan Jones(3C/2P) |
Sun 13 Jun 21 | Parc y Scarlets (RC) | 28 | 28 | Nathan Chamberlain(2C) Boan Venter(T) Marshall Sykes(T) Jack Blain(T) Jamie Ritchie(T) Blair Kinghorn(2C) | Tom Rogers(T) Sam Costelow(2C) Kieran Hardy(2T) Dan Jones(2C) Dafydd Hughes(T) |
TEAM COMPARISON
COMPARISON | Edinburgh | Scarlets |
Last 3 URC results: | 15 May - Glasgow (H) L 24-31 | 15 May - Cardiff Rugby (H) L 28-29 |
| 5 Jun - Ulster (H) L 31-34 | 29 May - Ulster (A) W 0-0 |
| 13 Jun - Scarlets (A) D 28-28 | 13 Jun - Edinburgh (H) D 28-28 |
| ||
URC 2020/21 | Conf B: 5th – W6 D0 L10 – 29pts | Conf B: 3rd – W8 D0 L8 - 39pts |
URC form | wLLwll (10pts) | LLWwlW (15pts) |
Top try scorer | 3 – Mike Willemse, Dave Cherry, Magnus Bradbury, Jack Blain, Eroni Sau | 9 – Dane Blacker |
Top points scorer | 66 - Jaco van der Walt | 67 – Leigh Halfpenny |
KEY STATS
Edinburgh Rugby’s most recent Championship victory was 24-18 over Zebre in the Rainbow Cup at BT Murrayfield in April.
The Edinburgh Rugby Stadium becomes the 51st different venue used in the United Rugby Championship, and the fifth home ground that Edinburgh have used in the Championship following Meadowbank, Myreside, Meggetland and Murrayfield
The Scotsmen drew their most recent encounter with a Welsh region, 28-all away to this afternoon’s opponents, Scarlets, in the Rainbow Cup in June.
Edinburgh have not beaten a Welsh opponent since an 18-0 victory over last November
Scarlets have won just one of their last four away matches in the Championship: 27-25 against Edinburgh, “over the road”, at BT Murrayfield in February. That victory was Scarlets first over a Scottish opponent since a visit to Glasgow in October 2019.
The two sides met on three occasions last season, two in the PRO14 and one in the Rainbow Cup with each side claiming a victory and one game drawn.
Edinburgh have lost just once to Scarlets in their last eight meetings.
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