Scarlets and Dragons in Welsh wooden spoon decider
TL;DR
Scarlets and Dragons face off to avoid finishing last in the United Rugby Championship. Both teams are tied on points, with Scarlets holding a slight advantage in wins.
Key points
- Scarlets and Dragons are in a wooden spoon decider
- Match scheduled for Saturday at 17:15 BST
- Both teams are tied on points in the league
- Scarlets have a slight edge in win count
- Avoiding last place is crucial for both teams
Tom Rogers scored a hat-trick for Wales against New Zealand in November [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Scarlets and Dragons battle to avoid being Wales' lowest-ranked side in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday evening.
While other clubs go into the final round chasing home advantage or play-off berths, a Welsh wooden spoon is to be avoided in Llanelli (17:15 BST).
The 14th-placed Scarlets and 15th-placed Dragons are level on points, with Nigel Davies' side having the edge on win count.
The home side include six players named in Wales' summer squad on Monday while all five of Dragons' contingent are involved, including Leicester-bound number eight Aaron Wainwright on his farewell performance.
Former Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies is on the Scarlets' bench fresh from signing a new contract.
Interim director of rugby Nigel Davies was head coach on the only occasion that Scarlets finished bottom of the Welsh pile in 2010.
They are at risk of a repeat after a series of tight defeats, the latest by Ospreys in Bridgend courtesy of Jac Morgan's try in the 75th minute.
That derby defeat came after Cardiff and Bulls both won in the closing stages in Llanelli.
"I keep on saying to the players, we are producing a lot of good stuff and if we keep on putting that type of performance together for 80 minutes then the results will come and they will get the reward they deserve," said Davies.
"This game is about a bit of pride and also we are so close to getting on the right side of results. It is about getting payback for all the hard work they are putting in.
"To get a result would be good for us, our supporters and there will be players moving on after this game.
"It is an opportunity for the boys to go out, play for each other and show what they are capable of."
Dragons last avoided being bottom Welsh side in 2020 and have been ranked last in 17 of 22 seasons.
Filo Tiatia's side have had an encouraging campaign featuring seven wins and three draws in all competitions.
However, the Challenge Cup semi-finalists still find themselves in familiar territory near the bottom of the table.
Dragons are not only aiming to finish above Scarlets but to earn a rare Welsh double after a comprehensive 28-5 win in Newport on New Year's Day.
"Nigel and Dwayne Peel have got the group moving in comparison to when we first played them," said head coach Tiatia.
"They're completely a different side and they are a tough group down there when playing at home."
The Rodney Parade club have won both league fixtures in the same season against a regional rival just three times - Cardiff in 2003-4, Scarlets in 2007-8 and Ospreys in 2010-11.
Aaron Wainwright made his Dragons debut in 2017 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Scarlets field six Wales summer tourists in their starting line-up – Ospreys-bound Tom Rogers and fellow wing Blair Murray, centre Joe Roberts, fly-half Joe Hawkins, hooker Ryan Elias and number eight Taine Plumtree.
Centre Eddie James, wing Ellis Mee and fly-half Sam Costelow – all named by Steve Tandy – are injured along with influential number eight Fletcher Anderson, who misses his first game since arriving from New Zealand in November because of a groin strain.
South Africa hooker Marnus van der Merwe, who is leaving for Munster, and retiring lock Jake Ball are also sidelined.
Dragons feature all five of their players from the Wales squad - tight-head prop Dillon Lewis, lock Ben Carter, blind-side flanker Ryan Woodman and number eight Wainwright start, with uncapped back-row forward Harri Keddie on the replacements bench.
Two players feature for the last time - Wainwright, in his 138th appearance for the club, and starting scrum-half Niall Armstrong.
How they line up
Scarlets: I Jones; Rogers, Page, Roberts, Murray; Hawkins, Blacker; Morse, Elias, Holz, Price, Douglas, Taylor, Macleod (capt), Plumtree.
Replacements: H Thomas, Sam O'Connor, Harri O'Connor, Davis, O Williams, G Davies, Leggatt-Jones, J Davies.
Dragons: O'Brien (co-capt); Richards, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; de Beer, Armstrong; W Jones, Coughlan, D Lewis, S Davies, Carter (co-capt), Woodman, Young, Wainwright.
Replacements: Dee, R Jones, Coleman, Douglas, Keddie, R Williams, Ackerman, Anderson.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Connor (Wales), Carwyn Sion (Wales)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales).
Q&A
What is at stake for Scarlets and Dragons in their match?
Scarlets and Dragons are competing to avoid finishing as the lowest-ranked team in the United Rugby Championship.
When is the match between Scarlets and Dragons taking place?
The match is scheduled for Saturday evening at 17:15 BST.
How are Scarlets and Dragons positioned in the league standings?
Scarlets are currently in 14th place, while Dragons are in 15th place, both tied on points.
What does it mean to win the wooden spoon in rugby?
Winning the wooden spoon refers to finishing last in the league standings, which both Scarlets and Dragons are trying to avoid.
