United Rugby Championship: Scarlets braced for 'huge' South African challenge
- Published
New Scarlets recruit Taine Plumtree made his Wales debut against England in August.
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel knows his side face a "tough challenge" in the United Rugby Championship (URC) having lost 15 players from their squad during the off-season.
Leigh Halfpenny, Sione Kalamafoni and Aaron Shingler have left the region while eight Wales internationals are absent due to injuries or resting after the World Cup.
Scarlets face consecutive away games in South Africa against the Bulls and Stormers.
"Coming out here first is a tough challenge, it's a big start for us," Peel said.
"We're without some of our key players as well which at the start of the season tests your squad and it's a smaller squad.
"The Bulls all have intent. If you go hard, they want to go harder. When you're playing out here, every collision's huge."
While the likes of Ken Owens, Steff Evans and new club captain Josh Macleod are missing for Sunday's clash, the Scarlets can call upon the likes of Sam Louisi and new signings Taine Plumtree and Ioan Lloyd.
Peel is looking forward to seeing both Plumtree and Lloyd as the season progresses.
"Ioan and Taine are two very exciting players, young and hungry," said Peel.
"Both are still in the learning phase where sometimes you sign players and they're the finished articles but we've signed these young lads to grow and their application has been good.
"Bags of talent, bags of X-factor as well so really excited about them."
Back row challenge
The Scarlets beat the Bulls 37-28 at Parc y Scarlets in January but face a sterner test out in South Africa where altitude and the heat often play their part.
"It's definitely hotter here than back home which is going to be a challenge," said Peel.
"The Bulls have a strong squad, haven't got too many in that Springboks squad and a couple of their senior Springboks are behind.
"People like Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee, who I know from my time at Ulster, Elrigh Louw, they're quality players.
"It's a special place to play in, Loftus. We want to start fast, we want to show what we can do, we've got plenty of experience in our team and we've got to be bold, go and play and fly into them.
Ben Williams, 21, starts for the Scarlets at eight, two years after turning out for Gilfach Goch RFC in the Division 2 East Central and without an academy contract.
"I love his attitude in pre-season and last season," said Peel.
"He picked up a knock for Llanelli last year because otherwise he'd have had a few more opportunities, but he's got a lot of intent about him.
"He's explosive at the line and his ball carry, not as big as Carwyn Tuipulotu but you'll get a huge shift every time he trains and plays.
"He's a bit raw and learning the role, because he hasn't had massive amounts of rugby at the top level, but he's deserved his place to start."