United Rugby Championship: Edinburgh v Scarlets (Sat) - Wales flanker Taine Plumtree returns
- Published
Taine Plumtree arrived at Scarlets from Auckland-based Super Rugby team Blues
URC: Edinburgh v Scarlets |
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Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 20 April Kick-off: 19:35 BST |
Coverage: Match report on the BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on Scrum V, Sunday, BBC Two Wales and online, Sunday, 21 April from 18:00 BST and later on demand. |
Scarlets flanker Taine Plumtree will return after a five-month injury lay-off for Saturday's United Rugby Championship (URC) trip to Edinburgh.
Wales back row Plumtree has recovered from a shoulder injury suffered in November against Lions that required surgery.
Plumtree's fellow internationals Johnny Williams, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies and Kemsley Mathias also return to the starting side.
Hooker Ryan Elias captains the side.
Plumtree scored four tries in his first five matches for Scarlets since arriving from New Zealand.
He was born in Swansea while his father John was still coaching the All Whites and announced his return to Wales in late June 2023.
Plumtree immediately linked up with Warren Gatland's Wales training squad and featured in two warm-up internationals and the win against Barbarians.
He had initially picked up a shoulder injury in Wales' World Cup warm-up match against England in August, which effectively ruled him out of the tournament.
Plumtree has won two caps and was part of the Wales squad that defeated Barbarians in an uncapped fixture in early November after the World Cup.
Edinburgh have lost at home in the league just once in the past 12 months.
Scarlets have not won away in the URC this season, picking up only three victories in 13 games and suffering a humbling home 45-3 defeat against Glasgow in March.
"We were disappointed with our performance against Glasgow after coming into that game on the back of a tough, well-fought win over Benetton," said Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel.
"There is an opportunity to go to Edinburgh and put that right.
"We have had a break and reflection and we're looking forward to the rest of the season.
"There are five games left and opportunities for guys, a chance to find momentum and show some fight."
Edinburgh: Wes Goosen; Matt Currie, Mark Bennett, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe; Ben Healy, Ali Price; Boan Venter, Dave Cherry, Javan Sebastian, Jamie Hodgson, Grant Gilchrist (capt), Jamie Ritchie, Luke Crosbie, Viliame Mata.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Pierre Schoeman, WP Nel, Marshall Sykes, Connor Boyle, Ben Vellacott, Cammy Scott, Chris Dean.
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Eddie James, Tomi Lewis; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias (capt), Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree, Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.
Replacements: Shaun Evans, Wyn Jones, Harri O'Connor, Morgan Jones, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Archie Hughes, Dan Jones, Ryan Conbeer.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (SRU), Michael Todd (SRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)