Ryan Elias to captain Scarlets on Boxing Day
Ryan Elias leads Scarlets against Ospreys as Peel makes four changes.
©Steve Haag
Ryan Elias will lead the Scarlets in their Boxing Day West Wales derby against the Ospreys in round eight of the United Rugby Championship.
The hooker takes over the captaincy from Josh Macleod, who is unavailable after entering head injury return-to-play protocols following the recent derby win over Cardiff at the Arms Park.
Head coach Dwayne Peel has made four changes to the starting XV from the victory in Cardiff. Blair Murray is sidelined with an ankle injury, prompting Ellis Mee to move to full-back, while Joe Roberts comes into the side on the left wing. Tom Rogers continues on the right.
The midfield pairing of Eddie James and Johnny Williams remains intact, with Joe Hawkins and Gareth Davies again starting at half-back.
In the front row, Kemsley Mathias misses out with a groin issue, allowing Alec Hepburn to start at loose-head alongside Elias and the fit-again Archer Holz. Sam Lousi and Jake Ball retain their places in the second row, while Taine Plumtree returns from a rib injury to start at openside flanker.
Among the replacements, Academy prop Josh Morse is in line for his United Rugby Championship debut, while fly-half Elis Price is also included after being an unused substitute last week.
Scarlets XV: 15 Ellis Mee; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Eddie James, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Joe Roberts; 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Ryan Elias (capt), 3 Archer Holz, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Jake Ball, 6 Max Douglas, 7 Taine Plumtree, 8 Fletcher Anderson.
Reserves: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Tristan Davies, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Elis Price, 23 Macs Page.
