Inspirational Easterby returns to boost Scarlets

SIMON EASTERBY returns to the Llanelli Scarlets team for tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Munster (Parc Y Scarlets, 6.30pm).

The hard Irishman of Welsh rugby hopes to help turn the screw on the champions and also bring off a quick Irish double, with Llanelli having accounted for Leinster in the opening came of the campaign. The Scarlets starting XV shows three changes from last weekend’s line-up at Glasgow – Easterby returns at flanker, Rhys Thomas comes back at prop and there’s a competitive debut for centre Gareth Maule, a recent signing from Newport Gwent Dragons.

The Munster team selection has been deferred until today.

SCARLETS: D Evans, S Lamont, G Maule, J Davies, M Jones (c), R Priestland, M Roberts, I Thomas, K Owens, R Thomas, L Reed, D Day, S Easterby, D Jones, D Lyons.

Replacements: P John, E Phillips, D Manu, V Cooper, R Pugh, L Williams, D Newton.

MUNSTER (squad): D Barnes, F Jones, S Deasy, D Hurley, D Howlett, B Murphy, T Gleeson, L Mafi, J Manning, T Morland, P Stringer, M Horan, T Buckley, J Brugnaut, J Hayes, D Fogarty, D Varley, M O’Driscoll, D Ryan, A Quinlan, B Holland, T O’Donnell, N Ronan, D Leamy, J Coughlan.