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Costelow returns as Scarlets change nine for Black Lion

Scarlets' Sam Costelow
Sam Costelow featured in all three of Wales autumn internationals last month [Huw Evans Picture Agency]

European Challenge Cup: Scarlets v Black Lion

Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Date: Sunday, 15 December Kick off: 13:00 GMT

Coverage: Live audio and text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

Sam Costelow and Gareth Davies will resume their half-back pairing as Scarlets host Black Lion in the European Challenge Cup on Sunday.

Fly-half Costelow returns for the first time since starting for Wales against South Africa, replacing Ioan Lloyd.

Davies missed the opening weekend of the competition with a minor hip issue, but returns as one of nine changes from the narrow loss at Bayonne, along with centre Johnny Williams.

Wales prop Henry Thomas comes in at tight-head for Sam Wainwright who is to undergo surgery on an ankle injury suffered in the south of France.

Hooker Marnus van der Merwe also returns in the front row after a hamstring issue.

Max Douglas and Sam Lousi form an all-changed second row, while flanker Taine Plumtree returns in the back row along with fellow Wales international Josh Macleod, who reclaims the skipper's armband from Alex Craig.

The two sides meet exactly 12 months to the day since Black Lion stunned Scarlets with a shock 23-7 win in Llanelli in last year's competition.

The Georgians opened this year's campaign by defeating a Top 14 side for the first time, earning a 22-19 win against a depleted RC Vannes in Tbilisi last weekend.

Scarlets assistant coach Emyr Phillips said: "Black Lion showed last year they are a good, well-coached team with that Georgia coaching group in there and have serious players and power as well.

"We realise that home wins are important and they have already picked up a home win so their confidence will be high. But we are in a good place, the squad is excited, the boys have trained well and are looking forward to a European game at home.

"It is a Sunday afternoon kick-off so hopefully we can get a good crowd down here and build on the positives we have had over the last few weeks."

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Max Douglas, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree, Josh Macleod (capt), Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Alec Hepburn, Archer Holz, Alex Craig, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Ioan Lloyd, Eddie James.

Black Lion: Luka Tsirekidze; Akaki Tabutsadze, Demi Tapladze, Tornike Kakhoidze, Amiran Shvangiradze; Luka Matkava (capt), Tengiz Peranidze; Vasil Kakovin, Irakli Kvatadze, Giorgi Chkhartishvili, Lado Chachanidze, Mikheil Babunashvili, Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Luka Ivanishvili.

Replacements: Tengiz Zamtaradze, Dato Abdushelishvili, Bachuki Tchumbadze, Demuri Epremidze, Giorgi Sinauridze, Davit Khuroshvili, Ioane Metreveli, Sandro Todua.

Referee: Kevin Bralley (FFR)

Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco Baque & Flavien Hourquet (FFR)

TMO: Cedric Marchat (FFR)