Challenge Cup: Leigh Halfpenny returns from injury for Scarlets while Clermont Auvergne start powerhouse winger Alivereti Raka

Challenge Cup: Leigh Halfpenny returns from injury for Scarlets while Clermont Auvergne start powerhouse winger Alivereti Raka

The Challenge Cup quarter-finals begin in Llanelli on Friday as the Scarlets host French giants Clermont Auvergne at the Parc y Scarlets.

Leigh Halfpenny returns for Scarlets

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel has made just one change to his starting lineup from the side that defeated Brive 19-7 in the round of 16.

Peel has welcomed the return of Wales and British & Irish Lions veteran Leigh Halfpenny, who replaces Tom Rogers at fullback.

Halfpenny is joined by wingers Steff Evans and Ryan Conbeer in the back three, with Joe Roberts and Johnny Williams in the centres.

Scrumhalf Gareth Davies starts alongside flyhalf Sam Costelow, who has recovered from a dead leg in the latter stages of the round of 16 to start.

Josh Macleod captains the side in the number seven jumper, Aaron Shingler is on the other side of the scrum, and Sione Kalamafoni at number eight.

Vaea Fifita and Sam Lousi continue their devasting partnership in the second row, with Kemsley Mathias, Ken Owens and Javan Sebastian in the front row.

Shaun Evans, Wyn Jones and Sam Wainwright provide front-row cover on the bench. Morgan Jones and Carwyn Tuipulotu cover the back five.

Dan Jones is the only other change to the side, replacing Rhys Patchell in the number 22 jersey, with Kieran Hardy and Ioan Nicholas rounding out the team.

Clermont make three changes as Alivereti Raka starts

Clermont have made three changes to the side that defeated Bristol Bears in the Challenge Cup round of 16.

Los Pumas international Tomas Lavanini is ruled out through injury and is replaced in the second row by Paul Jedrasiak, who earns his 190th cap for the French outfit. Jedrasiak returns from a calf injury to slot back into the starting lineup alongside the ever-present Thibaud Lanen.

There are no further changes up front, with Etienne Fourcade, Etienne Falgoux and Cristian Ojovan making up the front row. Fritz Lee captains the side from number eight, with Killian Tixeront and Lucas Dessaigne at six and seven, respectively.

Youngster Baptiste Jauneau replaces Sébastien Bézy at scrumhalf and partners Anthony Belleau. Bézy drops to the bench and provides halfback cover along with Jules Plisson.

George Moala and Irae Simone pair up in the centres once again, with the final change to the starting lineup coming on the wing. The elusive Bautista Delguy is replaced by powerhouse speedster Alivereti Raka with Damian Penaud starting on the right wing and Alex Newsome at fullback.

Delguy does fill the number 23 jumper on the bench with Jean Maxence Jules-Rosette, Giorgi Beria, Rabah Slimani, Edward Annandale and Jacobus van Tonder providing cover in the pack.

Prediction: Clermont by 7

The teams:

Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Joshua Macleod (c), 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Morgan Jones, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Ioan Nicholas

Clermont Auvergne: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Irae Simone, 12 George Moala, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Baptiste Jauneau, 8 Fritz Lee (c), 7 Lucas Dessaigne, 6 Killian Tixeront, 5 Paul Jedrasiak, 4 Thibaud Lanen, 3 Cristian Ojovan, 2 Etienne Fourcade, 1 Etienne Falgoux
Replacements: 16 Jean-Maxence Jules-Rosette, 17 Giorgi Beria, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Edward Annandale, 20 Jacobus Van Tonder, 21 Sébastien Bézy, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Bautista Delguy

Date: Friday, April 7
Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Kick-off: 20:00 BST (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Adam Leal (England), Sara Cox (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)

Click Here: women football tracksuits