Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Wales hooker Owens forced into major positional switch for Scarlets

Scarlets hooker Ken Owens. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Ken Owens has 60 caps for Wales and is a British & Irish Lions hooker, but the Scarlets captain has been forced into a dramatic positional switch as the Welsh club deal with a major injury crisis.

ADVERTISEMENT

Owens who is ranked as the world’s 15th best hooker in the RugbyPass Index, with an RPI of 84 and a lineout score of 89, will have to watch on as Ryan Elias takes on the hooking duties, while the 32-year-old packs down elsewhere in the starting XV.

Owens has been named at number 8 as the Scarlets host the Dragons at Parc y Scarlets looking to rebound from their 34-5 defeat by Cardiff Blues – the first time they’d lost at home in the PRO14 since September, 2016.

The Scarlets have been ravaged by injuries in their backrow with Welsh international duo James Davies (foot) and Aaron Shingler (knee) out, along with two of their big summer signings – recent Scotland call-up Blade Thomson (concussion) and South African Uzair Cassiem (shoulder). Will Boyde (ribs) and Josh Macleod (foot) are also out.

Switching to a specialist position of number 8 is a tough ask, a recent example is Ireland’s Grand Slam winning flanker Dan Leavy who struggled playing there for Leinster away against Bath in the Heineken Champions Cup at the beginning of December.

It is the first time that Owens, standing at 1.83m (6ft) and 110kg (17st 4lb), has started a game in that position in his professional career.

The Welsh club are in a difficult run of form too, having lost five matches in a row and with eight defeats in their last 10.

ADVERTISEMENT

Continue reading below…
You may also like: Game Day – PRO14 Final – Behind-the-scenes

Video Spacer

Head coach Wayne Pivac said; “We haven’t been too far off. We had 68% possession and 65% territory against the Blues so we did some good things. It’s more about the things that we can do to make sure we convert that pressure and time in the opposition’s 22 into points. The focus for us this week has been on our pass accuracy and the separation between our ball carriers and runners. There were some positives out there and we’re focusing on that and tightening up in other areas.

“Results are going all over the shop and we’re still one point off the play-offs. Other results have meant there’s everything to play for. We believe that by the end of the season if we can get our top side on the pitch then we’ll compete in this competition. We’ve got to accumulate enough points between now and then. This game against the Dragons on the weekend becomes vital in that quest. We believe we’ll turn it round and the boys are working very hard and haven’t lost sight of the end goal.”

Scarlets: 15. Johnny McNicholl; 14. Ioan Nicholas, 13. Jonathan Davies, 12. Hadleigh Parkes, 11. Paul Asquith; 10. Dan Jones, 9. Kieran Hardy; 1. Rob Evans, 2. Ryan Elias, 3. Samson Lee, 4. Josh Helps, 5. David Bulbring, 6. Ed Kennedy, 7. Dan Davis, 8. Ken Owens (capt)

ADVERTISEMENT

Replacements: 16. Marc Jones, 17. Wyn Jones, 18. Werner Kruger, 19. Tom Price, 20. Tom Phillips, 21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22. Steff Hughes, 23. Tom Prydie.

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

USA vs Japan | Full Match Replay

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 5 | Making Waves

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

G
GabrielArthur 2 hours ago
Watch Jesse Kriel get sat down as NRL convert scores 'worldie'

Last month, I faced a nightmare scenario when the entire balance of SOL I held in my MetaMask wallet was abruptly transferred to an unknown address. One moment, my funds were secure; the next, they’d vanished without a trace. I frantically reviewed my transaction history, double-checked permissions, and scanned my devices for malware, but found no obvious breach. Panic turned to despair as I realized my savings accumulated through years of cautious investing were gone. Desperate for answers, I contacted MetaMask support, only to be told that their team couldn’t reverse or trace decentralized transactions. They speculated that my wallet had been compromised, possibly via a phishing scam, a malicious dApp, or a leaked recovery phrase, but I couldn’t pinpoint where I’d gone wrong. Feeling helpless, I combed through Reddit threads and crypto forums, where I stumbled upon TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT Website https://trustgeekshackexpert.com/ , a service hailed for its success in reclaiming stolen assets. Though skeptical after all, everything I’d read suggested crypto theft was irreversible I decided to take a leap of faith and submitted my case details, including transaction IDs and wallet addresses. Their team responded within hours, outlining a meticulous plan to trace the stolen SOL across the blockchain and collaborate with exchanges to intercept the funds. Over the next week, TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT provided daily updates, revealing how the thief had funneled my SOL through a labyrinth of wallets to obscure its trail. Using advanced blockchain forensics, they identified patterns linking the movement of funds to a known exchange. By working with legal teams and platform security, they flagged the stolen crypto before it could be liquidated. Their expertise and determination were evident as they navigated the complexities of the blockchain, piecing together the puzzle of my stolen assets. Against all odds, their relentless efforts paid off: within 9 days, they recovered 100% of my stolen SOL and safely redirected it to a new, fortified wallet. This experience taught me the importance of vigilance in the crypto space and the value of seeking help from experts when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. I learned that while the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency offers many advantages, it also comes with risks that require constant awareness and proactive measures. Contact service E m a i l: Trustgeekshackexpert[At]fastservice[Dot]com & w h a t's A p p. +1 7 1 9 4 9 2 2 6 9 3

15 Go to comments
G
GabrielArthur 2 hours ago
England rout Scotland to set up Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider

Last month, I faced a nightmare scenario when the entire balance of SOL I held in my MetaMask wallet was abruptly transferred to an unknown address. One moment, my funds were secure; the next, they’d vanished without a trace. I frantically reviewed my transaction history, double-checked permissions, and scanned my devices for malware, but found no obvious breach. Panic turned to despair as I realized my savings accumulated through years of cautious investing were gone. Desperate for answers, I contacted MetaMask support, only to be told that their team couldn’t reverse or trace decentralized transactions. They speculated that my wallet had been compromised, possibly via a phishing scam, a malicious dApp, or a leaked recovery phrase, but I couldn’t pinpoint where I’d gone wrong. Feeling helpless, I combed through Reddit threads and crypto forums, where I stumbled upon TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT Website https://trustgeekshackexpert.com/ , a service hailed for its success in reclaiming stolen assets. Though skeptical after all, everything I’d read suggested crypto theft was irreversible I decided to take a leap of faith and submitted my case details, including transaction IDs and wallet addresses. Their team responded within hours, outlining a meticulous plan to trace the stolen SOL across the blockchain and collaborate with exchanges to intercept the funds. Over the next week, TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT provided daily updates, revealing how the thief had funneled my SOL through a labyrinth of wallets to obscure its trail. Using advanced blockchain forensics, they identified patterns linking the movement of funds to a known exchange. By working with legal teams and platform security, they flagged the stolen crypto before it could be liquidated. Their expertise and determination were evident as they navigated the complexities of the blockchain, piecing together the puzzle of my stolen assets. Against all odds, their relentless efforts paid off: within 9 days, they recovered 100% of my stolen SOL and safely redirected it to a new, fortified wallet. This experience taught me the importance of vigilance in the crypto space and the value of seeking help from experts when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. I learned that while the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency offers many advantages, it also comes with risks that require constant awareness and proactive measures. Contact service E m a i l: Trustgeekshackexpert[At]fastservice[Dot]com & w h a t's A p p. +1 7 1 9 4 9 2 2 6 9 3

4 Go to comments
C
Colin Friels 2 hours ago
Crusaders prepare for 'dangerous in all elements' Chiefs game-breaker

CALL OR VISIT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY ON WhatsApp    +15617263697   Or  Telegram  +15617263697  Several weeks ago, my life was irrevocably altered by a crypto romance scam, a cruel amalgamation of emotional manipulation and financial exploitation. A person I believed to be my partner, whom I had met on a niche trading forum, gradually ensnared me into investing in a purportedly “groundbreaking” decentralized finance (DeFi) project. Over several months, they meticulously cultivated trust, shared fabricated returns, and even orchestrated video calls with supposed “developers” to lend credence to the scheme. By the time I discerned the truth, a staggering $215,000 of my life savings had evaporated into a labyrinth of blockchain addresses, and the individual I thought I knew had vanished without a trace. The betrayal was paralyzing; I felt not only financially devastated but emotionally shattered. As a small business owner, I am no stranger to risk, but this was a domain far beyond my comprehension. I promptly filed reports with the FTC, collaborated with cybersecurity experts, and spent countless sleepless nights poring over Etherscan, desperately attempting to trace the transactions. However, the scammers’ adept use of privacy coins and offshore exchanges rendered the trail elusive, dissipating like smoke. Each dead end deepened my despair and sense of helplessness. Amid this turmoil, I confided in a family friend about my harrowing ordeal. After hearing my story, he referred me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. Initially skeptical but driven by desperation, I visited their website and was struck by their no-nonsense commitment to transparency. Unlike other firms that promised miraculous recoveries, Tech Cyber Force Recovery provided a clear breakdown of their process: forensics, collaboration with international legal networks, and direct engagement with exchanges to freeze illicit funds. When I contacted Tech Cyber Force Recovery, their team approached my case faster. They meticulously analyzed my situation, keeping me informed at every stage of the recovery process. Ultimately, they succeeded in recovering my entire investment, restoring my financial stability, and rekindling my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital age. This experience has imparted invaluable lessons about vigilance and the importance of seeking help when navigating the dangerous currents of cryptocurrency. Tech Cyber Force Recovery has proven to be a beacon of hope for those ensnared in the web of crypto fraud, demonstrating that recovery is indeed possible with the right support and expertise.

9 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Desperate Prem giants put offer on table for ex-All Black Leon MacDonald Desperate Prem giants put offer on table for Leon MacDonald
Search