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Scarlets prop Domachowski returns for Bulls match
Corey Domachowski played for Wales in the 2023 World Cup
Image caption, Corey Domachowski played for Wales in the 2023 World Cup

Wales prop Corey Domachowski will make his competitive Scarlets debut against Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Domachowski suffered a chest injury in pre-season following his summer move from Cardiff and has recovered to feature in the United Rugby Championship (URC) match.

Lock Tom Allen will also make his debut after arriving from New Zealand, where the 22-year-old just finished a provincial campaign with Hawke's Bay.

Scarlets make six changes from the team that lost 52-40 to Stormers in Cape Town, with the squad being sorely tested this weekend.

"Corey has only just come back from injury, but he's there, really, to do a job for us in the scrum," said director of rugby Nigel Davies.

"It's been great to have him. He's got great energy, and he's a great character to have in the camp.

"I don't think he will be doing much talking on Saturday at altitude, but I know he won't let us down.

"When you come away to places like this, you see the benefit [of players like Domachowski]."

Allen gets his first Scarlets start after making an immediate impression on the club's coaching staff during early training sessions.

"It's great to see Tom Allen playing. He's been really impressive in the training environment over the last week and a half," Davies added.

"We are looking forward to seeing how he goes. He's a hugely talented player. He's quite quick-twitch for a second row.

"He's powerful and good across the ground and in the air. He offers himself about the park and has come from a very competitive environment."

Scarlets are missing eight Wales squad players, with the recently called-up Macs Page joining Ellis Mee, Blair Murray, Joe Hawkins, Sam Costelow, Eddie James, Ryan Elias and Taine Plumtree.

The Scarlets backline has been particularly affected, with centre Johnny Williams also injured.

"It's a problem that a lot of teams have got in the modern game, when international rugby takes a far more prominent position," Davies added of the squad numbers.

"I said publicly last year that the squad wasn't big enough. We have now increased it, but we probably have to go a little higher in the modern game."

Gabe McDonald comes in for his first URC start alongside Joe Roberts, who crossed for a superb hat-trick against the Stormers.

Wing Isaac Murray-Macgregor also make his first URC start, while former Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies returns.

Meanwhile, Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has made eight changes to the team that beat Ulster 34-26.

How they line up

Bulls: Le Roux; Maart, Gans, Vorster, Jacobs; Bosch, de Wet; Tshakweni, Wessels, Mchunu, Vermaak, van Heerden, Rudolph, Liebenberg (capt), Hanekom.

Replacements: Grobbelaar, Steenekamp, Klopper, Wiese, Coetzee, Burger, S de Klerk, Kunene.

Scarlets: Nicholas; I Jones, Roberts, McDonald, Murray-Macgregor; Leggatt-Jones, G Davies; Domachowski, McKee, H O'Connor, Allen, Groves, Lousi, Macleod (capt), Anderson.

Replacements: Young, S O'Connor, Hawley, Cuckson, Davis, D Blacker, Anscombe, J Davies.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Christopher Allison & Dylen November (South Africa)

TMO: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)

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