Copyright irishmirror
Munster's latest new era gets underway in Llanelli as the Reds get their URC challenge going against Dwayne Peel's Scarlets, who are looking to shake off their traditional slow start in the competition. However with a trip to a rejuvenated Connacht to come next week, followed by three fixtures against South African opposition, it could be a very tough beginning for the Welsh region. The game kicks off at 5.30pm. Off the field, a protest is expected from Scarlets fans unhappy with the plan to axe two of the four regions by Welsh rugby chiefs and there will be a 'save our Scarlets' march from the town centre to the ground. Like Munster, Scarlets did get their act together late in the season last term to book their place in the play-offs - beating Leinster along the way - and, also like Munster, their journey ended in the quarter-finals. The hosts have lost two key men in the summer in Vaea Fifita and Alex Craig, but Munster have a vast experience gap to fill too, following the retirements of Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne. McMillan believes there are enough leaders in the squad ready to come through to support club skipper Tadhg Beirne, who won't be back until the Leinster game in round four, and Craig Casey - who captained Ireland for the first time in their summer series and leads the team out at Parc y Scarlets today. Jack Crowley is kept in reserve as McMillan leans largely on the players who have been available to him right throughout his first pre-season. Known for driving culture change, the former policeman will need time to bend the organisation to his will but he has already identified the need for more consistency. Munster can still get up for the big games but the Kiwi wants to see them back that up against teams that don't have that same aura. In other words, this kind of fixture.
