Griffin Colby blows his whistle and we're under way at Parc y Scarlets...

There were plenty more talking points from Andy Farrell's 37-man panel for the championship that starts away to France on 5 February.

After the squad was named, BBC Sport NI's Andy Gray dug into the big issues, including the omission of Ulster's skipper Iain Henderson.

Read more.

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It's a big day at the end of a big week for Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak.

He makes his 100th Ulster appearance in Parc y Scarlets this afternoon but could a first Ireland outing be in the offing?

The 24-year-old will certainly be hoping so after he was named in Andy Farrell's Six Nations squad this week.

Read more.

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Today's visitors make four changes from the side who beat Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup last weekend.

There's no Jacob Stockdale, but that loss is offset by the return of Mike Lowry for a first run in Ulster colours since October.

Angus Bell, Werner Kok and Charlie Irvine also come into the side.

There's a quartet of changes for Scarlets too after their defeat by Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup.

Tom Rogers comes in on the wing, which sees a back-three reshuffle of Ellis Mee switching to the left and Blair Murray moving to full-back.

With Jake Ball (HIA) and Max Douglas (bicep) picking up knocks last week, Harvey Cuckson and Sam Lousi form a new second row pair, while prop Archer Holz is back in the team too.

Scarlets: Murray; Rogers, James, Hawkins, Mee; Costelow, A Hughes; Mathias, Elias, Holz, Lousi, Cuckson, Plumtree, Macleod (capt), Anderson.

Replacements: Van der Merwe, Morse, H O'Connor, Price, J Taylor, Blacker, J Williams, Page.

Ulster: Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Kok; Murphy, Doak; Bell, Stewart, O'Toole, Henderson (capt), Irvine, McCann, Timoney, Ward.

Replacements: Herring, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Sheridan, Dalton, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite.

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After Munster edged past a spirited Dragons side in Cork last night, it's another Ireland v Wales clash in the United Rugby Championship this afternoon.

Ulster are in Llanelli to take on Scarlets and Richie Murphy's men will be looking to keep their impressive form this season going in west Wales.

Indeed, the northern province would go as high as second in the table, temporarily at least, should they win this afternoon.

Things aren't going as well for the Scarlets who are rooted to the bottom of the standings and exited the Champions Cup last weekend.

Will this one go along with form? Stay with us to find out!

Image source, Inpho