Wales legend Shane Williams says he expects a change in the balance of power at the URC this season and has named the Scarlets as the most effective Welsh team.

Dwayne Peel’s side are two places off the bottom of last year’s table, one place ahead of the Dragons and just one point behind the Ospreys, but well behind Cardiff in tenth place. Last year they themselves finished in the top 10, again just one point behind the Ospreys who were the Welsh team leaders.

Former winger Williams expects the Scarlets to dominate as he looks ahead to the new season, saying Peel’s team looks “very, very strong”, retaining some top talent as well as strong youth prospects also coming through the system.

“Cardiff probably looked the strongest of their team last season, the Ospreys looked really good too,” he said. “But if you look at the players they kept and how they performed over the next few years, the Scarlets look very, very strong. They haven’t lost many players due to pay problems in Wales. They still have some good foreign signings and some good young players.

“We saw glimpses of Sam Costelow at the World Cup and he will now be tipped to be Wales’ next ten in the future,” he added. “So there will be a big emphasis on that. He will get a lot out of the World Cup.

“The Scarlets still have a lot of quality, experienced players so I think Dwayne Peel will be very happy with what they have and will want to take advantage of it.

“Cardiff lost players like Liam Williams and Jarrod Evans, very important players for them. The Ospreys don’t have Alun Wyn Jones or Gareth Anscombe, but they do have players like Justin Tipuric, George North and of course Jack Morgan, who has been one of BKT URC’s best players over the years. years now I don’t remember having had a calm or normal game.

“I think the Dragons will be satisfied with their squad and the fact that they didn’t lose many players. But I think the Scarlets will be the happiest of all in the new season.”