SCARLETS head coach Nigel Davies insists he is sticking by his selection policy after leaving out his three senior internationals for Saturday's shock Magners League defeat in Treviso.

Davies opted to rest British Lions Stephen Jones and Matthew Rees as well as Scotland wing Sean Lamont for the 34-28 loss at the Stadio Monigo, while Wales squad members Ken Owens and Jonathan Davies started on the bench.

MISSED: Scarlets coach Nigel Davies stands by his decision to rest Stephen Jones, Matthew Rees and Sean Lemont for the Treviso game.

With influential Aussie No. 8 David Lyons and Wales prop Rhys Thomas absent because of hamstring niggles, the Scarlets took the field with a youthful line-up led by 24-year-old Rob McCusker.

The Scarlets played some superb rugby to lead 22-9 at half-time, only for Treviso to launch a determined comeback to claim a historic first win with a try four minutes from time.

Davies has come in for some flak over his decision not play a full-strength line-up in Italy, but the former Wales centre insists he has no regrets over his selection.

"I am 100 per cent sure the selection was the right one, the first-half display showed that," he said.

"After the break we let things slip, but when you look at performances from Rhys Priestland, who was excellent again, and Emyr Phillips and Ken Owens, who played their part, I don't think other players would have made a difference.

"That team was good enough to go and win in Treviso and that team will take the field for us again this season. We have a plan for our internationals and I am sticking with that.

Hopefully, we will have a bit more experience coming back this week. Yes, we are disappointed. We didn't front up in the second half and slipped off too many tackles, but there was encouragement that can be taken."

One major positive was the two-try performance of 18-year-old wing George North on his Magners League debut.

"He is a really exciting talent and we were delighted with his performance," added Davies.

"He had a lot to do for both those tries and took them brilliantly.

"Obviously, he is still young, but he has a bright future ahead of him."

The Scarlets, who host first-round league leaders Connacht on Saturday, are awaiting the results of a scan on lock Damian Welch, who may have a fracture to his hand. Full-back Morgan Stoddart left the field before half-time with a slight hamstring niggle, but should be fit for the weekend.