Team News – Munster

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Scarlets team to face Munster tomorrow…

15 Williams
14 North
13 S Williams
12 J Davies
11 Lamont
10 Priestland
9 G Davies
1 I Thomas
2 Rees (c)
3 R Thomas
4 Timani
5 Welch
6 Shingler
7 McCusker
8 Morgan

Reps: 16 Owens, 17 John, 18 Manu, 19 Murphy, 20 J Edwards, 21 Knoyle, 22 S Jones, 23 Iongi

3.30

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Metal studs click on the floor, the air is filled with ralgex and various smells. Players sit with multi coloured I pods, move their heads in rhythm, while others look down, look up. Nervous energy, electric in it’s intensity.

The dressing room doors swing open, a figure jams them open, as wide as possible. The players all look up and curse why Nigel has left the cold gusting wind in, to their sanctuary of warmth and peace.

He moved to the centre of the room, clapped his hands then stopped.

” Can you hear that, can you hear them. All that singing is for you, each and everyone of you. Take it in, remember that sound, when you run out there, today.

These are the games , you play rugby for.

All the years i have been at this fantastic club, the great games at Stradey, the Heineken Cup games, beating touring teams, were stepping stones, for this day, this game, in this wonderful stadium, with that kind of support. We have prepared really well , you all know your targets and what we must do, to over power this Munster team.
They will come at us hard, you must hit them harder, faster and smarter, think, play heads up rugby and show everyone what you can do.

Sanjay, they will try and test you. Rog will kick high and into the corners, he won’t stop, make him wish he had.

George, remember the new moves, they will be marking you tight, hold the ball until the boys get to you.

Scott, hold the line, Mafi is good, but your better. Watch him and keep knocking him back, if it’s on use your speed.
Foxy, if it’s on, go for it, use your support runners and pin them back with grubbers if needed.
Sean, again Rog will be lobbing balls everywhere, watch your positioning with these unknown Munster wings.

Rhys play territory, their back row will try to get to you, be aware of Leamy, he is quick. Don’t always go for distance with your kicks on penalties, get them in, Be precise, be clever.

Gareth, work their backrow, keep them guessing and use your strength against Murray. Watch him, he is quick around the fringes.

Rhys, Mathew, Iestyn, prove the doubters wrong, lock the scrum, be formidable, our scrums and lineout’s must be faultless. Garin has worked you hard, now use it and deliver.

Sione, Damien, tackle, tackle, tackle, they will keep driving through the middle. They will try and smash through, smash them harder, drive harder, let them know they are not going to win anything. Give me a full 80 mins.

Shings, line out’s are crucial, we must have the ball. If you can get their throw in great, if not, be a pain. Rhys he is your target.

Rob, your tackling has been ferocious, watch the upper body tackles and lead the pack. Watch the penalties. Be aggressive at the breakdown , they will.

Ben make your mark on this Munster eight, work with Gareth and keep them thinking, be strong, use your head and get at them.

Nigel pauses and takes a step back and nearly trips on the red tape, carelessly left on the floor. The intensity lifts a bit and Nigel senses it.
He composes himself, then delivers an impassioned voice, full of emotion.

“They have won this cup and they are a good side. But you, all of you are a great side.
They are not as hungry as you are, right now. All of you have worked hard for this, years of hard yards, pain, sweat, the tears and all the turmoil and bitter defeats, was to prepare us, for these games.

Do not leave the field, filled with anguish, do not leave the field, knowing you could have given more.
There are past players, great Scarlet players, standing in this room with you today, who would love the chance to take this challenge today”.

Nigel pauses and turns slightly around, as he hears the sound ascending even louder, a signal that kick off time, approaches.

“Do you hear that, those voices out there, will give everything for you, they travel all over Europe not to let you down. Do not let them down.
You carry the hopes and dreams of all those people out there, for West Wales and for Wales.
We are almost there, today we put the past behind us and go on and qualify and win this Trophy.

Your families are here, son’s and daughter’s, mother’s and father’s, Grand parents, young and old, for their love of the Scarlets and they sing for you.

Now play for them and get out there and make them proud”.

Munster Match Preview

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The forthcoming 3rd round HEC visit of Munster may well be the biggest game in the brief history of  Parc Y Scarlets, but are there wider implications for the Region should victory be achieved on 10th December?

Over the last few seasons an underpowered front five, albeit hamstrung further by unprecedented front row injuries last season, have struggled to compete with Europe’s top tier teams. As a result, only the most one eyed of Turks has genuinely gone into a HEC campaign since 2008 believing that any realistic challenge on this great competition was achievable.

However, despite these failings, the trade-mark brand of champagne rugby has drawn huge praise from rugby purists acrossEurope, and in particular from the broadcasters at Sky. Indeed, those atFranklinGardenswill remember fondly the sight of Stuart Barnes in front of the massed ranks proudly waving a Scarlets flag.

So, after two rounds are the winds of change now genuinely in the air for Pwding and his bois, or is this a false dawn? And what effect could a home win overMunsterhave for the Region? These are important questions, not only in terms of these seasons ambitions, but also for the manner in which the Region moves forward over the next few years.

With regard to the game itself, another Feverite recently mentioned that many of the young guys within the squad genuinely believe they are contenders this season.  Brave words perhaps, but given recent events both for club and country, can such confidence and expectation be ignored?

It is arguable that the two results to date show the genuine progress that this team has made. Indeed, the soft underbelly, seen so recently atWelford Roadlast season, appears to have gone, to be replaced by a steely determination which has arrived, miraculously, without any significant expenditure. But, is it more than that?

Historically, despite being the team renowned for its silky backs, in truth we never really scared anyone did we. Teams with a half decent HEC pack knew that they would ultimately strangle the life out of us, and sadly we have watched our ambitions in the HEC die a slow and painful death over the last few seasons. However, we suddenly now possess a backline that is not only silky, but which can also physically hurt you, and there is clearly a new physical edge to the team as a whole. We even have a driving maul!

So, a win, and we would sit pretty at the top of the pool with serious aspirations of qualification in the New Year.

But, what of the effect on the Region as a whole if we do make the knock-out stages? Our attendances this season appear to be moving in the right direction which, given the effect of the World Cup, is a genuine achievement. Whilst full houses may still be the stuff of dreams, is an average gate of 9k so unrealistic in the coming seasons, particularly on the back of a potential successful HEC campaign? Perhaps not.

There is also to be considered the fact that his change in our fortunes coincides with the misfortune of others. For years we have looked on as other regions have made much of the fancy Dan’s and pin-up bois that graced their teams. Ultimately, it may not have boosted their attendances, or brought huge success, but in the age of celebrity people wanted to be associated with them, and this ultimately benefitted revenue streams.

However, the boot is now firmly on the other foot, and many of the pin-up bois of Welsh rugby grace our backline. For years, we all shouted out for the big name signing, but suddenly from within came Rhys, George, Foxy, Scott et al.

The status and celebrity of these bois, and dare I say their looks, will perhaps bring people to Parc Y Scarlets but, more importantly, so too will the brand of rugby they try to play. Add to this the marketing prowess now coming to the fore under the leadership of Mark Davies, and suddenly you realise that it is a damn good time to be not only a Scarlet fan, but also part of our Region.

We owe Munster, too many narrow defeats and draws in recent times, so let’s use them as a stepping stone for moving forward, not only this season but also into a new Scarlet Dawn.

 

Brave Scarlets Claim Bonus Consolation In Ravenhill

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Ulster 24 – 17 Scarlets

A severely understrength Scarlets side travelled to the North of Ireland on Friday night and left with a credible loosing bonus point. The West Walians had been missing eight of their first choice squad to national duty along with deciding to rest key personnel ahead of this weekend’s titanic Heineken cup encounter with Munster.

However that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the young turks with Ulster fielding a near first choice 15. With a huge gust behind the backs of the Scarlets the Welsh men got the first points on the board within the first two minutes. After the visitors kicked off some risky play from the hosts brought the first try of the evening. Deep inside his own 22 former Springbok Pedrie Wannenburg generously awarded Sean Lamont an early Christmas gift with the prominent Scot picking off an interception to stroll over in the corner. Stephen Jones missed the conversion in difficult elements but nonetheless it was a hugely promising start for the Scarlets.

However this early score by the visitors was to prove very much against the run of play with the Ulster pack dominating the Scarlets eight. Gritty Scarlets defence and the inaccuracy of Ulster fly half David Humphries meant Ulster were not rewarded for their dominance of possession and territory. After fifteen minutes the next score occurred. After some neat passing by Stephen Jones and a lovely floated pass from young centre Adam Warren deadly Tongan winger and new signing Villiame Iongi left Craig Gilroy for dead and raced in in the corner. Jones missed the conversion but the visitors had a handy ten point lead.

David Humphries got Ulster on the board with a penalty after twenty one minutes but it was not until just before the interval that the Ulstermen’s forward dominance told. Scarlets full back Daniel Evans was controversially sin-binned for entering the ruck from the side by unpopular Irishman Allain Rolland. The result being that lively Ulster scrum half and official man of the match Paul Marshall made an impressive break down the right hand touchline where prominent British Lion Stephen Ferris eventually crashed over. Humphries missed the conversion and the Scarlets lead 10-8 at the break.

Ulster hit back straight after the re-start with a high tackle on Nevin Spence allowing Humphries to edge Ulster into the lead.

Humphries then added a further penalty to make it 14-10 in the hosts favour. On the hour mark another Scarlets infringement at the ruck saw Humphries extent the Ulster lead even further.

But it was not until the 65th minute that the game became almost out of reach for the Scarlets when after some promising back play from the Ulstermen, Ferris yet again powered his way over after brushing off young Scarlets scrum half Rhodri Williams to score. Humphries added the extras and put Ulster into a commanding 24-10 lead.

However despite being over powered the Scarlets showed an abundance of energy and character and after Ulster prop Malkin was given a  ten minute breather for slowing the ball down impressive Scarlets number eight Kieran Murphy barged his way over following a series of dominant scrums from the Scarlets. Jones this time made no mistake with the conversion to bring the Scarlets within range.

What looked like a comfortable win for Ulster was nearly taken away for them with some intense pressure for the Scarlets nearly handing them a draw. However a cross kick by Jones to the dangerous Iongi was slightly off target which handed the victory to the Ulstermen.

A gritty and brave display by the Scarlets was not enough to claim victory in Northern Ireland but a loosing bonus point was a more than credible result and they will feel being back to full strength in the Heineken will bring them more than just a solidary point.