Can the Scarlets Castres side their inhibitions...

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...and put it to the Frenchmen?

That's not too bad - shame McGog will miss the Northampton game but good that Turnbull will be back for the xmas derbies.

What did you think of Rhodri's Williams performance rugbydreamer? I thought he was a bit of a liability again but that the other Rhodri (Jones) had some excellent experience against a big physical French pack and coped quite well.

Rhodri Williams had a shaky 5 mins when he and Rhys first came on with 25mins to go (thought that was a big gamble by Nige!). He had one dodgy kick, and also think he tried to do a bit too much clever stuff around the fringes but with 15mins to go he settled down and got on with it and have to say i didn't really notice him after that. So not doing anything brilliant but not terrible either which is okay by me.

Tavis I thought was better then he was against the O's but still really needs to work on his passing.

I am hugely impressed by Rhodri Jones, 19 years old, usually a loose head and coming on against that Castres pack at tight head and holding his own! Amazing. That boy has talent that's for sure.

Did the Scarlets lose out on a possibly vital TBP?

Any chance Rhodri Jones has an Irish granny?

Yup - I can't wait to see Rhodri Jones and Gardiner in say 4/5 years if they keep developing as they are at the moment, packing down besides Owens or Emyr Phillips.

As I saw it, Rhys P and Rhodri W came on and both looked very shaky, but Rhys P grew into the game after about 5 mins, after 5 mins we had a scrum in the Castres 22 and Rhodri fed the ball into the Castres 2nd row, he made a few ok passes and a few which were really slow and then he did that very poor kick and never really did much good after it. We didn't really have much quick service after that.
Priestland (obviously much more experienced and comfortable at this level granted) gave us another attacking threat and gave us options. But maybe I'm being harsh on Rhodri becoz of his impact (or lack of) in the 1st few games as being what 19? and coming on behind a under pressure pack against a huge Castres side in the HC would be difficult for anyone.

U keep your hands off him Red Stag and hand back Rhys Ruddock while your there

(though I know he has a cap already)

Stag - we did indeed lose out on the TBP, we messed up two absolute sitters of chances in the first half. Bit annoyed about that now, even if it was nervy stuff in the second half until the last 10mins. Reckon that could cost us in this group unfortunately.

And keep your mits off of our Rhodri!


Priest - I think Rhordi W is 18, and I thought he did well against the O's last week. Not great yesterday but he certainly wasn't completely dire, so for an 18yr old at this level....not bad really. Don't think any of our other options are fully fit though, so guess we've got to make do!

Also just read that Dom Day has a slight calf tear, so not sure how long he'll be out for.

Thats grim about Dom Day, where did you read that? Have you seen the highlights yet? as I haven't seen the disallowed try again - think it was Lamont who had a pass that was adjudged to be foward from maybe JD2, by the North Stand and East Stand corner.
When I first saw it and saw the reply on the big screen (and the reactions of the players) it didn't look foward and looked a legitimate try, but as I say I haven't seen it again.

Dreamer are you coming over to Thomond? I know Penfro and MrsPenfro are coming over?

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Thats grim about Dom Day, where did you read that? Have you seen the highlights yet? as I haven't seen the disallowed try again - think it was Lamont who had a pass that was adjudged to be foward from maybe JD2, by the North Stand and East Stand corner.
When I first saw it and saw the reply on the big screen (and the reactions of the players) it didn't look foward and looked a legitimate try, but as I say I haven't seen it again.

it was from Liam Williams and looked very level, which of course is no where near forward.

Priest - the forward pass was marginal, but aye just slightly forward I thought. I've seen tries like that given plenty of times so maybe a bit harsh but the officials got it spot on. Was really impressed with them actually thought the AR's really helped the Ref out, which is as it should be.

Stag - sadly not no. Week before Christmas and just after the big meet weekend = no money for me! a bit gutted really as that was the away game I really wanted to make this season

Your more than welcome at a Pro 12 (if we don't shunt you off to Musgrave Park) that is

Or just come to Munster v Ospreys/Blues HEC quarter final

We've already played Munster in the Pro12 this season, so shall have to wait until next season I guess!

Was hoping to get to the Ulster v Scarlets match but that's on a ruddy Friday, so curse the stupid scheduling!

And a QF eh? reckon I'll be too busy watching the Scarlets playing in one

Amlin games are usually on a Friday - you'll be fine

but also



Twill be HEC or nothing for us!

All I know is that the HEC is the be and end all

It seems to produce games like no other rugby tournament in the world.

To be fair the Super 15 does also but its a differnt kind of excitement.

Ah nothing can touch the HEC for me I don't think (for non international rugby anyway). I mean those last few minutes of the Munster v Saints one was incredible.

And I don't know what the HEC does to the Scarlets but we always seem to click for it, Ben Morgan's try yesterday was an immense team effort, definitely one for the highlights real! Just stunning.

Well always click in the last 3 years anyway, we won't meantion the 'barren' run... Doh!

shhh speak not of it!

Same with Munster. The amount of games again and again and again where we seem to just produce this other level to overcome the odds or snatch an unseeming victory.

It's crazy what this comp can do to teams isn't it? Makes it so special though.

Just read something mental on scarlets fever website.

In the 2nd half, I saw Timani hand something to the first aid guy but couldn't figure out what it was. Turns out it was one of his teeth! and he just handed it to him, rubbed his jaw and calmly carried on with his game. What a guy!

Thats crazy! makes him an even more of a beast and legend than I thought he'd be! What a guy.

It's amazing the amount of games where your team goes to some fortress in France/England/Ireland and battles to the very last and gets a result, or (and some of the best games) both teams for some reason totally forget the importance of the game and just throw the ball around and play high risk great rugby - Like the Scarlets Perpingan game last year

What you lads reckon are chances are on Friday against Saints?
Obvious thing being the scrum but we coped well against the Osprey scrum so i can't see us getting to battered but we will be under pressure,

It will be interesting to see how Saints cope with the kicking game if Nigel starts with Stevo at 10 and Preistland at 15 "which i reckon he will" that would keep the territoriality game in our favour,

We wont be push overs but you have to hand the favourite tag to Saints at home,
over all a losing bonus point wouldn't be a disaster.

We'll be hugely lucky to get a LBP imo.

First 20-30 mins is going to be key, we really need to stand up to Saints' pack otherwise they'll shove us all over the place ala the Tigers last season.

What might work in our favour is if we trick Saints into playing an open game as I think we have the better of them there.

Going to take our best performance of the season so far for us to even have a chance though. It's a tough place to go to get any sort of result, but I hope our incredibly travelling support is in great voice again to give our team a lift. Ymlaen!

They'll be up for it too after such a narrow defeat.

watching Northampton against Munster yesterday, they like to throw the ball around anyway, no need to trick them into an open game, problem is their front 5 will murder ours, we need to start with Timani and hope we live with them, any semblance of 50:50 possession and we stand a chance I reckon.

That they will Stag, that's why the first half is so key for me. We can't allow them to boss it too much otherwise they'll steam roller us. Quick turn around for this one too, hope we get over our bumps and bruises by Friday.


Turskter - can't see us getting anywhere near 50% possession. Reckon we'll have to make do with about 40% if that, but if anyone can do it, we can. Agree with you Timani has to start, thought he was superb against Castres, as was Welch. Only problem we have now, is who to have as cover? Unless we go for backrow cover and just move Shingler up to 2nd row if needed (really not ideal!).

I dont think Northampton will be naive enough to play an open game against us. They know our weakness is up front which is where their strength lies. They will have seen what we can do in open play and try and keep it tight. I'm afraid its going to be a long day at the office for our pack. If we keep the ball (and their pack) moving we might have a chance but to be honest I would be pleasantly surprised if we have a LBP.

Would settle for an LBP, just don't tell the players that!

Glas a du wrote:Would settle for an LBP, just don't tell the players that!

+1