Scarlets vs Munster - Playoff battle heating up

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Written by Rugby Dreamer

The Scarlets had only lost once at home in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 this season. They had also lost the last 14 games in all competitions they had played in against the day’s opponents, Munster. Both facts were something for the local supporters, who had turned out in large numbers, to equally celebrate and despair.

Munster, often incorrectly perceived to be an aging side, were still trying to cope with the smart of being knocked out of the Heineken Cup by a fellow province. Could they then handle losing to a team that for the last five years they have had such a strangle hold on?

The match was set to be a nail biter, with both teams evenly matched at the injury ravaged end of the season, and both vying for a play-off spot.
The game began quietly enough, with the official of the day, Alain Rolland, making his presence felt, which was to set the tone for the rest of the match.

It took just over ten minutes for the first points to appear. Munster had been pressuring the Scarlets deep in their own 22, until a crunching tackle helped enforce a turnover. The Scarlets then ran a sublime length of the pitch try, with the ball going through the hands of at nine Scarlets players, to send wing Sean Lamont over in the corner.

This seemed to be the signal for the floodgates to open, as within a few minutes Munster had scored a try of their own, coming from a Scarlets error (to be a theme of the evening) from their lineout in their 22, to send Ryan crashing through some very weak defending.

Seventeen minutes on the clock and it was 7-7, with very little separating either side.

The rest of the first half, apart from one gleaming move from Munster that sent Zebo over (with the aid from the TMO), continued to be a turgid, stop-start affair. The scrums failed to function and with Munster playing as Munster do and smothering the breakdown, ignoring the need to release the tackled player, and the officials happy to let them. The Scarlets seemed incapable of helping themselves though, where even any half chances were snuffed out by their own unforced errors.

An exchange of penalties saw the first half end 10 – 17 to the visitors, although their lead was slightly overshadowed by Tommy O’Donnell having to be stretchered off the pitch, which looked to hopefully be a precautionary measure.

The second half saw an improvement from the home side, and with the visitors sticking to their spoiling game plan. With teams so evenly matched, in what was such a key encounter, were given no chance to express themselves in what was turning out to be an increasingly frustrating encounter. Munster offered little to nothing, whilst the Scarlets kept trying to apply pressure but to no avail.

It wasn’t until the 54th minute that the Scarlets notched more points on the board to make it 10 – 20.

A few minutes later, a brilliant angle cut by backrow Aaron Shingler, led to an excellent try, after the Scarlets had been doggedly trying to move up field. Priestland converted.

What followed were periods of Scarlets pressure that failed time and again through poor handling, poor control at the breakdown and poor kicking, to be converted into points. It was not until the 71st minute that they managed to level the scores to make it a nervous last ten minutes for the Scarlets faithful, who had remained all match in good voice, despite the exasperating nature of the game.

Could the Scarlets finally overcome their fierce rivals Munster and put themselves in with a chance of making the play-offs? Could Munster grind out yet another win to keep their play-off chance alive? Neither side had been spectacular, or allowed to be, in this match, yet the commitment and ferocity from both sides was clear to see.

Ten minutes of extreme Scarlets pressure in the end, with Munster doing their best to spoil every facet of play, led to no penalties nor even an attempt at a drop goal, and saw the match finishing as an incredibly unsatisfying draw. Neither team looked happy; the Scarlets fans for the first time fell silent.

Munster still limp on towards the end of the season with the prospect of silverware to play for. The Scarlets look to be ending another season just shy of the top four, again having to live with the label of being the “nearly” side, with no one but themselves to blame. The disconsolate look of apology full back Liam Williams flashed to the supporters in the North Stand as he applauded his thanks, said far more than any words could.

The biggest disappointment though was that despite some shining displays from Warren, Shingler, Zebo and Dineen, the game wasn’t allowed to flow. Two key aspects, the breakdown and the scrum, were not under the control of the match official, who showed remarkable lack of feeling towards the running of a game. Often after realising his mistake with one call, it appeared that Rolland would immediately award the next penalty to the previously wrongly penalised team, in the appearance of making amends, with calls at some times that left both sets of players, baffled. Whilst the result itself was a disappointment to the 10,741 supporters who had made their way to Parc Y Scarlets, it was the manner in which the game was allowed (or not allowed) to be played, that truly left such a frustrating feeling.

Full time score: 20 - 20

Attendance: 10,741

Man of the Match: Adam Warren

My Man of the Match: Aaron Shingler

Scarlets: Liam Williams, G North, A Warren, S Jones, S Lamont, R Priestland, G Davies, R Jones, M Rees capt, D Manu, S Timani, D Day, A Shingler, J Turnbull, B Morgan.

Replacements: T Knoyle for G Davies (61), S Gardner for R. Jones (74), E Phillips for M Rees (61), P John for Manu (65), K Murphy for Timani (55).
Munster: F Jones; L O'Dea; J Murphy; L Mafi; S Zebo; I Keatley; C Murray; D Kilcoyne; M Sherry; BJ Botha; M O'Driscoll; P O'Connell capt; D Ryan; T O'Donnell; P O'Mahony.

Replacements: I Dineen for Jones (65), T O'Leary for Murray (61), S Archer for Botha (71), D O'Callaghan for O'Driscoll (67), P Butler for O'Donnell (38).
Not Used: D Varley, W du Preez, S Deasy.
Att: 10,741

Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU)

Assistant Referees: Gwyn Morris and David Jones (Both WRU)

Citing Commissioner: Jeff Mark (WRU)

TMO: Nigel Whitehouse (WRU)

http://v2journal.com/scarlets-v-munster.html

Poor view he can't help himself..the Langer.

Stag..scarlets didn't deserve to win. I thought Rolland was very harsh on Munster the last quarter. What would you expect from a leinster ref though

Thought Dineen looked good and kilcoyne went well. Also Zebo looked the better winger today than his illustrious opponent

viewtothegym wrote:

Worse was the supporters reaction. Bunch of losers...

If that's an example of the notorious Munster breakdown I've been hearing about for years, I think it's been a complete myth all along. Scarlets didn't even look like they were trying to match the Munster forwards physically.

Let's face it, the breakdown is an area where it's easy to get away with things, whether you mean to or not. Anyone who thinks Rolland is responsible for Scarlets not winning is kidding themselves, the breakdown in the first half was one of the poorest excuses I've seen yet from a Welsh region. It's easy to scapegoat someone of Rolland's rep but will solve eff all. Truth is the same would have happened under most refs.

Wales know how to clear out effectively the majority of the time. This is an area the regions just don't seem to have a clue about on the evidence of tonight. The coaches are responsible, there's no other explanation of why they can do it for Wales and not for the regions.

Folks - complaining about officials, their nationality, bias, etc is a waste of time.

Pot Hale wrote:Folks - complaining about officials, their nationality, bias, etc is a waste of time.

+1

why is it? its a feature of the game, and if discussing/moaning about that is a waste of time so is discussing/moaning about any other aspect of the game

Scrum looked not to bad aswell today

Knowsit

Thats not just the breakdown, the first rule of tackling, especially against a big guy is hit low, preferably at the knee, then why the FUDGE does Preistland insist on hitting high and falling away, ESPECIALLY ON YOUR OWN GOAL LINE YOU USELESS LITTLE TOSSSSSAAAAA!!!!!!

Look lads there's always loads of skulduggary and cheating at the breakdown, thats the game FFS!

Jeebus you want to see what Leinster got away with last night against Ulster....but there's no point Ulster fans complaining because we got away with murder against Munster in the HEC QF!

Its swings and roundabouts, all good sides chance their arms at the breakdown and see what they get away with and the side that can play closest to the edge and dominate physically tends to get the rub of the green. The AB's are the masters at it.

Rolland didn't have a good game but Scarlets got plenty of calls in theri favour. They need to learn to play smarter and adapt to whats happening in front of them. You don't win games by crying at the referee.

Gretgael1 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Folks - complaining about officials, their nationality, bias, etc is a waste of time.

+1

Its replaced rugby as the national sport in Wales over the last few years

tbf i would love to see how many penaties are given for backchatting the ref in the welsh leagues

I wouldn't say a complete waste of time. The least room possible should be allowed towards this type of controversy and even though Rolland wasn't guilty tonight, he shouldn't be allowed to referee French/Irish games. I'm not just saying it for him, Nigel Owens shouldn't have been allowed to referee the SA-Samoa game in the WC. It shouldn't be that hard to appoint a ref with no link or affiliation to the teams or the result. As I said, it should be more to kill that excuse in future than anything else.

Gavin

A lot! A prem coach recently got a 12 month ban for the way he spoke to a ref didn't he?!

GavinDragon wrote:tbf i would love to see how many penaties are given for backchatting the ref in the welsh leagues

Not enough, if they're still doing it.

Jenny,

bummer then we are out then - wanted an Ospreys tie as we can do them !
thanks anyhoo

Warriors

Guys, let's not bait those supporters that are hurting. Losing is not a pleasant experinece and we have all experienced it before. So lay of the comments to entice response please.

It was a draw Biltong, so no one is hurting from losing

This argument of whether Rolland should ref French games isn't an issue in my eyes. He was born in Ireland and has played international rugby for Ireland, he's Irish.

I'd argue that he shouldn't be reffing an Irish province against a non Irish side. It shouldn't happen and it needs to be sorted.

We've had Welsh refs refereeing betwen Welsh and Irish teams, there aren't enough Scottish refs to have neutral ones unfortunately.

Thomond never saw the game, by the reactions on here it sounded like one.

Gret

But as stated above, Owens should've been nowhere near the samoa SA game at the WC, and was accused by Samoa of cheating wasn't he?!

DOD the National sport in wales is winning grand slams pal

But isn't it the same thing? Owens was born and bred in Wales, he's Welsh. If it was another ref they would have another excuse for losing. I do see where you're coming from but I don't think it's an issue. But I do think there should be neutral refs in the pro 12.

Relax view, it's been reported.

Now let's all take a chill pill, it's just a game and my mental tantrums generally tend to fizzle out after an hour max

All can be amended. For the Scarlets they need to learn the fundamentals of the breakdown. On the issue of refs see my post above. Neither is a task beyond reach

Lets leave the ref thing aside. I want to talk about the game but am relucantant to keep talking about was the ref biased or not.

Anyway few things:

- Aaron Shingler confirmed tonight what a good player he is

- How did people thought Kilcoyne did? I thought unspectacular but not terrible.

- Any word on what looked a serious injury to O'Donnell

He was solid in the scrums, stag, looked pretty decent in the loose, looks like a good loosehead, now if we can develop Archer.....

Shingler is indeed a very good palyer, shame he is behind such a talented Welsh backrow.

Nothing about TOD but I'd say out until next season September/October or so.

one thing i would like to say is the munster pack remind me so much of the all blacks in how clever they are at the breakdown, they slow down opp ball and deliver quick ball on a plate in attack,when you have munster doing tht and leinster's backline playing like they can how do ireland not dominate european int rugby and really compete against the likes of nz?

Shingler played well, he wasn't outstanding, but he's coming along great and I'd imagine the Welsh are very happy to have him.

Kilcoyne I thought was more than solid, good in the scrum and put himself about in the loose. He can be happy with his performance.

TOD was up and walking before the game finished so I reckon there's nothing too serious wrong with him.

I think it's a bit rich Ireland fans saying that Welsh fans always blame the officials when they lose, perhaps you have completely forgotten of all the on-going complaining about the refs/touch judges in your last three losses to Wales? .

I haven't seen any blaming of the refs for the draw tonight. If anyone has watched it and blamed the ref, then they are wrong. I do find it odd that only the Welsh get called out when they comment on the officials performance, just like we can only win a game if the opposition are playing badly and get the refs calls all game. I also find it odd that when the Irish think we are blaming the ref they come out with "But there was bad calls for boths teams"...."We played badly but you didn't win". Someone's already pointed this out but Munster (and Leinster) always come in from the side and lie all over the tackled player; they've done it for so long and got it away with it it has practically become the norm. Which is to an extent, not acceptable. However, after failing to beat Munster in what is now 15 occassions one would think Scarlets would have become more streetwise to this. I said earlier, mistakes and very poor decsion making may cost them the game as it has been doing all season.

Anyway few things:

- Aaron Shingler confirmed tonight what a good player he is

- How did people thought Kilcoyne did? I thought unspectacular but not terrible.

- Any word on what looked a serious injury to O'Donnell

Agreed on Shingler. I saw a stat had Kilcoyne within the top three carriers at one point, not much more you could ask of him if accurate. I also heard O'Donnell's injury wasn't too bad, early doors yet.

But isn't it the same thing? Owens was born and bred in Wales, he's Welsh. If it was another ref they would have another excuse for losing. I do see where you're coming from but I don't think it's an issue. But I do think there should be neutral refs in the pro 12.

The issue wasn't of him being from one of the countries involved, twas the fact that the result had some bearing on whether Wales made it through or not. I think that as long as you can stamp out the ref excuse in future, there's no reason why you shouldn't considering how much bad feeling it generates.

I've said it before Thomond I think Archer will never amount to more than good Pro 12 level.

Gael, glad to hear that about O'Donnell

Gavin, a few reasons. For one we can't use our foreign players and have generally recruited well. Another personal feeling I have is that the collective will and synergy that drives Ulster, Leinster and Munster gives them a gear that Ireland can't reach.

Morg

I think that side entry/fall on the wrong side/thrust yourself in the way of the ball kind of thing is the difference between the NH and SH club game. In the super 15 Munster would be penalised so heavily they wouldn't be able to compete until they wisened up!

I also hate this crap about being allowed to step over the ruck and kick the ball, or get your toe into a gap and punt it loose, you don't see it in super rugby, it would be penalised, and thats why super rugby is far easier on the eye, meaning it is followed pretty well, and participation is high!

I wouldn't have huge hopes for him either but he could be a solid Rabo player, Munstr always need the MODs and the Anthony Horgans. Every team does.

Morgan, a fair few comments about Rolland were deleted.

Knowsit17 wrote:

Anyway few things:

- Aaron Shingler confirmed tonight what a good player he is

- How did people thought Kilcoyne did? I thought unspectacular but not terrible.

- Any word on what looked a serious injury to O'Donnell

Agreed on Shingler. I saw a stat had Kilcoyne within the top three carriers at one point, not much more you could ask of him if accurate. I also heard O'Donnell's injury wasn't too bad, early doors yet.

But isn't it the same thing? Owens was born and bred in Wales, he's Welsh. If it was another ref they would have another excuse for losing. I do see where you're coming from but I don't think it's an issue. But I do think there should be neutral refs in the pro 12.

The issue wasn't of him being from one of the countries involved, twas the fact that the result had some bearing on whether Wales made it through or not. I think that as long as you can stamp out the ref excuse in future, there's no reason why you shouldn't considering how much bad feeling it generates.

Thought it may be something to do with his parentage, like a SA mother or something, misread it

Still, that does sound like a lame enough excuse by the Samoans. Anyway, the ref thing has already been done to death so I'm gonna let it rest

its a shame stag. And i find it ironic that you feel that the collective spirit at provincial level doesnt get replicated at national level, where as in wales our tribalism is totally ruining our domestic game yet players and fans alike put it all to one side for the national cause

Gav, coaching is also a problem. Similar to what some people believe is worng with your regions.

Thomond wrote:Why can't people just say something about that.

We have no issue with Irish posters, the problem is the standard of referees in the Rabo direct and the fussy Irish ones.

Gav, it is basically the opposite of Wales.

Look at George North for Wales v George North for Scarlets.

He actually plays better against top class internationals for Wales but worse against 2nd string players in the Pro 12.

As I said earlier, people would give out if they let things go, you can't win.

yes that definately appears to be a problem over here, it will be interesting to see how the salary cap effects the welsh team, imo its good as it will give more welsh players exposure as less likely to have marquee signings, which as stag pointed out is perhaps another element in the irish game

Thomond wrote:As I said earlier, people would give out if they let things go, you can't win.

Of course not, you Irish lads are now regular opponents, week to week in the Rabo, In europe and the 6 Nations, your in the way to put it bluntly!
You have to lose for us to be successful.

Thomond

To put it into context, I'm not his biggest fan but Barnes has really adopted a 'let it be' attitude in the AP, and the games he is now reffing are turning into very high quality ones, opposed to any game Clancy and co get involved with!

I shingler. And Stevo. And Rhodri. And Georgie. And Sanjay. And Ben. And Timani. And Warren

All had v good games.

Our lack.of brains makes me though.

The thing that disappointed me the most was the way Stephen jones appeared to step aside for Munsters second try. I've always thought he was a pretty tight defender but he let Zebo through without even touching him.

mckay

Thats harsh, he doesn't have the agility to catch Zebo, I'd worry about the way Priestland closes his eyes and rolls aside on his own try line!!!

thebluesmancometh wrote:Thomond

To put it into context, I'm not his biggest fan but Barnes has really adopted a 'let it be' attitude in the AP, and the games he is now reffing are turning into very high quality ones, opposed to any game Clancy and co get involved with!

Higher quality or just more tries? I love both offensive and defensive rugby. The Super 15 is exciting but I enjoy a 13-12 tight game as much probably more, during a S15 game I usually think what pish poor tackling is on show (at times) and how an U-18 team could prbably do better!

dreamer who was the number 20? he seemed to carry well, wasnt a massive guy either

I thought Rolland was awful tonight. However this time it was in our benefit over all. He was cocking up decisions then mysteriously giving penalties at subsequent plays. He's a joke as far as I'm concerned but at least tonight it wasn't a welsh team suffering his guff and nonsense.

Scarlets looked like they were trying every trick in the book to lose the game! Gutted Scott Williams didn't play because I'd have hauled Priestland off after the first 10 min. Absolutely useless! What a mare. On yesterday's performance Biggar is in better form at the moment - yuck, did I just say that? I need a shower .... so. unclean. must. scrub. mouth.

The number of times we got turned over or pinged after passing to an isolated forward was ridiculous. Don't we ever learn for crud's sakes! Then there was the knock on's That was a golden opportunity to put one over a seriously depleted Munster and we 'ed it!

P'd off now

Oh here's another point. I was very impressed with Dineen when he came on. Thought he looked very good.