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

Rodders, I agree Coughlan has been magnificant but Im just second guessing ahead.

However Leamy decided to go and get his knee surgury done properly. He is taking some time out of the game and will be back in time for preseason.

I can see him having a very good year next season. O'Mahony and Ronan alongside him for me is a better fit than O'Mahony and Coughlan.

Coughlan/Wallace will be a good bench option as especially as Ryan covers 6 and O'Mahony is so versatile.

By the end of next season I'd be hoping to see something lilke:

01 du Preez
02 Sherry
03 Botha
04 Ryan
05 O'Connell
06 Leamy
07 Ronan
08 O'Mahony
09 Murray
10 Keatley
11 Zebo
12 Downey
13 Laulala
14 Earls
15 Jones

16 Varley
17 Kilcoyne
18 Archer
19 O'Callaghan
20 Coughlan
21 Stringer
22 O'Gara
23 Howlett

I think he means Leamy would play at 6 with O'Mahony at 8. Or O'Mahony at 6 and Coughlan at 8 if he starts. Again I think Coughlan is like the Jennings for Munster. Solid and dependable, not really a match winner though. O'Mahoney/Leamy are more talented IMO.

I could see Wallace starting at 7 next season to be honest. Probably will be his last season. I see the back row being:

6) Leamy
7) Wallace
8) O'Mahony

Personally Stag I don't see Keatley overtaking O'Gara any time soon. I don't think hes the calibre of 10 that Munster need. If ROG played until he was 50 he'd still be ahead of him.

I mean hes not even featuring from the bench in the big games at this stage. No chance will he be starting 10 in 12 months time.

Howletts way too good to warm the bench imo.

I think that the constant criticism and the dodgey knee have hampered Leamy badly over the last 2 years. Its been a mighty fall from grace and his very poor Irish form has affected his performances for Munster.

I think Leamy will have a very good season as a club man and will have made his peace that he no longer features for Ireland.

A complete hunch. On form Coughlan is the logical choice.

we're finally going to see Zebo v North for this one, aren't we? that should be good.

Zebo's so fast you won't be able to actually see him dreamer......

Rodders I'm talking about this time next year. In September that wont nor should it be the starting team.

I will be very annoyed if Zebo and Earls can't get ahead of a winger who will be turning 35 years old.

The ROG thing is just a bit of a hope. I think that so long as he plays we will be held back in terms of our styles of play. Keatley isn't a great player but as is said on another thread ROG sits way too deep and it leads to slow ball.

I also cant say I've seen ROG control games as he used to for quite a while.

Agree about ROG but I don't think Keatley is the answer.

I think Munster need to recruit a 10 if they have no one else in the pipeline.

Keatley has been a big disappointment. Looked good last season but a fish out of water at this level.

I can see Hanrahan possibly playing at 10 for Munster, but being an option at 12 for Ireland. He has the talent to play both.

In fact stag I would be hoping to see Hanrahan somewhere in that 23 by this time next season..

Rodders he isn't the answer to be fair. I really feel we need a new style of 10.

Keatley impressed me at start of year when ROG was away with Ireland and he played every match. He isn't good at once off games and to be honest thats what you need to do for HEC rugby.

Hanrahan looks the answer for me but I know its too early for him.

rodders wrote:Zebo's so fast you won't be able to actually see him dreamer......

that'll be because Georgie'll have just run over him without breaking his stride. Sure didn't we see what Zebo's defence was like against Ulster *







*in order to overcome any bad karma from that sentence, I would like to say that I actually rate Zebo very highly, thought he was superb against us last season and he's been having a cracking season thus far.

rodders wrote:Zebo's so fast you won't be able to actually see him dreamer......

And North is so big you won't be able to see the sun Ridders...

red_stag wrote:Rodders he isn't the answer to be fair. I really feel we need a new style of 10.

Keatley impressed me at start of year when ROG was away with Ireland and he played every match. He isn't good at once off games and to be honest thats what you need to do for HEC rugby.

Hanrahan looks the answer for me but I know its too early for him.

Throwing him into the HEC would be too early, but surely he should get a chance to start for Munster in the Pro 12 games? In Ireland we seem to have a tendency to cotton wool all our young talented players. I say Hanrahan should get the chance to shine.

He will play Pro 12 next year. He has signed a developement contract with Munster (this is the next step from academy contract and when our guys first start to play in the Pro 12).

I am very excited to see how he gets on!

I am too. The last two players I was this excited emerge were Peter O'Mahony and Keith Earls

Looking forward to this game at least Clancy is not reffing so should be an open game, just have to watch out for tip tackles!

Good result for the Scarlets Ulster losing, this makes the game against Munster Huge.

it was already huge, tis just even bigger now!

Leinster have just done us a big favour. We've been given a lifeline and need to take advantage of it. Apart from the centres we're looking pretty strong so we've got no excuses with there being players out for Munster too.

If we get outplayed and lose then as gutted as I'll be, I can live with it. If we play well and lose by missed kicks at goal again, then as well as we've played this season my memories of it will be games thrown away, cup and league, by poor kicking.

Zebo vs North should be interesting too.

It's all to play for.

I hadnt even considered a North v Zebo battle as a big thing.

North has 21 international caps and where as Zebo is much more inexperienced.

I dont see Zebo getting better of him. If he was at his level he would be starting for Ireland.

It's been pissing it down this morning in Cardiff so I assume Parc Y Sgarlets will be quite muddy

Just hope we don't stick with the shape as named as would much rather see Monty and Warren in the centre berths and Stevo n Preistland switching between OH and FB to keep Munster guessing. Sanjay and North on the wings would be a real threat provide we actually get the ball out that far. Its our third make or break game for the season in a short space of time and the 1st one at home, Either way I'm looking forward to a great battle and hopefully a big crowd for should be a good atmosphere at PYS. Last Chance boys.

Zebo should have been capped for Ireland before now though.

rugbydreamer wrote:Zebo should have been capped for Ireland before now though.

Has he got a Welsh grandmother?

Last time the two met for a league game in Wales, I seem to recall Zebo skinning North to score a try that proved to be the winner.....

Are Munster going for 15 in a row against the Scarlets? I have a feeling it won't get there.

Thomond wrote:Last time the two met for a league game in Wales, I seem to recall Zebo skinning North to score a try that proved to be the winner.....

For some reason this always comes up when Scarlets play Munster or Ireland play Wales. North beat Ireland by himself, enough said.

Okay then, don't see what that really has to do with the conversation, we're talking about Scarlets V Munster. Not Ireland V Wales. North has improved a lot since then as has Zebo, will be interesting to see what happens.

No need for the Ireland v Wales BS. You beat us, you deserved to win, let's get over it.

Why don't you get over Zebo 'skinning' North then? I'm pretty sure it's only you who always brings it up on these threads. He wasn't skinned if I remember rightly, the ball got turned over and passed out wide to Zebo. Not much North could do when the Scarlets epically failed against Munsters game plan.

Out of curiousity, what sort of name is Zebo???

It was a joke for feic sake man, lighten up. It's a French name, his dad is French.

Okay cool. It's just if he had an English name the England fans would be trying to claim him as their own. They're sad like that.

Morg mate what are you on about?

I love the name Zebo, perfect for a try scorer. Zeeeeboooo!

Not a patch on the 'georgie's gonna get you' chant though.

The name is fine, just wondered where it was from. I wonder if we'll still be hearing '14 on the bounce' after this evening?

Morgannwg wrote:The name is fine, just wondered where it was from. I wonder if we'll still be hearing '14 on the bounce' after this evening?

Nah itll be 15 on the bounce.

I was waiting for that!

Looking forward to this one, going to need a hell of a performance to turn over munster

2 hours till I get the train down to Y Parc now. Nervous.

apparently over 10K tickets sold for this one. excellent.

Enjoy rugbydreamer I'm at home watching the game and the kids! My wife just informed me I'm also looking after her best friends kid whilst they are off out

*off out with your credit card .

LOL,I don't mind it though she never moans when I'm off here and there watching rugby.

This should be a cracking match. There really isnt that much between the two teams.

Lovely kick by O'Dea there.

Wales favourite French referee looking after this one. Should be easy for Munster....

Wow, length of the field try for the Scarlets (with a bit of luck)

If you guys can keep me informed of the score i would be much appreciated. None of the many links from T is showing the match

Rolland is playing a sneaky one. Alllows Scarlets an easy try before he starts giving it to Munster. Clever.