The official "Even London Irish have got a thread" Scarlets thread 2015/16

[Chunky Norwich]

First topic message reminder :

Come on bois.

[mikey_dragon]

Yep.

Bath was a silly move. He was always going to be third choice there. That said, he'll probably be third choice at Scarlets.

Great signing for the Scarlets, I have allways been impressed when I have seen this guy play and suprised that he did not get more attention from Team Wales when at the Dragons.

Suprised also that he has not gone back to his region of origin. Any Dragons supporters know if he had any issues with the NGD management?

I think Gatland mentioned him. From what I seen he needed to continue his development with us for a little while longer before he could be in the Wales squad. The move to Bath and now possibly the Scarlets will have hindered that.

I don't know, but there is Lyn the joker who has a son who is a scrum-half.

[LordDowlais]

Since watching Luc Jones play I've been desperate for Evans to return, I wonder if the board and coaches felt the same way...

And yet you would argue that the regions are not at fault for their own misfortunes. 

There is massive potential to be had with the regions, they just need to pull their fingers out and start doing the hard graft. This player AND Taulupe Faletau should all be playing for Dragons next season, then there should be quality players coming in to supplement the quality youngsters that the regions can obviously produce.

I am expecting exciting things with Scarlets next season with the potential side they could put out on the park. I just hope I am not disappointed like I have been this season.

[PhilBB]

mikey, you make me laugh at times on here, this is what you said :-

Are you talking about Jonny Evans? He was down the pecking order, fourth or fifth choice, hence not offered a NDC (plus he was playing for the wrong region). He was about 1-2 years off being capable of Wales duty too. It's just a shame you don't watch more rugby otherwise you would have known this.


Now please, stop making yourself look stupid.

LD, you've screwed that up completely. Mikey is clearly writing in terms of Wales selection.

A bit ironic for you to think that others make themselves look stupid.

[PhilBB]

All I am saying is, Dragons did not do enough to keep him. But I doubt you see it that way, it must be the fault of the WRU or it could be this participation rubbish that Phill is using as an excuse for Cardiff Blues.

Is that the one that I had to school you on the Level 5 bit?

Maybe you'd like to be further schooled on its financial impact.

[mikey_dragon]

Since watching Luc Jones play I've been desperate for Evans to return, I wonder if the board and coaches felt the same way...

And yet you would argue that the regions are not at fault for their own misfortunes. 

There is massive potential to be had with the regions, they just need to pull their fingers out and start doing the hard graft. This player AND Taulupe Faletau should all be playing for Dragons next season, then there should be quality players coming in to supplement the quality youngsters that the regions can obviously produce.

I am expecting exciting things with Scarlets next season with the potential side they could put out on the park. I just hope I am not disappointed like I have been this season.

None of 'em are whiter than white. Both the union and the regions haven't been run very well. I don't blame the WRU 50 per-cent'ers for all of our problems, but if it's brought up I'll usually allude to it. I guess they should be too, but an agreement could not be reached.

I am with Scarlets too, but it wouldn't surprise me to see the opposite, or see half their team injured again.

[LordDowlais]

Is that the one that I had to school you on the Level 5 bit?

Maybe you'd like to be further schooled on its financial impact.

Phil, you have not schooled anybody, you just keep sniffing mikey's crotch for support though.

[RiscaGame]

How mature

[PhilBB]

Is that the one that I had to school you on the Level 5 bit?

Maybe you'd like to be further schooled on its financial impact.

Phil, you have not schooled anybody, you just keep sniffing mikey's crotch for support though.

Yet you didn't know about the Level 5 coaches. Now you do.

At least have some grace to admit what is obvious to all.

[LordDowlais]

None of 'em are whiter than white. Both the union and the regions haven't been run very well.

Yes, that I will agree with, but things have changed now, the war is over, do you agree that next season there should be less excuses and more improvement ?

[PhilBB]

Yes, that I will agree with, but things have changed now, the war is over, do you agree that next season there should be less excuses and more improvement ?

There has clearly been an improvement this season.

[LordDowlais]

Yet you didn't know about the Level 5 coaches. Now you do.

I did know about level 5 coaches, I just did not know Dale McIntosh, Gareth Baber and Burnell were level 5 coaches, I thought they were assistant coaches promoted into head coach by Cardiff Blues.

[mikey_dragon]

I wouldn't smell me down there if I were him...

[LordDowlais]

Yes, that I will agree with, but things have changed now, the war is over, do you agree that next season there should be less excuses and more improvement ?

There has clearly been an improvement this season.

yep, all of one place in the league. At least Cardiff got out of the group in Europe last year, what happened this time ?

[PhilBB]

Yet you didn't know about the Level 5 coaches. Now you do.

I did know about level 5 coaches, I just did not know Dale McIntosh, Gareth Baber and Burnell were level 5 coaches, I thought they were assistant coaches promoted into head coach by Cardiff Blues.

So now you admit to having been schooled.

You're a walking mess of logic. You can't even maintain consistency within a short space of time.

A complete fraud.

[mikey_dragon]

None of 'em are whiter than white. Both the union and the regions haven't been run very well.

Yes, that I will agree with, but things have changed now, the war is over, do you agree that next season there should be less excuses and more improvement ?

I would expect to see improvement, but I have expected to see it year-on-year with little or none of it. For the most part we've mostly stayed where we are whilst others have improved.

[PhilBB]

yep, all of one place in the league. At least you got out of your group in Europe last year, what happened this time ?

Didn't you learn about relativity when we went through this last time?

Clue: this year's group was tougher than last year's.

[LordDowlais]

Yet you didn't know about the Level 5 coaches. Now you do.

I did know about level 5 coaches, I just did not know Dale McIntosh, Gareth Baber and Burnell were level 5 coaches, I thought they were assistant coaches promoted into head coach by Cardiff Blues.

So now you admit to having been schooled.

You're a walking mess of logic. You can't even maintain consistency within a short space of time.

A complete fraud.

What are you talking about ?

I will tell you what, lets see what happens next season. What excuses will you have then ?

[ScarletSpiderman]

Since watching Luc Jones play I've been desperate for Evans to return, I wonder if the board and coaches felt the same way...

And yet you would argue that the regions are not at fault for their own misfortunes. 

There is massive potential to be had with the regions, they just need to pull their fingers out and start doing the hard graft. This player AND Taulupe Faletau should all be playing for Dragons next season, then there should be quality players coming in to supplement the quality youngsters that the regions can obviously produce.

I am expecting exciting things with Scarlets next season with the potential side they could put out on the park. I just hope I am not disappointed like I have been this season.

If you are disappointed with the Scarlets this season, then I would be prepared to be disappointed next season too. This season we had two goals, to be in the top four come the end of the RWC (and we were in the top 2 when the RWC players returned), and our other goal was to be in the top 6 come the end of the season (and we are currently in the top 4).

Pivac has a four year plan (maybe he had a chat with Nigel Davies and Dai Young?), that was pushing for the top six in the first season, cementing our top six place the second season, reaching the playoffs season three and then competing in the RCC and/or pushing for winning the league in season 4. So far he has looked like he has hit the first two goals.

[ScarletSpiderman]

I wouldn't smell me down there if I were him...

As in his under carriage is less fragrant than yours, or you don't recommend him sniffing yours? Actually either way is probably too much info

[mikey_dragon]

I wouldn't smell me down there if I were him...

As in his under carriage is less fragrant than yours, or you don't recommend him sniffing yours?  Actually either way is probably too much info

Reminds me of something us lads used to do when we had been with a girl the night before...

[LordDowlais]

I would expect to see improvement, but I have expected to see it year-on-year with little or none of it. For the most part we've mostly stayed where we are whilst others have improved.

This is what I have been trying to say. The bit in bold takes you to the reason that the regions are not doing enough, and make's you think that they seem happy with the situation they find themselves in as there is no improvement. 

Every year there is optimism, every year we are left deflated, come on, Dragons have the players, they could be pushing for that 7th playoff spot.


Cardiff Blues have not only stayed where they are, they have gotten worst. Dragons have always been strugglers for want of a better word, I suppose we can look at the league and say Scarlets have improved, but Europe was a disaster, Ospreys have gone backwards this year as well.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Guys, can we try to keep this nonsense on one thread.  It is getting pretty hard to keep track of what thread is what.  There are at least three or more threads now that have devolved into this, with pretty much the same comments on all of them.

Honestly, if it were not for the tab at the top of my internet explorer I couldn't tell you if this was the Scarlets/Blues/Ospreys season thread anymore.

[PhilBB]

I would expect to see improvement, but I have expected to see it year-on-year with little or none of it. For the most part we've mostly stayed where we are whilst others have improved.

This is what I have been trying to say. The bit in bold takes you to the reason that the regions are not doing enough, and make's you think that they seem happy with the situation they find themselves in as there is no improvement. 

Every year there is optimism, every year we are left deflated, come on, Dragons have the players, they could be pushing for that 7th playoff spot.

Cardiff Blues have not only stayed where they are, they have gotten worst. Dragons have always been strugglers for want of a better word, I suppose we can look at the league and say Scarlets have improved, but Europe was a disaster, Ospreys have gone backwards this year as well.

He was on about the NGD, not all PRW teams.

You seem completely beyond reason on this. We are only in the first full season after the RSA was signed and it's World Cup year when three of our four are hit very hard.

It's an age old, transparent, message board tactic to set totally false expectations and then criticise when those expectations are not met.

And it's clear that tactic is all you have.

[PhilBB]

I will tell you what, lets see what happens next season. What excuses will you have then ?

I'll bet you that our four perform in line with their budgets.

There's no excuse needed for that.

[mikey_dragon]

I was actually just referring to NGD, guess I could have made it more clear. That said, Blues have been going backwards in that time and the Scarlets were inconsistent. Not much has changed now, except for the Blues being slightly better. Three regions should have squads to be able to compete with the top teams next season IMO.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Scarlets team to take on Benetton Treviso at Parc y Scarlets, Friday 4th March kick-off 7.05pm;

15 Michael Collins,
14 Steff Evans,
13 Regan King,
12 Hadleigh Parkes ©,
11 DTH van der Merwe,
10 Aled Thomas,
9 Aled Davies,

1 Dylan Evans,
2 Kirby Myhill
3 Peter Edwards,
4 Jake Ball,
5 David Bulbring,
6 Maselino Paulino,
7 James Davies,
8 John Barclay

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Phil John, Rhodri Jones, Tom Price, Will Boyde, Connor Lloyd, Dan Jones, Gareth Owen

Unavailable for selection: Scott Williams (knee), Josh Macleod (foot), Emyr Phillips (knee), Jack Condy (shoulder), Ben Leung (knee), Lewis Rawlins (neck), Tom Williams (shoulder), Steve Shingler (knee), Aaron Shingler (concussion), Morgan Allen (foot), George Earle (shoulder), Rory Pitman (pec), Rhodri Williams (concussion)

International duty: Gareth Davies, Rob Evans, Samson Lee, Ken Owens (all Wales), Jordan Williams (Wales 7s), Tom Phillips (Wales U20)

[ScarletSpiderman]

Benetton:
Jayden Hayward,
Angelo Esposito,
Luca Morisi,
Alberto Sgarbi (c),
Tommaso Iannone,
Sam Christie,
Alberto Lucchese,

Robert Barbieri,
Marco Lazzaroni,
Marco Barbini,
Tom Palmer,
Filo Paulo,
Simone Ferrari,
Luca Bigi,
Alberto De Marchi.

A disposizione: Federico Zani, Cherif Traorè, Filippo Filippetto, Jeff Montauriol, Dean Budd, Abraham Steyn, Chris Smylie, Simone Ragusi.

[Cardiff Dave]

Steff Evans' footwork similar to a young BOD?

[Cardiff Dave]

Steff Evans MOM.
Dodgy Turk offside decision not given at a crucial time in the game could be a talking point for the Treviso fans on here.

[VinceWLB]

Steff Evans MOM.
Dodgy Turk offside decision not given at a crucial time in the game could be a talking point for the Treviso fans on here.

Yeah that was pretty bad from the ref, should have been a Treviso penalty even if that wasn't intentional. I think Treviso were up by a point at that time and i feel this turned the match around.
Treviso will improve dramatically with their new coach, they could become as good as when they were coached by Franco Smith. They have a very good scrum as well now that they have dropped Rupert Harden.

[mikey_dragon]

Steff Evans plays well every time I watch the Scarlets. He's excellent back 3 cover when you're without Liam Williams.

PS are Collins and Parkes considered utility cover? They seem to be playing somewhere else every time I watch you.

[ScarletSpiderman]

I can't remember Collins playing anywhere other than fullback, and Parkes has pretty much nailed down the 12 shirt since before Xmas.

There were too many players trying to go it alone yesterday. Steff Evs played well but didn't seem to want to pass, DaiTH was the same.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Talk of Johnny McNicholl and Andy Fenby coming in this summer to give us some real options on the wing. Also it looks like Dom Day is going to be tempted by the money in Japan as opposed to a return home.

[True Raven]

Dom Day is moving to Japan in June so he wont even be on the Wales tour to NZ. Im guessing McNicholl has scottish roots? Hope they don't immediately call him up to their squad so he misses half the season with the Scarlets

[ScarletSpiderman]

I hadn't considered Scottish qualification, maybe he would be better if heading to Edinburgh then.

On the plus side,met looks like there is definitely some mileage in the Fenby rumour, which I prey goes ahead. He is the sort of finisher we have been missing. And he still has a few seasons left in him imo.

[mikey_dragon]

That's not really adding anything to the wing now is it. Fenby was very poor and overhyped before he left, so I expect him to pick up where he left off. It's like signing more Harry Robinson's.

[ScarletSpiderman]

It's a step up on Tagi, who will be spending the next few seasons on your medics table though boss.

[mikey_dragon]

I don't think Fenby or Robinson are better than Tagi, not by a long shot. Btw if Tagi is coming this way then who do you think he's replacing? I would bet on it being Brew who mostly runs out for our PSXV...

[VinceWLB]

Fenby is a very good player and would form a great partnership with DTH, he was scoring tries for fun when he played for the Scarlets a few seasons ago.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Mikey, I do quite like Tagi. But he is an Islander version of Mark Jones, a good player when fit, but with a shockingly low strike rate. Rumour is he was signed due to a pretty poor communication brake down, where his brother was mentioned as a potential target, and somehow we went in for him instead. He is definitely superior to Robinson, who seems injury prone too. But I think Fenby brings a more unpredictable element to our attack, which has been missing. We have only picked up on winning bonus point this season, and I have a feeling that if Fenners were still here we would probably have had another three or four in the bag by now.

Vince, apparently Fenby is not getting too much regular fame time for Irish, but he is picking up tries when he does get played.

[mikey_dragon]

Fair enough but as far as first choice back 3 goes I would be looking at Williams, DTH, Stef Evans, with Collins as back up.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Collins has to go back for the ITM but may be back after. I think our back line shaping up ok, I'd be happy if we can get out any combination of the following, which would allow for rotation and call ups.

Sanjay/Steff Evs
Parkes/Fenby
Foxy/King
Scott/Steff Hughes
DaiTH/Gareth Owen
Patch/Dan Jones
Cawdor/Aled

[Seagultaf]

Collins has to go back for the ITM but may be back after. I think our back line shaping up ok, I'd be happy if we can get out any combination of the following, which would allow for rotation and call ups.

Sanjay/Steff Evs
Parkes/Fenby
Foxy/King
Scott/Steff Hughes
DaiTH/Gareth Owen
Patch/Dan Jones
Cawdor/Aled

I think that list highlights the big problem the Scarlets have had in recent seasons. Other than DTH all the other "wings" are stop gap players who are playing out of position. They need to recruit a top quality wing preferably someone with some bulk, Fenby was allways a good squad player but not what is needed by the Scarlets at present. They also need another big unit at lock to back up Ball and Bulbring. It's a shame that Earle's form has dropped off so far, he is now a shadow of the player he was when he first joined the Scarlets.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Seagul, I'd say we need two locks one to cover Ball's call ups and one to replace Earle, probably an eight who isn't injury prone, and a wing or two (including Fenby). As it stands our NWQs are DaiTH, Parkes, Barclay, Kruger, and King as non time servers, and Bullbring as time serving. I believe McNicholl falls in the time serving range, so we have space for one non-time server, unless we lose Reggie.

So I'm not sure who is available to bring in that is WQ. I know there were rumours a while back about Cudmire coming in with a view to learning to coach, whi jpg would be one NWQ slot. Other than that, we are really going to struggle, unless Pivac can find some Welsh grannies somewhere (like Dykan Evans, Price and Collins).

[Seagultaf]

Seagul, I'd say we need two locks one to cover Ball's call ups and one to replace Earle, probably an eight who isn't injury prone, and a wing or two (including Fenby).  As it stands our NWQs are DaiTH, Parkes, Barclay, Kruger, and King as non time servers, and Bullbring as time serving.  I believe McNicholl falls in the time serving range, so we have space for one non-time server, unless we lose Reggie.

So I'm not sure who is available to bring in that is WQ.  I know there were rumours a while back about Cudmire coming in with a view to learning to coach, whi jpg would be one NWQ slot.  Other than that, we are really going to struggle, unless Pivac can find some Welsh grannies somewhere (like Dykan Evans, Price and Collins).

Wales Online claim that Rayner Bernardo is moving from the Ospreys to the Scarlets to make room for Bradley Davies. Not seem much of him for the Os seems to be injured most of the time, so looks no better than George Earle?

[ScarletSpiderman]

Why are the Ospreys getting so many NDC players, they are not in the top tier anymore. It seems a waste putting international players into a competition where they will play the mighty Stade Bucharest

[VinceWLB]

Bernardo is a very good player, similar to Bulbring/Snyman i would say, possibly a bit bulkier. He is completely overlooked by the O's who prefer playing the likes of Lloyd Peers or James King instead of him. No wonders he wants to move on, Would be a good signing for you, imo.

Bernardo is the best 2nd row at the O's behind AWJ imo.

[True Raven]

Lol no he's not. He's a good lineout forward but will not add anything to the scarlets team and he's not yet completed three years so hell take up a NWQ for a year.

The issue with Davies isn't why are the ospreys getting so many NDC, its why are the other regions not showing some ambition and pay the compensation needed to release him from his contract. Hed be with the blues if they put their money where their mouth is

[VinceWLB]

Lol no he's not.  He's a good lineout forward but will not add anything to the scarlets team and he's not yet completed three years so hell take up a NWQ for a year.

The issue with Davies isn't why are the ospreys getting so many NDC, its why are the other regions not showing some ambition and pay the compensation needed to release him from his contract.  Hed be with the blues if they put their money where their mouth is

I would like to hear Wayne comments about Bernardo. Thornton and Beard are still very green although very promising. And i'm 100% certain he wouldn't have Peers, King or Ardron who are all basically blindside ahead of Bernardo who is a specialist 2nd row.

[True Raven]

He's clearly behind Ashley and Thornton. To be honest waynes a knowledgeable poster but id prefer the opinions of the ospreys coaching staff personally

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