Pro 12: Scarlets vs Edinburgh Rugby 12th Feb

by EWT Spoons Wed 10 Feb - 0:02

First topic message reminder :

Scarlets Vs Edinburgh
12th Feb
8.15 KO
Parc y Scarlets

TV - BBC Wales/BBC 2 Scotland

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 8th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans, Greg Morgan (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Scarlets have lost just one of their last eight home games at Parc y Scarlets in the PRO12: 26-27 to Ospreys on Boxing Day.

Edinburgh Rugby have slipped to successive defeats, to Grenoble in the European Challenge Cup and at Cardiff Blues in the Guinness PRO12.

Edinburgh's solitary victory on their last five trips to Wales came on their most recent visit to Parc y Scarlets in March 2015.

The two meetings between the clubs in the Guinness PRO12 last season ended in a 20-all draw at BT Murrayfield and a 26-15 Edinburgh win in Wales.

Edinburgh's overall record at Parc y Scarlets is won two, lost six.

Teams
Scarlets
15 Michael Collins, 14 Gareth Owen, 13 Regan King, 12 Hadleigh Parkes ©, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Steven Shingler, 9 Rhodri Williams, 1 Phil John, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Peter Edwards, 4 George Earle, 5 David Bulbring, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Will Boyde, 8 Morgan Allen

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Dylan Evans, Rhodri Jones, Rory Pitman, Steff Hughes, Aled Davies, Aled Thomas, Steff Evans

Edinburgh
Sutherland
Cochrane
Andress
Bresler
B Toolis
Coman
Watson
Du Preez

Fowles
Burleigh
Brown
Beard
Allan
Hoyland
Tonks

Subs - Turner, Dell, Berghan, A Toolis, Ritchie, Kennedy, Kinghorn, Fife

by Fanster Sat 13 Feb - 9:03

If Edinburgh don't win this they'll kick themselves!!!

by **RDW** Sat 13 Feb - 9:05

Edinburgh will be absolutely kicking themselves if they lose this

by GLove39 Sat 13 Feb - 9:05

Love sacks

by GLove39 Sat 13 Feb - 9:06

Welsh touch judge's eh...

by **BigGee** Sat 13 Feb - 9:07

That was a tough penalty

by **RDW** Sat 13 Feb - 9:08

How the hell did we lose that

by Fanster Sat 13 Feb - 9:09

I cannot stand offside penalties, theres absolutely no reason for 3/4 Edinburgh players to be on the line that hard in that situation!!!

Edinburgh must be gutted, after an even first half where Edinburgh didn't take their points, and dominating the last 30 they get a poor LBP for their efforts.

by **RDW** Sat 13 Feb - 9:09

Absolutely gutting - the Scarlets did nothing that game but live off our mistakes and penalties. Unfortunately we gave them plenty opportunities.

We played all the rugby the most of that game and with a better goal kicker we would have won that!

by Fanster Sat 13 Feb - 9:12

RDW_Scotland wrote:Absolutely gutting - the Scarlets did nothing that game but live off our mistakes and penalties. Unfortunately we gave them plenty opportunities.

We played all the rugby the most of that game and with a better goal kicker we would have won that!

Hard to argue, Edinburgh defence was superb!

by VinceWLB Sat 13 Feb - 9:12

That was a hell of a contest.

What to say about this game other than Scarlets were extremely lucky to win it.

by **BigGee** Sat 13 Feb - 9:13

Unlucky there for Edinburgh, showed some guts to come back and got done by a dodgy call!

by Fanster Sat 13 Feb - 9:14

BigGee wrote:Unlucky there for Edinburgh, showed some guts to come back and got done by a dodgy call!

The only dodgy part of the call was the player penalised when it was 3/4 others!

by Fanster Sat 13 Feb - 9:18

Have to applaud the Scarlets development team, Aled Thomas and Aled Davies off the bench are quality replacements, considering they lost RP to Bath, Davies to Wales, Owen William to Leicester...

They just have a conveyer belt of quality backs...

by **BigGee** Sat 13 Feb - 9:20

Well it was one that got away anyhow, good to see Edinburgh trying to play some rugby. They looked dangerous when they gave it a lash, they should try it more often!

by **RDW** Sat 13 Feb - 9:22

Solomons complaining about the final penalty saying from his replays it wasn't offside. Says there needs to be neutral officials!

by Fanster Sat 13 Feb - 9:23

Poor form from Solomons whinging about the referee...

I get his point that of course all ref teams should be neutral, but to air that on TV shows a lack of class.

by VinceWLB Sat 13 Feb - 9:24

Fanster wrote:Have to applaud the Scarlets development team, Aled Thomas and Aled Davies off the bench are quality replacements, considering they lost RP to Bath, Davies to Wales, Owen William to Leicester...

They just have a conveyer belt of quality backs...

Not sure about that! he as well as Rhodri Jones the replacement tighthead almost single handedly cost Scarlets the game. And Aled Thomas is 31!

by **RDW** Sat 13 Feb - 9:25

Having seen the replay I've got to say it was an incredibly tight call!

Certainly wasn't a clear offside

by **RiscaGame** Sat 13 Feb - 9:27

Fanster wrote:Poor form from Solomons whinging about the referee...

I get his point that of course all ref teams should be neutral, but to air that on TV shows a lack of class.

Hardly. The more public exposure it gets, the better. I bet chunky Norwich is furious about it.

Even though neutral refs are not feasible, the standard of refs in the league are gash.

by gog1992 Sat 13 Feb - 9:28

Alphie looks like a floating head in that top.

by Fanster Sat 13 Feb - 9:30

RiscaGame wrote:
Fanster wrote:Poor form from Solomons whinging about the referee...

I get his point that of course all ref teams should be neutral, but to air that on TV shows a lack of class.

Hardly. The more public exposure it gets, the better. I bet chunky Norwich is furious about it.

Even though neutral refs are not feasible, the standard of refs in the league are gash.

Disagree about public exposure, and blaming 1 call for losing the game is poor form IMO, had the coaches been better, or players been better the final call means not a jot!

I agree with the issue, but you have to deal with it in the proper way, and not stand in front of a camera to whine about it.

After seeing the replay a few times it is far closer than I originally thought, and some go for, some against, it was an unlucky call from Edinburghs POV, however the player penalised isn't on camera whatsoever, so who is to lay blame anywhere?

by **RiscaGame** Sat 13 Feb - 9:35

He was asked a question and answered it truthfully. Maybe if you don't like it, tweet Phil Steele and ask him not to ask questions immediately post match.

He is dealing with it via the proper channels, so it's kind of moot. As I said, I'd sooner have a coach be able to say what he feels rather than have to awkwardly avoid it.

by Fanster Sat 13 Feb - 9:37

RiscaGame wrote:He was asked a question and answered it truthfully. Maybe if you don't like it, tweet Phil Steele and ask him not to ask questions immediately post match.

He is dealing with it via the proper channels, so it's kind of moot. As I said, I'd sooner have a coach be able to say what he feels rather than have to awkwardly avoid it.

Avoid what, making excuses?

by funnyExiledScot Sat 13 Feb - 9:40

Disappointed by the result of course but cheered by the performance. Some points to note:

- Turner was great off the bench as an impact sub. I'd like to see more of him.

- Ben Toolis is a beast and should be on the Scotland bench.

- Sam Beard has been overlooked. His performance tonight has convinced me that he should be our second choice 12 after Matt Scott. I liked his combination with Allen and it was great to see them both trying to create things and running off each other. More of that please. Strauss has never played that well for Edinburgh in that position.

- Tom Brown is pushing hard for a Scotland spot. Maitland is on borrowed time. I thought Fife and Hoyland were lively as well. Hoyland has a big future.

by mikey_dragon Sat 13 Feb - 9:46

Fanster wrote:Have to applaud the Scarlets development team, Aled Thomas and Aled Davies off the bench are quality replacements, considering they lost RP to Bath, Davies to Wales, Owen William to Leicester...

They just have a conveyer belt of quality backs...

I'm not sure what you have been watching Fanster but in recent times they most certainly do not, hence the kiwi recruits. I also think that outside of Gareth Davies their halfbacks are very poor.

by **RDW** Sat 13 Feb - 9:48

Those missed kicks are very frustrating - we should have been home and dry on the end not scuppered by a dubious home touch judge call.

Fowles' before half time was a particularly bad miss - that should have been bread and butter stuff for a pro kicker.

Even though Tonks got the touchline kick his conversion attempt after the first try was pitiful.

Should have been a relaxed finish to the game fur Edinburgh!

by Fanster Sat 13 Feb - 9:48

mikey_dragon wrote:
Fanster wrote:Have to applaud the Scarlets development team, Aled Thomas and Aled Davies off the bench are quality replacements, considering they lost RP to Bath, Davies to Wales, Owen William to Leicester...

They just have a conveyer belt of quality backs...

I'm not sure what you have been watching Fanster but in recent times they most certainly do not, hence the kiwi recruits. I also think that outside of Gareth Davies their halfbacks are very poor.

Very poor? Aled Davies has been on fire and made the Welsh squad, Rhodri Williams is coming along nicely, RP and Owen Williams have both gone on to top Aviva teams, and Shinglar was in the middle of an international armwrestle! How are these poor players?

by mikey_dragon Sat 13 Feb - 10:05

Fanster wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:
Fanster wrote:Have to applaud the Scarlets development team, Aled Thomas and Aled Davies off the bench are quality replacements, considering they lost RP to Bath, Davies to Wales, Owen William to Leicester...

They just have a conveyer belt of quality backs...

I'm not sure what you have been watching Fanster but in recent times they most certainly do not, hence the kiwi recruits. I also think that outside of Gareth Davies their halfbacks are very poor.

Very poor? Aled Davies has been on fire and made the Welsh squad, Rhodri Williams is coming along nicely, RP and Owen Williams have both gone on to top Aviva teams, and Shinglar was in the middle of an international armwrestle! How are these poor players?

Yes. Shingler has struggled at fly-half at this level for a couple of seasons. He was only considered LV standard by Nigel Davies, and it doesn't seem like he's kicked on from that and is going the way of Priestland. Aled Davies is a crap scrum half, he's too slow, so how he's at club level never mind pushing for international just beggars belief. I'm sure Webb will be back in the Wales squad soon though. Rhodri Williams is a better 9, he looked promising but again he hasn't really kicked on. He's off to Bristol as well i think.

Shingler wasn't really in the middle of an international arm wrestle, that's a stupid thing to say. Robinson was on a mad one looking to cap every player with a Scottish connection. The WRU pointed out he was ineligible, which he was, and that's that. RP is an average club player and Bath fans aren't happy with his performances. Williams seems to be doing good at Tigers - but I assumed we were talking about their current halfbacks, and outside of Gareth Davies they're either poor or average.

by 2ndtimeround Sat 13 Feb - 11:29

mikey_dragon wrote:
Fanster wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:
Fanster wrote:Have to applaud the Scarlets development team, Aled Thomas and Aled Davies off the bench are quality replacements, considering they lost RP to Bath, Davies to Wales, Owen William to Leicester...

They just have a conveyer belt of quality backs...

I'm not sure what you have been watching Fanster but in recent times they most certainly do not, hence the kiwi recruits. I also think that outside of Gareth Davies their halfbacks are very poor.

Very poor? Aled Davies has been on fire and made the Welsh squad, Rhodri Williams is coming along nicely, RP and Owen Williams have both gone on to top Aviva teams, and Shinglar was in the middle of an international armwrestle! How are these poor players?

Yes. Shingler has struggled at fly-half at this level for a couple of seasons. He was only considered LV standard by Nigel Davies, and it doesn't seem like he's kicked on from that and is going the way of Priestland. Aled Davies is a crap scrum half, he's too slow, so how he's at club level never mind pushing for international just beggars belief. I'm sure Webb will be back in the Wales squad soon though. Rhodri Williams is a better 9, he looked promising but again he hasn't really kicked on. He's off to Bristol as well i think.

Shingler wasn't really in the middle of an international arm wrestle, that's a stupid thing to say. Robinson was on a mad one looking to cap every player with a Scottish connection. The WRU pointed out he was ineligible, which he was, and that's that. RP is an average club player and Bath fans aren't happy with his performances. Williams seems to be doing good at Tigers - but I assumed we were talking about their current halfbacks, and outside of Gareth Davies they're either poor or average.

Nigel Davies the current Merthyr Tydfil coach you mean?
What a great example to prove your point.

by mikey_dragon Sat 13 Feb - 12:31

Well actually Second Time no, and I find your knit-picking of my comment there poor - were you trying to be witty? The thing that proves my point is Shingler. Those who have watched him regularly will know. We also know that telling a scarlet that one of their players isn't that good is a waste of time so I would never in a million years expect one to accept the blatantly obvious.

by **RDW** Sat 13 Feb - 19:52

This season for Edinburgh has been defined by 'what if' moments.

By my reckoning there's been 5 games that we could have won, 3 games that we really should have won and I can't help but think that by not taking some of those chances our Top 6 aspirations are dead and buried.

All is not lost of course but the Scarlets have opened up a 6 point lead on us and Munster 2 points behind us have 2 games in hand.

It is going to be so tight - if we lose away to Ospreys next week I think our chance will be gone.

by **RiscaGame** Sat 13 Feb - 20:48

2ndtimeround wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:
Fanster wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:
Fanster wrote:Have to applaud the Scarlets development team, Aled Thomas and Aled Davies off the bench are quality replacements, considering they lost RP to Bath, Davies to Wales, Owen William to Leicester...

They just have a conveyer belt of quality backs...

I'm not sure what you have been watching Fanster but in recent times they most certainly do not, hence the kiwi recruits. I also think that outside of Gareth Davies their halfbacks are very poor.

Very poor? Aled Davies has been on fire and made the Welsh squad, Rhodri Williams is coming along nicely, RP and Owen Williams have both gone on to top Aviva teams, and Shinglar was in the middle of an international armwrestle! How are these poor players?

Yes. Shingler has struggled at fly-half at this level for a couple of seasons. He was only considered LV standard by Nigel Davies, and it doesn't seem like he's kicked on from that and is going the way of Priestland. Aled Davies is a crap scrum half, he's too slow, so how he's at club level never mind pushing for international just beggars belief. I'm sure Webb will be back in the Wales squad soon though. Rhodri Williams is a better 9, he looked promising but again he hasn't really kicked on. He's off to Bristol as well i think.

Shingler wasn't really in the middle of an international arm wrestle, that's a stupid thing to say. Robinson was on a mad one looking to cap every player with a Scottish connection. The WRU pointed out he was ineligible, which he was, and that's that. RP is an average club player and Bath fans aren't happy with his performances. Williams seems to be doing good at Tigers - but I assumed we were talking about their current halfbacks, and outside of Gareth Davies they're either poor or average.

Nigel Davies the current Merthyr Tydfil coach you mean?
What a great example to prove your point.

Merthyr coach?

by Seagultaf Sat 13 Feb - 22:00

RiscaGame wrote:
2ndtimeround wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:
Fanster wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:
Fanster wrote:Have to applaud the Scarlets development team, Aled Thomas and Aled Davies off the bench are quality replacements, considering they lost RP to Bath, Davies to Wales, Owen William to Leicester...

They just have a conveyer belt of quality backs...

I'm not sure what you have been watching Fanster but in recent times they most certainly do not, hence the kiwi recruits. I also think that outside of Gareth Davies their halfbacks are very poor.

Very poor? Aled Davies has been on fire and made the Welsh squad, Rhodri Williams is coming along nicely, RP and Owen Williams have both gone on to top Aviva teams, and Shinglar was in the middle of an international armwrestle! How are these poor players?

Yes. Shingler has struggled at fly-half at this level for a couple of seasons. He was only considered LV standard by Nigel Davies, and it doesn't seem like he's kicked on from that and is going the way of Priestland. Aled Davies is a crap scrum half, he's too slow, so how he's at club level never mind pushing for international just beggars belief. I'm sure Webb will be back in the Wales squad soon though. Rhodri Williams is a better 9, he looked promising but again he hasn't really kicked on. He's off to Bristol as well i think.

Shingler wasn't really in the middle of an international arm wrestle, that's a stupid thing to say. Robinson was on a mad one looking to cap every player with a Scottish connection. The WRU pointed out he was ineligible, which he was, and that's that. RP is an average club player and Bath fans aren't happy with his performances. Williams seems to be doing good at Tigers - but I assumed we were talking about their current halfbacks, and outside of Gareth Davies they're either poor or average.

Nigel Davies the current Merthyr Tydfil coach you mean?
What a great example to prove your point.

Merthyr coach?

I think you mean Ebbw Vale coach but still plying his trade at semi pro level. Shingler was coming on well but has been plagued by injuries which seems to have set him back a long way. Much like Rhodri Jones, a year ago before he got injured he was beginning to get the hang of tight head scrummaging but now he is pretty much a liability in that department. Perhaps he can get a few games at loose head a position he was very good at before he was persuaded to make the change.

Despite the popularity of critising Priestland, the Scarlets have really missed him, Dan Jones, Aled Thomas and Shingler have been tried but none of them have looked the part, they can only now hope that Patchell will step up next season. Priestland must now be regretting going to Bath, a salary of nearly £300k is attractive, but playing in a struggling side, where the guy who wears your shirt is the Coach's son can't be fun. Saying that he played well for Wales when Biggar eventually went off against Ireland last week.

by True Raven Sat 13 Feb - 23:06

Gareth Charles mentioned in commentary that Rhodri jones will be playing for the ospreys next season...has that been confirmed? I seriously hope not unless he's coming to be a loosehead to be the eventual understudy to Nicky smith when Paul James has had enough

by mikey_dragon Sat 13 Feb - 23:08

Bath fans also believe that RP isn't good enough for them. I haven't watched the premeirship but I think it's true because he was also erratic at the Scarlets.

by ScarletSpiderman Sun 14 Feb - 0:22

That was a woeful game, and definitely went the wrong way. The ref and touch judges were dire. It seemed from the stands that they were only really there to judge knock ons, and occasionally giving a pen (which seemed to be guess work). Both sides were living offside, and numerous 'scuffles' around the pitch were left to continue without any intervention at all.

If there was one decent officials there, I have a feeling Edinburgh may have picked up a convincing win, with both sides seeming a card or two for off the ball offences.

by VinceWLB Sun 14 Feb - 0:28

ScarletSpiderman wrote:That was a woeful game, and definitely went the wrong way. The ref and touch judges were dire. It seemed from the stands that they were only really there to judge knock ons, and occasionally giving a pen (which seemed to be guess work). Both sides were living offside, and numerous 'scuffles' around the pitch were left to continue without any intervention at all.

If there was one decent officials there, I have a feeling Edinburgh may have picked up a convincing win, with both sides seeming a card or two for off the ball offences.

I like it when there is a bit of bite in a game of rugby, reminds me of rugby of a few years back.

Thought the ref was decent throughout despite the last penalty call. Got to my memory all the scrum call correct which doesn't happen often.

by 2ndtimeround Sun 14 Feb - 3:01

Edinburgh could have won the game without doubt but it was not Brace that cost them the match it was their inability to finish the moves they created, I lost count of the number of times they butchered an overlap when moving the ball wide and missed kicks also make a big difference in a close game.
The officials clearly left a lot go, but at least the decisions seemed consistent for both teams.

by ScarletSpiderman Sun 14 Feb - 3:05

I am not saying that Brace lost Endinburgh the game, however I am saying that all three officials were non-existent in the game. If they had been the result may well have been different (probably two or three yellows to the Scarlets, one or two to Edinburgh would have made big gaps).

From top of my head there were three of four 5m+ offsides totally missed (I remember King doing it, and their blindside I think). They were so obvious the only way they could have been missed was if someone was looking elsewhere.

The off the ball stuff was petty, but in this modern era, and when people get cited for borderline stuff, I think we there could be three of four 'striking opposition player' citings.

Also with some of the tackles from Boyde being exceptionally high, but ignored after the first one, I have an incline he will end up banned.

by EWT Spoons Mon 15 Feb - 20:44

https://www.606v2.com/t62172-ospreys-vs-edinburgh-rugby-pro12-19th-feb

Osprey v Edinburgh match thread

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