Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors, 16 April

     

Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors
Saturday 16 April 2016
KO 15:15
Parc y Scarlets

Live on Sky Sports

Referee: George Clancy (80th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Simon Brickell (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

A. Head to Head

25 Played 25
12 Wins 13
13 Losses 12
0 Draws 0
529 Points 552

B. Form

19th December 2015  
Scarlets 6 - 9 Glasgow Warriors  

12th December 2015
Glasgow Warriors 43 - 6 Scarlets  

5th September 2015
Glasgow Warriors 10 - 16 Scarlets

9th January 2015
Glasgow Warriors 22 - 7 Scarlets

21st November 2014
Scarlets 19 - 9 Glasgow Warriors

C. Teams

Scarlets 

L Williams; S Evans, G Owen, H Parkes, DTH van der Merwe; S Shingler, G Davies; R Evans, K Owens (capt), S Lee; J Ball, D Bulbrin; M Paulino, J Davies, J Barclay

Replacements: K Myhill, P John, P Edwards, G Earle, M Allen, A Davies, A Thomas, S Hughes

Glasgow Warriors

S Hogg; T Seymour, M Bennett, A Dunbar, L Jones; F Russell, H Pyrgos; G Reid, F Brown, S Puafisi; T Swinson, J Gray (capt); R Harley, R Wilson. J Strauss

Replacements: P MacArthur, J Yanuyanutawa, Z Fagerson, L Nakawara, T Holmes, G Hart, D Weir, T Naiyaravoro

Well this is the biggie for Glasgow. Win this and the league position is well and truly consolidated.

Any clues as to Toonie's likely line-up? Will Big T be given another shot (did well against the Scarlets last time if I recall)?

I'd suggest this is one for Favaro, Harley and Strauss in the back row - Favaro will be needed to counter the excellent James Davies and Strauss will need to work hard on John Barclay. Some great contests there. DTH vs Seymour is another belter.

Giving this some thought, I am not sure Harley is the best option for this game. I would prefer playing Holmes at 6 to give a bit more help at the breakdown with Strauss at 8.

If everyone is healthy (bar the long term injured)

1) Reid
2) Brown
3) Fagerson
4) Gray
5) Naka
6) Holmes
7) Favaro
8) Strauss
9) Pyrgos
10) Russell
11) Big T
12) Dunbar
13) Bennett
14) Seymour
15) Hogg

Probably the strongest line up (bar Holmes) even if Puafisi vs Fagerson and Horne at 12 replacing Bennett is up for debate at the moment. Next week is Zebre at home so a few more liberties can be taken then (resting Gray, Brown, Reid, Dunbar, maybe Hoggy again and playing Cummings, Hughes, Malcolm, Johnson, Hart).

Huge game for both teams in the context of the season. Scarlets need to win or else risk dropping out of the playoffs altogether after spending all season in the top 4. Their season would have been considered a success if you offered them 5th at the start but not in this manner. Glasgow win should see Connaught away a decider for home advantage in the semi's. At the start of the season this would have been seen as an expectation but the way it has gone, this can be considered a fantastic result.

I'd pretty much forgotten about Holmes. Has he been playing much? If you wanted a more lightweight back row would Fusaro and Favaro not be better, or even Hugh Blake?

You could use Ryan Wilson at 6. He's very fast but otherwise not very good. He does like to mince about at stoppages and when it comes to handbags he does a great impression of Kenneth Williams meets Alan Carr.

George, I know it is not League form head to head, but I think the last two fixtures need to be considered too.

12 Dec 13:00
ERCHAMPC-P3  
Glasgow Warriors 43 - 6 Scarlets  
Scotstoun Stadium 6,576

Sat 19 Dec 19:45
ERCHAMPC-P3  
Scarlets 6 - 9 Glasgow Warriors  
Parc y Scarlets 5,767

I would expect a side looking like

Collins (Sanjay if fit), Steff Evans, King, Parkes, DTH, Dan Jones, Aled Davies;
Rob Evans, Owens, Lee, Ball, Bullbring, A Shingler, Cubby, Barclay
(Myhill, Dylan Evans, Edwards, Earle, Allen; Gareth Davies, Aled Thomas, Gareth Owen/Collins)

I am not overly confident about this game at all. But I do hope that the pathetic display against the blues (we were tactically beaten before the kick off, and nobody did anything to change it all game) the Scarlets will be focused on this game. A win here and I believe we are secure in the RCC for next season, and also we can keep up the playoff chase. If we lose, that is pretty much season over for us.

I a not feeling overly confident. I think Glasgow struggle if you slow the ball down, and with that Scarlet back row I think it will be glacial

SS, I forgot about your front row. Scrums will be a great test for Glasgow. Dry weather has me favouring Glasgow by more than 7 and wet weather will favour the Scarlets in my view to make it a lot closer.

Looks like Liam Williams might have some sort of show in this game, apparently he is more than 50/50 to start:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-star-liam-williams-set-11173724

LordDowlais wrote:Looks like Liam Williams might have some sort of show in this game, apparently he is more than 50/50 to start:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-star-liam-williams-set-11173724

Fab ! Wonder how many cheap shots he will throw .

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Looks like Liam Williams might have some sort of show in this game, apparently he is more than 50/50 to start:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-star-liam-williams-set-11173724

Fab !  Wonder how many cheap shots he will throw .    

Cheap shots like this you mean ?

2ndtimeround wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Looks like Liam Williams might have some sort of show in this game, apparently he is more than 50/50 to start:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-star-liam-williams-set-11173724

Fab !  Wonder how many cheap shots he will throw .    

Cheap shots like this you mean ?

You have to laugh really. If anything Sanjay gives expensive shots, as when he does stupid things it's usually clear to all that he did it and he gets carded.

Cheap shots are more like putting in a late elbow to someone who has just kicked the ball down field, but I'm sure there are no Glaswegian fullbacks that have done that in the past.

Referee: George Clancy (80th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Simon Brickell (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

My enduring memory of L Williams was punching someone who was on his knees in the ruck a few years ago. It was not even in the ruck but had just gone past the ruck and the player was getting up. He seems to have stopped being as bad as that but it colours my impressions of everything else that he does (I am sure L Williams has never put his elbow in and got away with it...) and hence my dislike of him. Bit like Ryan Wilson in the kebab shop has made him a punching bag.

Clancy hates the Scots and I feel he is automatic in giving an advantage equivalent to a yellow card and a penalty to the opposition. Thankfully Barclay is your captain so he may get confused and penalise Scarlets more often. 33 yellow cards between the 2 sides in 38 games. There has got to be at least 2 yellows in this game.

Hazel Sapling wrote:
Clancy hates the Scots and I feel he is automatic in giving an advantage equivalent to a yellow card and a penalty to the opposition. Thankfully Barclay is your captain so he may get confused and penalise Scarlets more often. 33 yellow cards between the 2 sides in 38 games. There has got to be at least 2 yellows in this game.

I believe Scarlets haven't received a yellow card since their Connacht away trip, that is now 6 games without a card. After the Connacht game their coach stated that a player getting yellow carded wouldn't play the next game. Interesting i would say and this certainly worked. Prior to that they had received 17 yellow cards in 13 games, quite a turnaround!

Hazel, you mean this reaction to a cheat shot on him

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zC6tVwWvYnY

Missed the early bit. Trimble probably deserved a yellow more for the tip though the Scarlets player taking him out did not help matters. Putting the forearm in the face was unnecessary. L Williams then stands up and throws multiple punches at the head of an opponent who was on his hands and knees. A punch I can understand (and looked deserved in this case) to tell an opponent to stop pulling such (could not find the right emoticon). Usually I would think it would be thrown before you stand up. You lose your temper and you have a moment. Throwing 4+ punches at the head of someone who has no chance of defending themselves after getting up is more extreme. That was dirty and a red in my view. Hence its coloured my view of him when he celebrates before getting a try or gets involved in afters (pretty much most matches I have watched of him).

Like Flowers punching the kiwi. The first one was deserved and understandable but the second on a helpless opponent was thuggery. He has to be whiter than white or else he will get judged for better or for worse.

Hazel, to be honest I would have reacted the same as Sanjay to someone swinging one at me when I'm on the deck, and them then putting a forearm into my face too. Liam did similar when Robin Copeland kicked/stamped on his head (both got red, Sanjay for a second yellow holding on the ball on the deck, Copeland for the stamp). Your right it is a bit of a firey over-reaction, but it is not a cheap shot.

Vince, we had no choice but to tighten up our discipline, we were running out of players who we were able to field. I think we had a total of 6 yellow in the first two games. Hopefully the win against Glasgow at the start of the season when we had 3 in the bin, and one knocked out (and the ref wouldn't let him get replaced), in the last ten mins, will be in the boys minds and we can pull out a repeat performance from then.

I think all this hatred for Liam Williams is a little unfair.

As for the Hogg/Williams debate, both seem to have a petulant streak. If Hogg happened to play for a team outside of Scotland, I can't imagine me liking him very much. In saying that, he seems to have reigned it in slightly this season, perhaps an inevitability following the birth of his son..probably too tired to get annoyed.

As for the game, to some extent it is season defining for the Scarlets, probably slightly less so for the Warriors, but there is no doubt that they need to get something from the game.

I think it will be very close, the Scarlets have a strong front row and will scrap for everything on the ground - Davies and Barclay together could make life very difficult. If Glasgow remain solid defensively, I think they have enough X-Factor in Hogg, Nakarawa and Russell to sneak a win.

My team would be something along the likes of:

Reid
Brown
Puafisi
Gray
Nakarawa
Harley
Favaro
Strauss
Pyrgos
Russell
Seymour
Horne
Dunbar
Lamont
Hogg

Yanuyanutawa
Malcom
Fagerson
Swinson
Wilson
Hart
Bennett
Big T

SS, looking again there was not much of a tip looking at his body even if his legs did go everywhere and the forearm was unnecessary. On a rugby pitch that is not anything special but the reaction was. That is what has coloured my view and I doubt I am the only one. I imagine Hogg ticked a lot of people off (he has me several times) and he seems to have toned down considerably. Celebrating before try's needs to be stamped out. Irritates me no end.

As for that team EST, I would not cry a river with that. Be interesting to see if Toonie would back 2 young front rowers coming on in a close game against the Wales front row and Puafisi pulling out last week made me think Fagerson may get the nod (his carrying has come on leaps and bounds). Be good to see if Fagerson could carry 10-12 times that well. Do we know when Allan is coming back?

Hazel Sapling wrote:SS, looking again there was not much of a tip looking at his body even if his legs did go everywhere and the forearm was unnecessary. On a rugby pitch that is not anything special but the reaction was.

The reaction had nothing to do with the tip, it was down to Trimble swinging a punch for him whilst Sanjay was on the deck, and then when that missed, putting in a forearm into his head (bouncing it of the turf), right before Liam stands up and loses it. However that was a good few years ago, and Sanjay has mellowed a huge amount.

Hazel Sapling wrote:I imagine Hogg ticked a lot of people off (he has me several times) and he seems to have toned down considerably.

I know there were a load of people who got really up their own rears when he was sent in the Wales v Scotland game. I know I mentioned it here, tongue in cheek, but to be honest there was not much in it. I think the truth is people like to have a dig at the oppositions star players, whether it be they are over-rated, or unable to tackle, or a dirty sod. 9 times out of ten it is hugely exaggerated as people want a reason for disliking the player, other than jealousy.

Anyhow, I am starting to look forward to this match now. Hoping that we get a high quality two teams with all to play for type game rather than a match neither wish to lose type.

Stuart Hogg is a changed man and player since the birth of Wee Archie. e retains the confidence of a very good full back but has lost the petulance associated with it. I would be quite happy to have Liam Williams as his back up for the Warriors, as he has the do or die attitude favoured at Scotstoun tbh.

In terms of the quality of the teams on offer, this could be the game of the season.

I don't think that the Champions Cup matches count for anything - this Scarlets side is much better than the one which played back in December. I certainly hope Seymour is covering Glasgow's favourite Canadian alumnus on the wing rather than Big Tacky because I think that the big feller would get turned inside out all day.

Agreed on all counts GC.

Scaahlettes are one of the better sides in the league.

Both sides know that victory pretty much guarantees them a top four slot and that defeat makes a home semi very unlikely.

Big T has been almost Visser-lite in defence : mostly due to a mixture of poor positional sense and a QE2 like turning circle. DTH must be  wakening up giggling every morning at the prospect of getting at him.

If we assume that the Tombola has been left behind and that Toonie decides it's all or nothing this week then I think our strongest 23 is (replacements in italics coz I'm 'puter litrayt and dahn wiv de kidz innit;

Shrek-Brown-Puafisi Jerry-Dr Malcom-Ragnar The Mental

Ickle Jonny-Flagball  Tiny Tim, (Schiz's new best friend)

Bluto-Arthur Ashe- The Legend That Is Simone Favarro Batman
[/b]Henners Hart

Dancer

Seymour
Furra Linee
Dunbar ( )
Schlong

6 Nations Player of The Tournament Big T
Schlong is the puzzler for me: his defence is better than T's but let's be honest, Bru is more likely to get on the end of a flowing three quarter's move and score in the corner. Yet, I just feel he should play because....well he should. Don't laugh too much gentleman, I'm pretty certain that is exactly what Toonie thinks as well.

Scarlets hit with a sickness bug. Maybe the same illness that hit Ulster a few weeks back?

Apparently 18 players are ill, with a handful of those who would be starting. Bad timing, but hopefully it's just a 24hr thing.

BadTiming

Munchkin wrote:Scarlets hit with a sickness bug. Maybe the same illness that hit Ulster a few weeks back?

Apparently 18 players are ill, with a handful of those who would be starting. Bad timing, but hopefully it's just a 24hr thing.

BadTiming

Glasgow had the same thing - or a least a sickness bug - when in Italy.  Although it wasn't mentioned by Townsend until after the games had been won.

Probably wiser not to mention it until after the game. See how it effects team selection tomorrow.

The news just said over 20 players stuck down with a bug.

Realistically it's no excuse, poop happens

ScarletSpiderman wrote:The news just said over 20 players stuck down with a bug.

Realistically it's no excuse, poop happens

Literally, in this case

The guys on the Scarlets forum seem to think it's just a 24 hr thing. Maybe just food poisoning. Hopefully so, and all are fit and well for what should be a great game.

Yeah the pun lost some effect toning it down to get through the swear filter.

I haven't been on our forum yet, has anyone mentioned our new chef from Belfast on there? It's a bleeding fix up to get us out if the playoffs. Something has to be done about it!

Oh, and by the sounds of it the runs in training are going well

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Oh, and by the sounds of it the runs in training are going well

Well, so long as they're all wearing diapers on the day, although the backrow might appreciate a free spray tan

Munchkin wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Oh, and by the sounds of it the runs in training are going well

Well, so long as they're all wearing diapers on the day, although the backrow might appreciate a free spray tan

Munchkin.

This reminds me of a tale Paddy the Punchy captain once told me. He was playing 8 one day and after every scrum the tight head was demanding that the second row put a bit more effort into pushing. The, hungover second row was insisting that he was giving it his all and he would appreciate it if the tight head could actually do a bit of work himself. As they trotted to one scrum the prop approached Paddy and said, "Watch this, Skipper, he'll feccin push this time." Tight head then puts his hand down the back of his, own, shorts and inserts a finger. As the front rows engage he then wipes the smelly digit across the second row's upper lip.

Not surprisingly there was an increase in push power.

When the second row came up from the scrum it was to find his skipper telling him that he better (a) keep up that intensity for the rest of the game and (b) wash his face before the next phase in play.

jimbopip wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Oh, and by the sounds of it the runs in training are going well

Well, so long as they're all wearing diapers on the day, although the backrow might appreciate a free spray tan

Munchkin.

This reminds me of a tale Paddy the Punchy captain  once told me. He was playing 8 one day and after every scrum the tight head was demanding that the second row put a bit more effort into pushing. The, hungover second row was insisting that he was giving it his all and he would appreciate it if the tight head could actually do a bit of work himself. As they trotted to one scrum the prop approached Paddy and said, "Watch this, Skipper, he'll feccin push this time." Tight head then puts his hand down the back of his, own, shorts and inserts a finger. As the front rows engage he then wipes the smelly digit across the second row's upper lip.

Not surprisingly there was an increase in push power.

When the second row came up from the scrum it was to find his skipper telling him that he better (a) keep up that intensity for the rest of the game and (b) wash his face before the next phase in play.

Glasgow team:

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Mark Bennett
12. Alex Dunbar
11. Lee Jones
10. Finn Russell
9. Henry Pyrgos

1. Gordon Reid
2. Fraser Brown
3. Sila Puafisi
4. Tim Swinson
5. Jonny Gray (Captain)
6. Rob Harley
7. Ryan Wilson
8. Josh Strauss

Replacements

16. Pat MacArthur
17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
18. Zander Fagerson
19. Leone Nakarawa
20. Tyrone Holmes
21. Grayson Hart
22. Duncan Weir
23. Taqele Naiyaravoro

No Horne or Favaro

If the Scarlets don't stop sh!tting in time for the match, it could be quite a comprehensive victory for Glasgow.

Very very strong team. Now's the time for Bennett to come good.

The Tombola strikes again.

The Selkirk Pixie replaces Schlong. Well at least the Scaaahlets won't have to worry about the Centurion's scorching pace.

We have a back row without a "proper 7". Batman may be the fastest forward in the Northern Hemisphere (in much the same way as Schlong is the fastest back at the club) but he's never a " down over the ball, winning turnovers" seven. I'm sure there is a logic to playing against J Barclay esq without a 7 but I'm too dense to see it at the moment.

However, the return of is welcome but I can't help feeling that our best centre pairing at the moment is "Horne plus whoever".

The bench doesn't fill me with wonder either. Sherlock Holmes is a destructive, hard-hitting 6 rather than a 7. Meatball is not the man you look to for creativity if you're chasing the game. Finally, Big T: Big Huffy kid from his latest performances.

Still, a five pointer for Glasgow. No problem.

15 Liam Williams, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Gareth Owen, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Steve Shingler, 9 Gareth Davies, 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ken Owens ©, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Jake Ball, 5 David Bulbring, 6 Maselino Paulino, 7 James Davies, 8 John Barclay

Replacements; Kirby Myhill, Phil John, Peter Edwards, George Earle, Morgan Allen, Aled Davies, Aled Thomas, Steff Hughes

Unavailable for selection; Scott Williams (knee), Emyr Phillips (knee), Tom Williams (shoulder), Aaron Shingler (concussion)


* subject to change, correct at time of printing

Horne is down on the injury list as concussed this week and Fusaro is stiil there.

The way Favaro plays, its a wonder that he ever manages to put together more than two games in a row, he certainly was hobbling off after the game last week. Maybe they left him in Italy to have a few days of home cooking and sunshine to pick himself up for the last few weeks of the season.

Its still a very strong team though. A vote of confidence for Lee Jones to get the nod ahead of Lamont, who was given last week off as well. Still no word on the future for the venerable Sean, I wonder if this is signaling that this will be his last year after all. I suspect a few announcements and goodbyes before the last game at Scotstoun against the Zebre, but still not sure who they will be for.

Probably the main surprise is Leone on the bench, but then again what an impact he will make! Big Tachy may make a few imprints on some tired bodies towards the end of the game as well. He will remember playing against the Scarlets very fondly and he looked hungry last week as well!

I think Glasgow have it in them to wipe the floor with that Scarlets side, but I hope they come suitably equipped.

Sorry to hear Scarlets are currently riding the Porcelain Express.

All I did was send in that South African chef that did the cooking for the All Blacks just before the 95 RWC final.

IanBru wrote:I think Glasgow have it in them to wipe the floor with that Scarlets side, but I hope they come suitably equipped.

Can we change the Scarlets' logo to



on the top of the thread?

Just thinking about it, I can't believe nobody has said that with this being a bit of a crunch game the Scarlets are pooping themselves

From a coach's point of view one of the biggest challenges at this stage in the season must surely be, "How do we approach a match against a side we may meet in the play offs?"

Put out your best side and beat them ; but if you lose how do you pick them up again, also high risk of injuries and it lets them see your plays/strategies and spend some time working out how to deal with them.

Put out a weakened side and forfeit the result; your fans who've shelled out good money won't be too happy, Sky won't be too happy.

Hmm.

Mind you poisoning your own first team squad is perhaps just a tad too Machiavellian.
p.s. I know the Scaahlets have listed a strong 23 but
* subject to change, correct at time of printing
suggests that they had to name a side by a deadline and we probably won't be seeing too many of them.

p.p.s. I want a prize for being the first one on these boards to use the "cunning" emoticon correctly.

Jimbo that correct to time of printing was me making a little joke. The official release didn't mention the illness at all. Also I read the coaches comments on the western fail, and Pivac was talking mainly about Glasgow and how to counter them, but Toonie was only quoted saying how Glasgow are looking. I think it shows that even in the Scarlets camp Glasgow are seen as the favourites.

One plus side, possibly, is there are at least four Scarlets having their last run out at pys before they leave, so hopefully they will all be looking to sign out in style.

The weather is stunning, not a cloud in the sky. I think we are going to have a good game today.

Spidey, I wish I was there. However, on Thursday I too collapsed with the Treviso Two Step. Somehow I didn't feel brave enough to say to herself last night, "You know I'm a little bit better. Perhaps a walk in the beautiful Welsh valleys is just what I need."

The Ladyboys look as if they'll get a top two finish now. However, both Glasgow could miss out completely. Today should be a cracker.

Finn Russell take a bow!

That looks like the end of DTH game

Did Clancy just give a penalty against Glasgow for a deliberate knock on for a charge down?

BigGee wrote:That looks like the end of DTH game

And probably season too, gutted for him.