Scarlets 2016/17 Season Thread

[ScarletSpiderman]

First topic message reminder :

Scarlets pre-season friendlies 2016/17    
Sat 13th Aug 15:00 Exeter vs Scarlets Sandy Park, Exeter  
Sat 20th Aug TBC Scarlets vs Bath Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay  
     
Fixture List      
Sat 3rd Sep 15:00 Scarlets vs Munster Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli Sky
Fri 9th Sep 19:35 Edinburgh vs Scarlets Murrayfield, Edinburgh BBC Alba
Fri 16th Sep 19:05 Ulster vs Scarlets Kingspan Stadium, Belfast BBC2W
Sat 24th Sep 19:35 Scarlets vs ConnachtParc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli S4C
Sat 1st Oct 19:05 Treviso vs Scarlets Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
Sat 8th Oct 19:35 Scarlets vs Dragons Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli S4C
Oct 14th - 16th  Europe 1    
Oct 21st - 23th  Europe 2    
Fri 28th Oct 19:35 Cardiff vs Scarlets BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff BBC2W
Sat 5th Nov 19:35 Scarlets vs Glasgow Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli S4C
Nov 5th  TBC Anglo-Welsh 1    
Nov 12th  Anglo-Welsh 2    
Fri 25th Nov 19:35 Scarlets vs Leinster Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli BBC2W
Sat 3rd Dec 14:05 Zebre vs Scarlets Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma  
Dec 9th - 11th  Europe 3    
Dec 16th - 18th  Europe 4    
Tue 27th Dec 15:00 Ospreys vs Scarlets Liberty Stadium, Swansea Sky/S4C
Sun 1st Jan 15:00 Scarlets vs Cardiff Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli Sky/S4C
Fri 6th Jan 19:35 Scarlets vs Ulster Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli BBC2W
Jan 13th - 15th  Europe 5    
Jan 20th - 22nd  Europe 6    
Jan 27th - 29th  Anglo-Welsh 3    
Feb 3rd - 5th  Anglo-Welsh 4    
Feb 10th - 11th   Glasgow vs Scarlets Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
Feb 17th - 18th  Scarlets vs Zebre Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli  
Feb 24th - 25th  Munster vs Scarlets TBC  
Mar 3rd - 4th  Leinster vs Scarlets RDS Arena, Dublin  
Mar 24th - 25th  Scarlets vs Edinburgh Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli  
Apr 7th - 8th  Scarlets vs Treviso Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli  
Sat 15th Apr 17:15 Dragons vs Scarlets Principality Stadium, Cardiff Sky/S4C
Apr 28th - 29th  Connacht vs Scarlets Sportsground, Galway  
Sat 6th May 17:15 Scarlets vs Ospreys Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli  


Squad

Rob Evans Prop
Werner Kruger Prop
Samson Lee Prop Dual Contract
Peter Edwards  Prop
Will Taylor Prop
Dylan Evans Prop  
Taylor Davies Prop    
Wyn Jones Prop

Ken Owens Hooker
Emyr Phillips Hooker
Ryan Elias Hooker    
Dafydd Hughes Hooker
 
Jake Ball Lock Dual Contract  
David Bulbring Lock
Rynier Bernardo Lock
Tom Price Lock
Josh Helps Lock    
Tadhg Beirne Lock/Flanker
Lewis Rawlins Lock/Flanker  
 
John Barclay Flanker
Aaron Shingler Flanker
James Davies Flanker    
Will Boyde Flanker    
Josh MacLeod Flanker    
Tom Phillips Flanker    
Shaun Evans Flanker  
Morgan Allen Number 8  
Jack Condy Number 8  

Aled Davies Scrum-half  
Gareth Davies Scrum-half
Jonathan Evans Scrum-half    

Rhys Patchell Fly-half    
Aled Thomas Fly-half
Dan Jones Fly-half    

Scott Williams Centre  
Jonathan Davies Centre Dual Contract
Hadleigh Parkes Centre
Gareth Owen Centre
Steffan Hughes Centre    
Matthew Owen Centre  
 
DTH Van Der Merwe Wing
Tom Williams Wing  
Richard Smith Wing  
Johnny McNicholl Wing/ Fullback
Steffan Evans Wing / Fullback    
Liam Williams Fullback  
       
Coaches      
Wayne Pivac Head Coach  
Stephen Jones  Attack Coach    
Byron Hayward Defence Coach    
Garan Evans Team Manager    
Ioan Cunningham Set Piece Coach

[mikey_dragon]

Oh dear

[wayne]

Wayne Pivac is the man to lead us forward. With the help of Stephen Jones we could finish in the top half of the Pro12 table again this season. Without Pivac, we would possibly be battling with the Dragons for the second last place Welsh region. Under Pivac's leadership we beat the Ospreys, yet we didn't just beat them, we beat them away as well, for the first time in who knows how many years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35873236

Yeh, BUT, International198, you forget to mention, we also beat you away, so it was 1-1 over the season, so not so much gloating for EITHER team then

[ScarletSpiderman]

And to be honest one match doesn't mean the coaching team is either good or bad. Generally they get judged over a run of games (or even a season).

[Breadvan]

yet we didn't just beat them, we beat them away as well, for the first time in who knows how many years

I was October 2007. last season however I'd be usually be gutted with any loss v Scarlets, especially at the Lib but the Scarlets utterly dominated the Ospreys that second half and we didn't have a clue so kudos all round to the turks that day..

[mikey_dragon]

Typical Turk that one.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Oh yeah very typical, almost stereotypical even

[international198]

We've lost to Edinburgh. We have no chance of finishing in the top 4 now, IMO. The best we can hope for now is a 6th place finish.

If Edinburgh can beat us 20-9, I wouldn't like to think what Saracens and Toulon are going to do to us in Europe this season. They're going to absolutely thump us, IMO.

However, Scarlets feeder teams in the Welsh Premiership are doing well. Victories for RGC1404, Llandovery RFC and Carmarthen Quins today.

Another positive is Rhys Priestland will now be returning for definite, IMO. It's the only way he can play for Wales again, by coming back to the Scarlets.

[international198]

I want Aled Thomas in as fly-half for the Ulster game.

[international198]

We are now 8 wins from 24 since 30 October 2015, including 4 wins against the Italians and Dragons. This is very poor. I have no idea how the Scarlets can improve either.

[ScarletSpiderman]

International, definite and 'I would like to think' are two very different things

[international198]

Or Dan Jones at fly-half.

[international198]

Sacking Pivac isn't going to work. We'd be even worse without Pivac.

[mikey_dragon]

One would have to be insane to believe Priestland is coming back to Scarlets so he can selected for Wales and think that him coming into your team is a positive thing.

[international198]

One would have to be insane to believe Priestland is coming back to Scarlets so he can selected for Wales and think that him coming into your team is a positive thing.

It would be a huge positive for the Scarlets if Rhys Priestland came back, IMO.

[international198]

I can see the Ospreys and the Blues finishing above us this season. There's nothing we can do but watch this magnificent ship (the Titanic Scarlets) sink.

[mikey_dragon]

Why though? He's a very poor player and has been for some years. I agree that Patchell is also poor from fly-half, it's why Cardiff shifted him to full-back where he excels. Exchanging a poor 10 for an even worse one would be bonkers. I can't see Gatland selecting him regardless of where he plays.

Obviously Blues and Ospreys will finish above you on current form, as will a host of other teams.

[international198]

Why though? He's a very poor player and has been for some years. I agree that Patchell is also poor from fly-half, it's why Cardiff shifted him to full-back where he excels. Exchanging a poor 10 for an even worse one would be bonkers. I can't see Gatland selecting him regardless of where he plays.

Obviously Blues and Ospreys will finish above you on current form, as will a host of other teams.

Like Leinster, Munster, Ulster, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The only teams I expect the Scarlets to finish above are Treviso, Zebre, Dragons and maybe Connacht.

[Stone Motif]

Why though? He's a very poor player and has been for some years. I agree that Patchell is also poor from fly-half, it's why Cardiff shifted him to full-back where he excels. Exchanging a poor 10 for an even worse one would be bonkers. I can't see Gatland selecting him regardless of where he plays.

Obviously Blues and Ospreys will finish above you on current form, as will a host of other teams.

Priestland is a flakey kicker, but you won't name a better Welsh qualified ten for attacking the line. Any of the regions (bar possibly the Blues) would score more tries with him playing.

[Seagultaf]

I want Aled Thomas in as fly-half for the Ulster game.

It would make no difference if they had Dan Carter at 10, if the forwards can't generate some front foot ball, the backs will always struggle when they are trying to attack from behind the gain line.

Pivac seems to be going for a very light mobile pack no doubt to go with a fast and wide game. Unfortunately the first two game have been played in atrocious weather, hopefully on a dryer harder pitch this style may work, otherwise they need to invest in some big ball carriers.

[mikey_dragon]

Why though? He's a very poor player and has been for some years. I agree that Patchell is also poor from fly-half, it's why Cardiff shifted him to full-back where he excels. Exchanging a poor 10 for an even worse one would be bonkers. I can't see Gatland selecting him regardless of where he plays.

Obviously Blues and Ospreys will finish above you on current form, as will a host of other teams.

Priestland is a flakey kicker, but you won't name a better Welsh qualified ten for attacking the line. Any of the regions (bar possibly the Blues) would score more tries with him playing.

The RP of old, perhaps. He's too slow now and this "plays close to the line" tag that he had was alawys a bit exaggerated I feel.

[mikey_dragon]

I want Aled Thomas in as fly-half for the Ulster game.

It would make no difference if they had Dan Carter at 10, if the forwards can't generate some front foot ball, the backs will always struggle when they are trying to attack from behind the gain line.

Pivac seems to be going for a very light mobile pack no doubt to go with a fast and wide game. Unfortunately the first two game have been played in atrocious weather, hopefully on a dryer harder pitch this style may work, otherwise they need to invest in some big ball carriers.

Say, carriers like Jake Ball and Dave Bulbring?

[international198]

The problem is we cannot afford to invest in some big ball carriers, IMO. I don't think we have enough money.

[mikey_dragon]

You've got ball carriers so you can lose that excuse, you're just a poorly coached team and have been for years. I'm not sure if it's Pivac but I'm certainly looking at the likes of Hayward and Mark Jones (who was offloaded to a team barely semi-pro).

[ScarletSpiderman]

We have Morgan Allen, who is on the return from a bicep injury, who took part in the Llanelli v Quins game this weekend, that'll add some more bulk. And also young Condy on the medics table at the moment. When both of these are back we will have a few more options for the back row, so hopefully we will see more penetration from our pack.

[Stone Motif]

You've got ball carriers so you can lose that excuse, you're just a poorly coached team and have been for years. I'm not sure if it's Pivac but I'm certainly looking at the likes of Hayward and Mark Jones (who was offloaded to a team barely semi-pro).

Ball and Bulbring are hardly top level carriers. Zero explosion. Who else have they got?

[international198]

It's easy to look at the negatives. However, there are positives for the Scarlets this season. We came close to claiming a losing bonus point against Munster and also against Edinburgh so it's not as if we're not being competitive. In fact, had the referee rightly awarded a penalty try for the high tackle on Steffan Evans we would have most probably walked away with a losing bonus point last Friday night. Likewise, if Rhys Patchell had kicked his penalties against Munster we would have walked away from that game with a losing bonus point. We're getting close to losing bonus point territory. Maybe against Ulster we can finally achieve a losing bonus point. We look better than Connacht who were thrashed in their first two games (and they are the champions, remember). So, it's not all doom and gloom at Parc y Scarlets. We're getting very close but we're not quite there yet.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

There are positives for the Scarlets this season... We're getting close to losing bonus point territory.

No offence, but the Dragons were consistently in losing bonus point territory last season, and people were lining up to laugh at us. I don't think you can take not getting a losing bonus point as a positive.

I have no doubt you'll end the season above us in the league, by the way.

[ScarletSpiderman]

There are positives for the Scarlets this season... We're getting close to losing bonus point territory.

No offence, but the Dragons were consistently in losing bonus point territory last season, and people were lining up to laugh at us. I don't think you can take not getting a losing bonus point as a positive.

I have no doubt you'll end the season above us in the league, by the way.

I think your right, we probably will finish above you in the league by finishing in 11th place

Being serious though, if there are positives to take from the last two matches, it is that we have had the lions share of possession and territory. If we can work on how to hold onto the ball and how to attack then we are in a position where we should start winning.

[Guest]

I think there's a fair few shocking performances to come this season. It'll take a few scraped wins, like the team managed last season, before the form turns around. I expect the exposure to genuine quality in the European group they've been drawn in will result in a big of a kick up the rear, and this in turn should improve the Pro12 form.

In short, don't expect it to get much better before November/Decemeber, and even then if there are the typical injuries that occur every time Scarlets players play for Wales, it might be longer.

The form they're showing is merely a continuation of the form they ended last season with. It's embarrassing, but I don't expect there to be a big change in fortunes for the next season or two. It seems sytemic. It either requires a change of coaching philosophy (either by Pivac, or another Head Coach), or dynamic of the team's leadership needs to change dramatically, not just the figurehead of who is captain, but instead how the players operate on and off the field, who has authority, how much, and when. It's about showing a leadership and group mentality whereby everyone knows what is expected of them, instead of kind of laissez-faire, do-what-you-want elements at some points, and really structured, limiting rugby at others. There's very little harmony between the two.

I fail to see how the Scarlets could have a 'better' team on paper, aside from perhaps the tight five, but even then it's not bad, just lacking in depth. I'd still expect top 8, can see some big wins coming later in the season to offset the pretty ordinary performances and results they will put in in the coming months. The consecutive wins last season brought a sense of togetherness and confidence, but I don't think the rugby they're playing is miles away from the rugby they're playing now. It's just the badly executed version of the same gameplan. Expect it to even out over the season, between the current dire results, and the 'overachievement' of the winning run they went on at the start of the previous season.

[international198]

There seems to be light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. Samson Lee is due to return against Connacht on Saturday, the 24th of September. Hopefully the Scarlets will pick up 4 points here because Connacht have been abysmal so far. Then, we have Treviso and the Dragons which are potentially 4 pointers also. So, on the 8th of October, we'll hopefully have at least 12 points to show for our efforts this season so far.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37336987

[international198]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37343423

Captain Ken Owens says the Scarlets will not be hitting the panic button after losing their opening two games of the Pro12 season.

The Welsh region face unbeaten Ulster in Belfast on Friday following defeats by Edinburgh and Munster.

Owens is frustrated by the poor start, and acknowledged Ulster will be a tough challenge on their home ground.

"Ravenhill is probably the last place you want to be going when you've lost two on the bounce," he said.

"The pressure mounts, doesn't it?

"There's always going to be pressure but we're not hitting the panic button yet.

"It's the second game into the season and we could win the next 20 and we finish top!"

Scarlets' disappointing start follows a summer when they recruited Wales and Lions centre Jonathan Davies and Blues fly-half Rhys Patchell.

They were the top-placed Welsh region in the Pro12 last season, and are Wales' only representatives in the European Champions' Cup this term but have scored only one try in two league matches.

Coach Wayne Pivac says much of the early-season damage is self-inflicted.

"We're our own worst enemies," said the New Zealander.

"We're hurting ourselves at the moment more than the opposition are. They're taking advantage of our mistakes and we're nought from two as a result.

"Some of the statistics were in our favour - better than the stats when we were winning matches last season.

"But I'm disappointed that we're not converting opportunities two weeks in a row."

[maestegmafia]

Good news that Samson might be back soon.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Some interesting stats from the first two games.

*  Sanjay tops the league for most meters made (241, top being 241), and is the top five for most carries (28, top being 29)
*  Despite a bit of negative press about his service.  Cawdor is in the top four, and being the top Welshman, for passes made (131, top being 210)
*  Patchell has kicked the most pens (5, top being 5)
*  Wyn Jones tops the turnovers won table (5, top being 5).

[mikey_dragon]

It seems Williams also made an uncharacteristic error in the lead-up to Edinburgh's first try. I can't quite put my finger on this as the stats do seem to favour Scarlets - hopefully it's just early season rust but for that to be true we'd need to see a vast improvement against Ulster.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Mikey, to be honest stats can be stun to represent what you want them to 87% of people know that. But I would like to think that the stats mean that when the team settles in together, with the partnerships being forged (we have a new front row, locks, half backs, and centres), that we will start to move in the right direction.

Also, I don't think that Sanjay made the mistake for the try. He failed to make what was probably an awkward catch, but at least he did try, so I think Steff Evans was to blame for that score. He should've kept running, and not stopped assuming Sanj had the mark in the bag. If Evans had not turned off, then he could have cleared up.

[international198]

I don't blame Liam Williams. It was the conditions that caused that try, IMO. It was pouring down with rain. No wonder Liam Williams couldn't catch the ball.

Liam Williams may be a Scarlets superhero but he's human and all human beings make errors as he proved last Friday night.

[Cardiff Dave]

Some interesting stats from the first two games.

*  Sanjay tops the league for most meters made (241, top being 241), and is the top five for most carries (28, top being 29)
*  Despite a bit of negative press about his service.  Cawdor is in the top four, and being the top Welshman, for passes made (131, top being 210)
*  Patchell has kicked the most pens (5, top being 5)
*  Wyn Jones tops the turnovers won table (5, top being 5).

Nul points, the most interesting stat though shewerly?
From a Turk point of view of course. And a Cardiff one come to think of it.

[international198]

Rhys Patchell isn't playing well for the Scarlets. I think Aled Thomas/Dan Jones deserve to start at 10 against Connacht next week and deserve the kicking tee as well. Maybe put Patchell at 12 or 15 but not 10.

[Seagultaf]

Rhys Patchell isn't playing well for the Scarlets. I think Aled Thomas/Dan Jones deserve to start at 10 against Connacht next week and deserve the kicking tee as well. Maybe put Patchell at 12 or 15 but not 10.

Patchell is struggling with the poor ball he is being provided. It's easy to play 10 behind a pack that is going forward, but it's very difficult behind a pack that is not generating any momentum. Hopefully The likes of Dan Jones and young Billy McBride will progress in the next few seasons, but Aled Thomas is nowhere near the standard required to play at Pro12 level. What the Scarlets need is not a new 10 it's some go forward from their pack!

[wayne]

So what does everybody think of the report in the Rugby Paper, which has been picked up by the Fail, that Liam Williams who is out of contract at the end of this season, could be moving across the Lougher.
1) A reasonable report or
2) His agent looking for a hefty increase in his wages ala Scott Williams
I think 2 is the probability and a hefty one at that, he would add a substantial touch of class to us, but it would be a big challenge money wise.
Thoughts?

[mikey_dragon]

Well Ospreys is his home region... I can't see him fitting in there though. I think it's best for everyone if he stayed at Scarlets.

[True Raven]

I'm going for option c) his agent is letting clubs in England and France know that Liam Williams contract expires at the end of the season and may look at a big money move

[wayne]

Well Ospreys is his home region... I can't see him fitting in there though. I think it's best for everyone if he stayed at Scarlets.

Mikey wasn't there a lot of talk before Halfpenny signed on for his option year at Toulon that he would come back to Wales and the top option was the Scarlets, so it would be unlikely that they would want 2 players in the same position who would be away with Wales for a long period in the season, but I still think it is of the agents making, TR could well be right, perhaps they'll mention something on Scrum V in about half an hours time.

[wayne]

Just went on Scarlet Fever, most of the nutters are calling us everything under the Sun, there are a few who reckoned they would never support the Scarlets again if he joined us, and then there are a few sensible ones who think of the Agent making the most of his expertise.
4 pages of Fun.

[international198]

I believe Liam Williams would be foolish to not join the Ospreys if they're offering a bigger salary for him. Rugby is a short career and he needs to earn as many £ as he possibly can before his short career is over.

Childish rivalries mean nothing at the end of the day. It's all about the £ in reality.

I'm not sure he has a family or not but he needs to put himself and his family before the childish Scarlets-Ospreys rivalry and go for the region who is offering him the biggest salary.

Why would he want to stay at the Scarlets anyway? Look at the table Ospreys are top Scarlets are bottom. It's much more attractive to play for the Ospreys because more £ and better results.

If the Scarlets have Leigh Halfpenny coming their way then I will not be crying over Liam Williams's absence next season. Halfpenny is one of the best players in the Northern Hemisphere, IMO.

Imagine how well we would do if we could kick the vast majority of our penalties. Halfpenny would offer us that. Liam Williams can't kick at goal.

I would be more than happy to see Liam Williams leave for the Ospreys if we can sign Leigh Halfpenny as his replacement. If we could get Rhys Priestland in as well that would fill the void left by Steve Shingler. We have never been the same since Steve Shingler left.

[Seagultaf]

I believe Liam Williams would be foolish to not join the Ospreys if they're offering a bigger salary for him. Rugby is a short career and he needs to earn as many £ as he possibly can before his short career is over.

Childish rivalries mean nothing at the end of the day. It's all about the £ in reality.

I'm not sure he has a family or not but he needs to put himself and his family before the childish Scarlets-Ospreys rivalry and go for the region who is offering him the biggest salary.

Why would he want to stay at the Scarlets anyway? Look at the table Ospreys are top Scarlets are bottom. It's much more attractive to play for the Ospreys because more £ and better results.

If the Scarlets have Leigh Halfpenny coming their way then I will not be crying over Liam Williams's absence next season. Halfpenny is one of the best players in the Northern Hemisphere, IMO.

Imagine how well we would do if we could kick the vast majority of our penalties. Halfpenny would offer us that. Liam Williams can't kick at goal.

I would be more than happy to see Liam Williams leave for the Ospreys if we can sign Leigh Halfpenny as his replacement. If we could get Rhys Priestland in as well that would fill the void left by Steve Shingler. We have never been the same since Steve Shingler left.

Scarlets were top Welsh region last season and Shingler was injured pretty much all season! Saying that a fully fit Steve Shingler, as Cardiff are finding out, is a very good player.

[carpet baboon]

Unlucky against Ulster gents but cracking game. Liam Williams is in outstanding form at the moment.
Was that jd2s first game this season? He looked a bit rusty in the first 40

[Coleman]

I believe Liam Williams would be foolish to not join the Ospreys if they're offering a bigger salary for him. Rugby is a short career and he needs to earn as many £ as he possibly can before his short career is over.

Childish rivalries mean nothing at the end of the day. It's all about the £ in reality.

I'm not sure he has a family or not but he needs to put himself and his family before the childish Scarlets-Ospreys rivalry and go for the region who is offering him the biggest salary.

Why would he want to stay at the Scarlets anyway? Look at the table Ospreys are top Scarlets are bottom. It's much more attractive to play for the Ospreys because more £ and better results.

If the Scarlets have Leigh Halfpenny coming their way then I will not be crying over Liam Williams's absence next season. Halfpenny is one of the best players in the Northern Hemisphere, IMO.

Imagine how well we would do if we could kick the vast majority of our penalties. Halfpenny would offer us that. Liam Williams can't kick at goal.

I would be more than happy to see Liam Williams leave for the Ospreys if we can sign Leigh Halfpenny as his replacement. If we could get Rhys Priestland in as well that would fill the void left by Steve Shingler. We have never been the same since Steve Shingler left.

Scarlets were top Welsh region last season and Shingler was injured pretty much all season! Saying that a fully fit Steve Shingler, as Cardiff are finding out, is a very good player.

Jock is quickly becoming very well liked here. He has looked great for us bar that wonky pass on friday night and is very good at the helm when trying to close out a tight game. Fish has filled in for Patchell and Morgan can do a job too.

[Seagultaf]

I believe Liam Williams would be foolish to not join the Ospreys if they're offering a bigger salary for him. Rugby is a short career and he needs to earn as many £ as he possibly can before his short career is over.

Childish rivalries mean nothing at the end of the day. It's all about the £ in reality.

I'm not sure he has a family or not but he needs to put himself and his family before the childish Scarlets-Ospreys rivalry and go for the region who is offering him the biggest salary.

Why would he want to stay at the Scarlets anyway? Look at the table Ospreys are top Scarlets are bottom. It's much more attractive to play for the Ospreys because more £ and better results.

If the Scarlets have Leigh Halfpenny coming their way then I will not be crying over Liam Williams's absence next season. Halfpenny is one of the best players in the Northern Hemisphere, IMO.

Imagine how well we would do if we could kick the vast majority of our penalties. Halfpenny would offer us that. Liam Williams can't kick at goal.

I would be more than happy to see Liam Williams leave for the Ospreys if we can sign Leigh Halfpenny as his replacement. If we could get Rhys Priestland in as well that would fill the void left by Steve Shingler. We have never been the same since Steve Shingler left.

Scarlets were top Welsh region last season and Shingler was injured pretty much all season! Saying that a fully fit Steve Shingler, as Cardiff are finding out, is a very good player.

Jock is quickly becoming very well liked here. He has looked great for us bar that wonky pass on friday night and is very good at the helm when trying to close out a tight game. Fish has filled in for Patchell and Morgan can do a job too.

Lovely break by Nipper Morgan on Friday but his role in the three Glasgow trys suggests his defence is still flakey.

[international198]

I would let Liam Williams leave if Leigh Halfpenny came in for him. Imagine how well we would do if we could kick about 90% of our kicks at goal. Leigh Halfpenny would offer us that.

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