MAGNIFICO DAVIES

Scarlets 49 Aironi 10 - Friday 17th September 2010

The Italians are coming - they came and were sent packing with their tails between their legs.  A stunning attacking performance from the mighty Scarlets ruthlessly revealed the defensive frailties of the Italian's on their first visit to Welsh soil.  Didn't notice any Aironi supporters at Parc Y Scarlets - only owners of local restaurant Alitalia were there trying to flog pizzas outside the barn!

The game itself saw a half hour display of poor technique and skill levels from the home team: they came to life in the last ten minutes of the first half with two tries in quick succession - suddenly the home team had gone up a gear in execution and confidence, and they left the field ahead by 18-3 - the crowd sensing that at last the Scarlets were beginning to click.

This proved to be the case as the home team shot out of the starting blocks in the second half.  Superb ball carrying by Iestyn Thomas, darting, powerful surges by Tavis Knoyle, aggressive carrying by Sean Lamont, and intelligent and insightful running by Goerge North all contributed.  The back row of Edwards, McCusker and Lyons worked hard all night, and the lineout and loose work of both Day and Reed proed effective.  However, it was in the centres that Scarlets did the damage - Regan King is back to his mercurial best, reminding me of his form in the Heineken Cup semi fianl season a few years ago.  King's intelligent and variety of passing is there for all to see, but his lines and angles of running are what often does the business.

MOTM Jon Davies

Outside King, Jonathan Davies had what was possibly his best game for the Scarlets.  His hat-trick of tries showed his full armoury - strength, pace, deft feet - he also put in some bone-crunching tackles.  He would have undoubtedly made Mr. Gatland's antena this weekend - hopefully Warren's got his eyes on some of the O's prima donnas or Cardiff Blues centres to prefer for the Autumn.  I also wonder how effective JD would be without the efforts of King inside him - no current Welshman has the vision of his Scarlets partner.

Sadly Aironi didn't test the pair's defensive abilities - I'm sure the teams we face in October will and it will be interesting to see how they cope.

Finally, a word for the much crticised Scarlet 'lightweight' pack - they outplayed, outmuscled and out scrummaged the Aironi pack who many predicted would be too much for the Scarlets 8.  Also, a classic piece of one-eyed turkmanship from the North Stand - as Martin Roberts picked up the ball from the base of a Scarlets ruck 10 metres from the Aironi line the usual chant went up - " Get it out, mun, Roberts", only for the scrum half to dodge and dart under the posts for a try.  I guess that's why he's out there playing and the prawns are in the stand moaning.

What a great weekend - brill performance by the mighty Scarlets, fab walk in Llantwit on Saturday morning, superb "Macbeth" by the Merlin Youth in Carmarthen and the O's loosing.  Nos Da.

PRETTY BASIC - Scarlets 35 Connacht 33

Isafunnyoldgameinnit...rugby that is, especially rugby at Parc-Y-Scarlets. This afternoon's match illustrated all that's great and dreadful about the mighty scarlets, and in equal measure.
Whilst the score suggests a feast of rugby, the reality was more of a smattering of microwaved pop tarts. The Scarlets squandering attack after attack with handling errors and misunderstandings, their defence as loose as a set of vindalooed intestines. Connacht's ill discipline cost them dear in the end, being down to 14 men for twenty minutes of the match, most crucially when their prop was sin-binned with minutes to go.

The afternoon started pleasantly enough with a 6,400 crowd basking in Indian Summer Sunshine. With a poor and ill-disicplined start by the home side, Connaucht led by 6-0 in the early stages. A Stephen Jones penalty followed by a Jon Davies try built the hopes of the home crowd, only for the plucky Connacht team to score from virtually the restart. More signficant was the manner of the try conceded however. George North looked all at sea defensively today, often charging up and missing tackles. I was suprised Connacht didn't exploit the weakness of the Scarlet's back three, with Fenby playing out of position, and Lamont having looked somewhat shaky under the high ball last season. The first Connacht sinbinning led to Stephen Jones's delicate chip over the defence backs for a brilliant pick up by Davies, a deft pass to Regan King and the Scarlets led at the interval.

Sublime ballhandling and passing skills of Regan King
One of the positives of the afternoon was King's attacking form.  He broke the line virtually everytime he had the ball, mesmerising the Connacht defence and offloading beautifully in and out of the tackle.  Defensively it was a different matter, and certainly so far this season the King/Maule centre pairing looks more robust than the Davies/King one.  A loose King pass led to Connacht gaining posession and winger Carr sped upfield to bag his second try.  Penalties were exchanged followed by a woeful series of handling and passing errors by the Scarlets which saw four try scoring opportunities go to waste with two passes flying into touch.
A negative of the afternoon for me was Stephen Jones's performance.  For my money, Stevo is now the second choice no.10 - Priestland offers so much more in both attack and in his kicking game.  Stephen Jones's tactical kicking in particular seems arbitrary: he rarely relieves pressure with long range touchfinders, and he seems to still be playing the Gatland/Edwards keep the ball in play for as long as possible and don't kick it dead.  Last season, against Cardiff, Jones's kicking gifted the Blues two tries, and the same thing nearly happened this afternoon which could have led to Carr's fourth try.

Past the sell by date???
Carr's third try once again drew attention to the Scarlet's deficiencies way out wide.  Last season's early form and loss of narrow games looked like a lesson the home team hadn't learned - however, when Connacht prop Loughney was sin-binned, Jon Davies levelled to tie the scores at 30 all.  Another Connacht penalty gave the Irishmen a 3 point lead with injury time approaching.  The home team racked up the pressure, and seven minutes into a frantic Parc-Y-Scarlets injury time, after 5 or 6 phases of forward drives close to the Connacht line, Tavis Knoyle finally spun the ball to the backs for a simple, but well-executed 'let the ball do the work' try for Sean Lamont.

A frustrating performance overall then?  Yes.  I would say so - far too many errors, wrong decisions and inept tackling, especially out wide.  Will better teams punish us for these deficiencies?  Yes. I would say so...but then when Munster, Ospreys or Premiership teams win ugly, people say how good they are at grinding out results, etc..  The late, great Carwyn James said rugby is a thinking man's game - think about it.  For all the doom merchants on the Scarlet Fever forum think about this - 5 points.  Bonus point win.  Never say die.  Nos da.

Vernon Cooper Testimonial: Scarlets v Exeter Chiefs

There can be few rugby players out there who can boast 350 appearances for their club – Vernon Cooper has served the Scarlets with unquenchable passion and graft for over 16 years.  Apparently Vernon didn’t want to accept a testimonial from the club and had to be persuaded! Says it all about the man – it’s hard to imagine players in the fully professional era being so loyal and having the physical and mental stamina to last as long as Vernon with the same club. No longer a feature in starting line-ups, Coops usually comes on in the latter stages – he still plays well with all the physicality and cunning as he ever had – it’s just like a lot of things with men as he gets older – he can’t quite last as long!

On to the game itself – and if rugby (like Wendy ball) is a game of two halves, last night proved the point.  Scarlets won the game in by an edgy 24-20.  They dominated the first half in terms of possession and territory, but is was a game full of unforced errors, loss of possession and a lack of speed of thought in attack. While Priestland, King, Ajume and Fenby all played well, the first half performance was notable for the attacking efforts of the front row – both Rhys Thomas and Iestyn Thomas scoring tries from close range.  Hooker Emyr Phillips also impressed tonight – the Scarlets have a Hooker factory on the go on the moment as opposed to Max Boyce’s legendary Outside Half Factory. Tavis Knoyle was the first choice scrum half, but despite a few sharp breaks he played below his usual belligerent best.  Perhaps last week’s performance by the Scarlets was critically shaped by Martin Robert’s accurate and lighting fast passing? Flanker Jonathan Edwards also made a couple of critical errors with his hands – one an almost certain try – but his positional play and defensive work were excellent as usual.

Morgan Stoddard left the field during the first half to be replaced by Dan Evans, and by half time Scarlets held a comfortable lead – all was looking positive for the second half.  Once again though, Scarlets lost their way. Despite starting well with another try for replacement prop Phil John, minutes later Phil was sin-binned and Exeter Chiefs starting to gain a foothold in the game.  Two converted tries by the visitors made for an uncomfortable end to the game, with replacements galore spoiling the continuity of the game with the exception of Scarlet new boy Johnny Fa'amatuainu  The Samoan international showed his incredible handling skills – it was more like watching a Harlem Globetrotter than a back row rugby player, and he immediately earned the moniker of the “Regan King” of the forwards. His continuity and skill at offloading will, I believe, work wonders for a team like the Scarlets.  Exeter, meanwhile, were grinding out their tries in a typically English Premiership fashion. Scarlets held on until Exeter knocked on in attack and the game was over. Worryingly, Rhys Priestland left the field with some kind of knock – hopefully he’ll be fit for next week.

Nige is still looking beautifully brown.  Other news from off the field was chatting to the Exeter fans, they loved Parc-Y-Scarlets, couldn’t believe the season ticket prices here – they pay £340 for an enclosure season and £520 for a stand! Was impressed with their Indian War Chant (nothing will beat Sosban Fach we know – but at least they were trying to sing). Also last night saw the appearance of the mystery shopping trolley pitch side. Heading the completely wrong way to Tesco – someone should tell that bloke…

Mark Jones Testimonial Match - Scarlets v Worcester Warriors - Parc Y Scarlets - Sat August 21st 2010

The smell of chips, pies and beer.  Insults shouted at the match officials.  The unrivalled banter of the Scarlet faithfull - it can only mean one thing - a new seasons is upon us!  Still no draught Felinfoel Double Dragon on show and no sign of a Wagamammas franchise opening at Parc Y Scarlets, but we one-eyed turks live in hope!

Today's first home game of the season was a testimonial match for Scarlet winger and Wales international Mark Jones.  Mark epitomises all the passion, flair and commitment indicative of the great Scarlet players: he made a very gracious speech before kick-off - this indicates how good this guy's people skills are - I believe he's going to make a brilliant coach.  Some fantastic testimonies in the programme from the likes of Graham Henry, Ryan Jones, Stephen Jones, Simon Easterby and Roger Lewis.  Throughout today's game he was on and off the pitch like a rat up a drainpipe, constantly talking to the players (especially young winger George North).  His playing experience, and his courage and determination to recover from not one but two serious injuries demonstrate his personal courage and his love of the game.  What an example for any player, and in particular this young Scarlet Squad and future players in this hotbed of regional Welsh rugby.

Mark Jones or "Sparky" in full flight

As for the game itself, it turned into a rather comfortable win for the Scarlets 44-14.  It's always difficult to judge these pre-season friendlies - lots of players get a run out, academy players and new signings get a look in - there's more chopping and changing than a transexual's hair salon!  A few things struck me about the game today though, and I predict these will continue into the season ahead.

Firstly, the new defensive approach on show today.  The Scarlets played a rushing blitz defence which troubled the visitors.  There was a notable increase in the physicality of the Scarlets pack, with Worcester Warriors often failing to get over the gain line.  The weight of the Scarlet's tackling often resulted in the visitors (and especially Marcel Garvey) spilling the ball - good aggression and organisation was on display for most of the match by the Scarlet eight.

Secondly was the use of what is, I believe, know as "squeezeball".  This is a technique that the Welsh National coaching set up is keen for all regions in Wales to employ as it speeds up ball from rucks and makes turnover ball more difficult to achieve - the Scarlet pack seemed to be using this today, more so when they were on the attack and in deeper phases of play.  Interesting to see if this continues and develops, particularly as Robyn McBride is on board the Scarlet coaching staff now.

Thirdly, the Scarlets backline possessed far more creativity and incisiveness than their opponents.  Regan King looks back to his best, continuing his form from the end of last season - beautiful touch and slight of hand.  Great to see Morgan "the Rhino" Stoddard back - looks like he's bulked up a bit too, even though he had a relatively quiet game by his standards.  George North also looks a fantastic prospect on the wing - solid, reliable and very hard to tackle.  Martin Roberts had one of his better games for the Scarlets - no windmill arms (is this Switchball working as well) and he scored two good tries - one made by King's cunning offloaded pass, another sharp opportunist run in from five metres.

Fourth is the continued rise of Rhys Priestland at 10.  I've always rated Priestland (unlike a lot of other Scarlet fans who are slowly beginning to change their minds).  In his first season (during Stephen Jones's prolonged absence for the 2007 World Cup) he racked up a shedload of points with the boot.  The next couple of seasons have seen him overcome some periods of a lack of confidence and develop into an intelligent and dynamic outside half.  Last season, he put in some fantastic performances (away against Newport and Cardiff stood out for me).  I think the Scarlets play a faster paced game when he's at 10 than when Stephen Jones is playing.  He also makes line breaks regularly and he reads and controls the game superbly for such a young player.  Today was a case in point - he kicked well out of hand, both distance wise and tactically: he missed only one conversion in the game.  His work rate and defense is excellent, and his running game is the basis of a lot of the Scarlet attack: he also scores great opportunist tries - today he made and outstanding try for lock Damien Welch - a chip over the Worcester defence, a gribber kick into space, another little kick away from the defending winger, then, realising he'd be tackled just short of the line, Priestland dived forward and flipped the ball up into Welch's hands for the lock to cross the tryline.  It brought the crowd to it's feet - and he'll do it again this season.

Scarlettillidie's Man of the Match Rhys Priestland

Finally, arguably the most spectacular sight of the day could be seen not on the lush turf of Parc Y Scarlets, but on the touchline.  Nothing less than coach Nigel Davies's incredible tan.  Nigel has either spent the summer installing a tanning bed complex at home or he's been holidaying (and sunbathing) somewhere warm and sunny (obviously not in the UK).  Whilst the media have announced the fashion death of the orange spraytan celebrity recently, Nigel is seriously brown - chocolate brown.  Much browner than this photo in fact.  So brown you'd think he'd been photoshopped that colour brown.  Nos da.

Nigel Davies looking pale