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…
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