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.
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| 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.
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