2007: Year of the Up and the Down!

What a year to be a Scarlets fan, one minute your travelling to a Heineken Cup semi final, optimistic as ever after some brilliant performances, the next your pulling your hair out because someone is campaigning to save the worms on the training pitches!

It all started so brightly, wins in Europe to make it 6 out of 6 and then one of the all time great Stradey nights against Munster. It's not very often Llanelli becomes host to such an event and it highlighted the importance of rugby to the town. Munster played their part in every way and made the occassion such a special one.

On to the Leicester match, travelling over the border with such optimism and belief that we were untouchable after such brilliant performances in the previous months but unfortunately we came up against another team brimming with confidence, only this team had a proper pack of forwards who did a job on us, something that was to be part of our downfall.

Just days later, the Ospreys took advantage of the broken men who pulled on the Scarlets shirt to take our home record and any chance of the Magners League title.

Over the summer, not one day went by without debate over the new stadium and the plans for Stradey Park. Possibly the most frustrating time for the majority of fans behind the move as a small number of people held firm over their 'beliefs' of what should happen.

The new season began with a humiliating defeat as the Dragons tore into a weak Scarlet pack and recorded a famous win at Stradey. That was followed by misery in both the EDF and Heineken Cups, both competitions being lost due to the lack of firepower.

Undoubtedly though, the biggest lost of all almost made everything else irrelevant. Scarlets legend Ray Gravell sadly passing away, leading to the most emotional scenes ever seen at Stradey Park and throughout Welsh rugby. Such a great man had been lost, but his legacy will live on forever.

On to 2008, hopefully the year that sees the Scarlets move forward, new stadium on the horizon, the promise of a far superior recruitment policy and a new generation of young players ready to don the Scarlets jersey.

YES!

Great win on boxing day, full of fight, passion and hard work. Hopefully it will be a performance to build on which makes the Dragons game on New Years Day all the more important.

I have to admit it was a little emotional when thinking that was the last time we are likely to see a full Stradey Park with Sosban Fach echoing around and a win against the old/new enemy. Hopefully we can take some of the fight and pride shown on the field into the new stadium, we won't go far wrong if we continue with that.

From the start it was obvious the Scarlets were up for the match, a game brimming with all the intensity you'd expect from a welsh derby. Watching from the enclosure you could hear how hard each tackle was, see how much each player wanted to respond to the recent criticism and feel how the crowd kept lifting the team, even after going in 9-7 down at half time, James Hook scoring the points for the visitors after Gavin Thomas grabbed the first try.

Congratulations to Nathan Brew on his first try in Scarlet colours, breaking through the Ospreys defence after a turnover. The Ospreys didn't lie down though, coming back through the Scarlets indiscipline and a powerful effort from their pack. It was only a wonder tackle from Mark Jones and a knock on from Andrew Bishop which allowed the Scarlets to hold on for a much deserved win.

One thing I noticed from referee Nigel Owens performance was that he tends to be inconsistnet at the breakdown, sometimes penalising players for using hands or being in an offside position and other times leaving the same infringement go. It's difficult as a player to get into a game if your unsure of what you can and can't do, its always a fine line and if the game is ever going to flow, it needs to be made that little bit clearer. All in all though, Owens let the game go and it was an enjoyable festive derby, if you were wearing Scarlet anyway! :)

Scarlets v Ospreys - which way will it go?

The teams have been named for the most fierce derby of the season and a few surprise selections look to have made it quite interesting. The Ospreys, flying high in Europe have recalled Ryan Jones after injury to captain the team from No.8 so a dual with Alix Popham looks to be on the cards.

The Teams:

Scarlets: Morgan Stoddart; Mark Jones, Regan King, Gavin Evans, Nathan Brew; Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel; Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees, Deacon Manu, Vernon Cooper, Scott MacLeod, Simon Easterby (capt), Gavin Thomas, Alix Popham. Replacements: Bruce Douglas, James Hayter, Adam Eustace, Dafydd Jones, Gavin Cattle, Ceiron Thomas, Jon Davies.

Ospreys: Lee Byrne, Nikki Walker, Mark Taylor, Andrew Bishop, Aled Brew, James Hook, Mike Phillips, Ryan Jones, Ben Lewis, Jonathan Thomas, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Gough, Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Duncan Jones. Replacements: Huw Bennett, Cai Griffiths, Lyndon Bateman, Tom Smith, Justin Marshall, Shaun Connor, Jonathan Vaughton.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU).


With the Ospreys resting Marty Holah, Filo Tiatia, Justin Marshall and Ian Evans, along with the injury of Gavin Henson, the Scarlets have a great chance for revenge on last seasons festive horror show and a chance to regain the Evening Post cup after a hard fought win at the Liberty Stadium earlier in the season.

No doubt the Ospreys will be looking to target the Scarlet front five to gain the upper hand, an area which one again will be crucial for the Scarlets. Gaining some sort of equality in the area should give the Scarlets enough to take the game, although overcoming the Ospreys defence has proved a tough task in the past.

The festive period.

Now that we're entering the festive derby season, it may be a good time to put what has happened behind us, learn from it and move forward. The Osprey's game promises to be a cracker with a packed Stradey Park and two teams ready to go at each other - hopefully the temperature will rise a bit by then as we don't want a repeat of two years ago.

I find it quite confusing that Simon Easterby has come out defending the team and rubbising all criticism. Ok, it's natural to defend you team mates and take a step away from the criticism that is flying about, but its almost as if he's saying the recent performances have been of an acceptable level and we're just 'unlucky' to be losing. I just hope that behind the scenes Easterby is asking for alot more from his players. Unfortunately too many key players are underperforming and the team is suffering as a result of the packs inability to compete for 80 minutes, let alone actually take the game to teams.

On a positive note, Lou Reed looks like he is going to get some game time up at Rotherham. I and many others know he is a talented player, so a months loan in English League 1 could do him the world of good and experiencing some of the tougher packs means he'll be ready to step up to regional level.

Back to the festive period - a win against the Ospreys will at least give us some bragging rights closer to home and would be a huge boost to the confidence, so take it easy on the Mince Pies boys and bring us the Evening Post Cup, Ta.

The Ospreys grab Hore.

The Ospreys look to have continued leading the way in off-field activities with the announcement of Andrew hore as Elite Performance Director. The Ospreys have time and time again shown the way forward with their marketing, brand building and off-field appointments.

Hopefully this will give the other regions a kick up the backside as competing at the top level, not only in Europe, but in Wales is becoming increasingly difficult and challenging. The Blues, Dragons and Scarlets have failed to do anything of note to really make people sit up and take note, whereas the Ospreys have managed a number of big signings, money spinning games with Australia and possibly the Baa-baas and now on of rugby's most respected coaches will be joining their team.

What will it take for the other regions and the WRU to stand up and be counted. Everything seems a little too comfortable at times with no real drive, professionalism or passion coming from either, just alot of hot air! Ok, so the Scarlets have had their share of problems off the field, but we shouldn't be sitting back until it all blows over, hopefully plans have been put in place and now that things are moving forward, we'll see some exciting things happening, or am I being naive?

Since rugby moved into the professional era, its no secret that we in Wales have struggled to cope, now that the Ospreys have sorted their off-field madness out, hopefully they'll pull everyone along with them and who knows, we may even see one of the other regions come up with a few ideas to move into the new era of Rugby (Yes, the era which 'began' 10 years ago and we're still coming to terms with it!).

Is it really all doom and gloom???

Munster make it two out of two.

Another 'L' by the side of this seasons fixtures doesn't make great reading. There was never much to play for but it still doesn't deter from the fact that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best and we failed quite miserably.

The all to common problems were evident; Poor platform, lack of ball carriers and lack of imagination when we finally had the ball....oh, and the line-outs were quite shocking!

So, in a week that Mr Gallagher has come out and promised big name signings to compete with Europe's best, is it all doom and gloom at Stradey Park as many fans suggest?

A new Stadium, a promising group of youngsters and some very talented players would hopefully suggest otherwise.

After all the 'goings on' pre-season and which spilled into the season with regards to financial difficulties etc. this season was never going to match the success that Phil Davies achieved last year. Losing depth in key areas and not being able to strengthen the squad meant we'd always be struggling to compete with the likes of Munster, Wasps and Clermont.

These comments may not be news to many people but I feel they have to be reiterated and we MUST be patient! Unfortunately our expectations outweigh our current capabilities, we're all guilty of it.

Lets be patient. (Boxing Day doesn't apply to this!)

The Munster Double Header...round 2

I'm just about dry after spending my Saturday evening in horrendous conditions watching another masterclass in wet weather rugby from Munster. The Scarlets were tought a lesson and the front five problems were, again, shown up with no mercy.

This weekend, the Scarlets will be hoping for a considerably dryer venue to play rugby at, but it still won't change the fact that unless the pack perform, the talented backs will be inaffective. Munster will, once again i'm sure, try to strangle the life out of the game, but it would be foolish to think that they will be looking to rumble the ball for another 80 minites. With a full house of singing munster fans behind them, the forwards will no doubt look to dominate a scarred Scarlets pack, but the secret weapons of Tipoki and Mafi will also be demanding the ball of O'Gara if the chance arises.

The Scarlets have decided to make a few changes. Big Vernon Cooper into the second row to add some much needed 'beef'! Ben Broster finally gets his chance with the problem No.3 jersey and Jon Davies gets the nod at inside centre after some impressive displays, but most importantly, Stephen Jones is back to add some direction and much needed grit to the Scarlets team.

We're now playing for pride and in Llanelli, rugby and pride go hand in hand, hopefully the players will be made aware of this if they're not already and Munster, now top of the group, will be looking for another clinical display to see off a hurting Scarlet army.

Scarlets Blog - The first post!

If your reading this then I'm assuming your either a Scarlets fan, rugby fan or one of those jealous types from over the bridge ;)

This is my new Scarlets blog, designed for me to give my (hopefully) educated waffling views about all things tinted Scarlet.

Hoping to provide fans with a quick, fairly entertaining read, nothing I say will be designed to be malicious, offensive or one-eyed of course, if it is, please let me know and I'll make it stop!

But, beware, us Scarlet fans tend to get a bit passionate when the topic of conversation involves rugby. At least I think passionate is the right word. So, onto the rugby...