EUROPEAN SHOWDOWN IN FRANCE FOR SCARLETS

The Scarlets travel to France this weekend for their final pool game of the Heineken Cup knowing they have to win against French giants Perpignan to be in with a chance of claiming a quarter-final place.

As the only Welsh region still able to reach the next stages in Europe’s top club competition, the Scarlets say they are looking forward to the big occasion after standing toe-to-toe against Leicester for the majority of last week’s game.

Despite a defeat by double European Champions Leicester Tigers at the Parc-y-Scarlets last Saturday, a spirited Scarlets team that secured a 43-34 win against Perpignan at home in the European competition earlier this season say they’ll go and play with Scarlets heart and soul.

“We are still in the fight, we have a difficult place to go and get a result but there is so much at stake you don’t need much more motivation,” said Head Scarlets Coach, Nigel Davies.

“For us, to still be in with an opportunity for the Heineken Cup next stages or Amlin on the last weekend is a significant step forward for this squad from where we have been and it shows the progress we’ve made in the last 18 months.”

The Scarlets have made big strides this season winning 13 and drawn one of their 20 competitive games this season and currently lie second in their domestic league.

The Scarlets field the majority of the same side that put in huge commitment in the battle against the Tigers with only one change to the starting line-up with Samoan international Jonny Fa’amatuainu coming into the second row instead of Vernon Cooper for Sunday’s contest.

The Scarlets will rely on the experience and leadership of Wales and British and Irish Lions duo Stephen Jones at outside half and Matthew Rees at hooker at the formidable Bull Ring with power and experience in the pack from Australian former international David Lyons at no8 and Prop Iestyn Thomas (56 European caps) as well as energy and fight from determined back-rowers Josh Turnbull and Rob McCusker.

Scarlets starting XV v Perpignan, Stade Aime Giral, 23/1/11, kick-off 1400 (local time): Rhys Priestland, Morgan Stoddart, Gareth Maule, Jon Davies, Sean Lamont, Stephen Jones, Tavis Knoyle, Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees (capt), Simon Gardiner, Lou Reed, Jonny Fa’amatuaniu, Rob McCusker, Josh Turnbull, David Lyons.

Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Rhodri Jones, Phil John, Damian Welch, Ben Morgan, Martin Roberts, Lee Williams, Richie Pugh.

Robin McBryde, Scarlets Forwards Coach said: “It will be a tougher as we’re playing away from home, there is a lot at stake for both teams and it’s winner takes all in the cauldron of the Bull Ring. We are all too aware of the pressure we are going to come under, so it’s a big test for us.  However, we have to take confidence from our result over them earlier this season when we gave ourselves a platform and were able to play our game.

“The boys know the responsibility of this weekend, we have an opportunity and as big a challenge as it is we are going to give it the best we can. We’ve had a good training week, we take pride in the way we prepare and have been just focusing on our performance.

“The players have knuckled down this week and they have in the back of their minds the peace of mind that we gave as much as we could last weekend.  We gave a good account of ourselves and there were certain crucial moments in that game that were not in our control.

“There was some disappointment but not despondency – we haven’t lost back to back games this season and we reacted brilliantly in coming back from the defeats at Leicester and the Ospreys this season when we dug deep, were too down on ourselves and won next time out.

“We are realistic and have our feet firmly on the ground and just focus on the areas we can control and that’s what we are doing.”

Scarlets international captain, David Lyons said: “Leicester toughed it out against us and we know Perpignan will throw a few more things at us. They have a proud home record, the crowd will be fierce – they are the big guns in France but we’re confident in our ability and our destiny is in our own hands.

“We stood toe-to-toe with Leicester throughout most of the game, I don’t think anyone can fault our commitment around the field and there was really only a small margin in that game when it turned. You have to learn from it but we know that we have a side that can match them in attack and with our heads on in defense, we can do a job against Perpignan.

“The commitment and improvement we’re showing is something that we are proud of, we are enjoying the rugby we play and we have some young guys here who will not shirk and put their bodies on the line every game and give everything they’ve got.”

The Scarlets are on 15 points in Pool 5 of the Heineken Cup behind Leicester and Perpignan who are on 17 points each.

With two places in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup for the highest scoring second placed pool teams, the Scarlets (15 points) will be keeping a close eye on three other clubs’ results as well as their own next weekend – including Ulster (17 points) Clermont Auvergne (14 points) and Wasps (15 points) who are all likely to be in the running for the best runner-up spots.

The Scarlets have played Perpignan five times in Europe – winning two of their games in 2001/02 (20-6) and 2010/11 (43-34) both at home.