Scarlets V Worcester, post match quotes

The 43 v 14 winning score-line against Worcester Warriors and a six try to one count from the Scarlets was a welcome sight for those who enjoyed a display of rugby from the home side at Parc y Scarlets that showed promise for the season ahead.

The hard work and planning of the pre-season period and some intense fitness work in the Scarlets camp over the past eight weeks resulted in an eager and energetic side taking to their home field again for the first time in four months.

The pre-season friendly which was held as a testimonial for former Scarlets captain Mark Jones, showed a team that was in good spirits and enjoying their August afternoon’s work despite the wet summer conditions. And some exciting glimpses of individual skill boosted the crowd’s spirits on a damp Saturday afternoon.

There were strong individual performances from a crop of Scarlets new-comers as well as the team’s established players – including the exciting new wing duo Joe Ajuwa and 18-year-old George North – plus Scarlets favourites Morgan Stoddart and Regan King making a welcome impact at Parc y Scarlets after long absences last season through injury.

However, an encouraged Scarlets Head Coach Nigel Davies, was equally keen to put the friendly win into context.

He said:  “It was good exercise for us and I’m happy with what we got out of it as it puts us where we expected to be at this stage in our pre-season preparations, but we still a lot of work to do in the next few weeks before the competitive season kicks off.

“The result of this friendly is what it should have been, it’s positive and builds on last week and now and we have to push on from here. It’s only a first step into the new season.  There were some good individual performances out there and we played to the pattern we had worked on with and without the ball, which was pleasing to see.

“I thought the two second rows did well, they know they have to stand-up and be counted this coming season and I was pleased with Emyr Phillips at two – which gives us some options there as we move forward. Josh Turnbull was working hard as usual and Rhys Priestland played very well.

“It was good to see Regan and Stodds (Morgan Stoddart) back and playing well and Joe Ajuwa in particular would have been a stand-out player for many watching him for the first time – one of a number of our guys with a good future ahead of them.”

And following an intense pre-season strength and conditioning programme for the Scarlets over the summer led by Australian fitness coach Brad Harrington, Davies added that he was good to see the team not take its foot off the gas throughout the game.

“It was evident to us that we had to get some good conditioning gains in our pre-season phase.  We have to go out on the field and work our socks off, and not come off the accelerator. I also thought we were much more aggressive in aspects of our defense today than we have been for a long time.”

Davies said there was growing competition for places and more positive signs of strength in depth within a relatively small Scarlets squad.

“There is growing competition for places which adds a good edge, and while we had to invest a lot in our players last season, they know that’s behind us now and it’s time to front up throughout this season.”

With seven key international players still yet to return to the field (Jones, Rees, Knoyle, McCusker, Davies, Owens and Lamont) the Scarlets coaching team must have been satisfied that it was a good day in the office for the region, with more to add to going into the competitive season.