Plenty to take forward after opening game in Treviso

Returning home from Northern Italy after their opening game of the season, the Scarlets will feel frustrated to have let the victory slip from their grasp in the latter stages of a game they controlled, but equally encouraged by some outstanding individual performances.

With another 21 games to go in the Magners League, the Scarlets players know all too well there is plenty of rugby left this season and despite not securing an away victory against the Italians, will look to focus on home form as a key to their league position.

The Scarlets continued investment and belief in their Welsh talent coming through the system was on show once again in Treviso, as new-comer George North on the wing, who has only just joined the first team on a development contract this season, showed how eager he is to make the most of the opportunities presented to him.

The 18-year-old may not have had the big game experience of some of his Scarlets colleagues, but showed some eye-catching potential as he crossed over for two tries on his Magners League debut.

Add to that the success story of home-grown players like Tavis Knoyle, Ken Owens, Rhys Priestland and Rob McCusker – who with game time last season have all leapt forward. McCusker, who won his first three international caps this summer – now has the honour and experience of captaining his Scarlets side to add to his career highlights.

Speaking after the game out in Treviso, Scarlets Head Coach Nigel Davies said:

“We are obviously frustrated to have lost that game after a first half performance that really showed what this squad is capable of. The team was good enough to win that game, we should have and we’re all bitterly disappointed that we didn’t nail crucial elements of our game in second half.

“However, I firmly believe this team was the right one for the job. We pretty much controlled the game to half-time as we wanted to in terms of not letting them play their game and not giving them opportunities. We held onto the ball and were able to go through three, four and five sets of phases and break them during those phases.

“We played a lot of the pattern that we have worked on; controlled a lot of the game and we have to be pleased with that first half performance when we looked strong. There is a lot within our game at the moment and we’ve showed that in our home friendlies as well. I’ve said that I am really comfortable with this squad, the players are good enough, we must back them, there is plenty of quality emerging in this side and with ball in hand we look dangerous.

“Treviso came out strongly in the second half, credit to them and they gained a lot of momentum. We had some inaccuracies that allowed them to build their game. They had a lot more scrums, a lot more line-out opportunities and that’s their game – if they’re allowed to play their game, they are going to be a difficult side.

“We didn’t muscle up as much as should have later on and we dropped off a couple of tackles which allowed them to get on the front foot. And we’ll be looking hard at next week is how we let them gain so much momentum in the second half. To lose 18 points in the second half is not acceptable – we dropped off and we need to manage games better too close them out.

“We have to learn when the momentum changes like that we must do things differently – hold onto the ball, be a lot more accurate, slow the ball down and get back into the game.”

The Scarlets are the second best placed Welsh region after the first round but while a losing bonus point and three tries is small consolation, the region knows there is a long way to go yet.

Davies added: “We have said that a key to our league performance is our home form and that is a prime focus for us and we will be looking to improve on that this season and that starts at our first home game next Saturday.

“Obviously would have wanted to get a win first out but we will see over the course of the season how important it is that the range of players in this squad get their opportunities and there was plenty to take from the Treviso game.

“We are a Scarlets team, it’s not about any one or two individuals, we have to back this squad as a whole and all the players within it throughout the season. We must give our talent the opportunity to show what it can do over the course of the season and have belief in the team and the players. We will see over the course of the season, how important making that investment is.”