Scarlets love affair with France continues for Amlin Challenge Cup Quarter final

The Scarlets sensational win against top French side Castres on Saturday evening (13-16) will bring them another French trip and a quarter-final Amlin Challenge Cup contest in the Spring against Brive away from home.

The Scarlets have met the 1997 European champions Brive on three occasions, the first in 1996/7 in a Heineken Cup quarter-final where the Scarlets lost out 14-35.

More recently in the pool stages of Europe the Scarlets secured home and away wins against the French Super 14 club in 09/10 season with a win at Parc y Scarlets (24-12) and in France 20-17.

If the Scarlets are successful in their quarter-final they will meet either Wasps or Biarritz in away in an Amlin semi-final.

Scarlets Defence Coach Simon Easterby said: “This weekend’s win in France against Castres to get us into the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter finals will stand the team in good stead for our next encounter in Europe.

“It’s just great the boys have this opportunity to keep European hopes of silverware alive and we’re now in all three of our competitions and that’s great for the forward momentum and focus for these players to the end of the season.

“Our league form is a big priority to us – and after some good wins in the festive period pushing us back into contention for a play-off place, we will keep our focus on the RaboDirect PRO12 – however, it’s great to be in with a shout in all of our competitions. It’s a boost to us and the way this squad has developed and will spur us on further.”

Easterby said that despite the double win over Brive by the Scarlets recently, there will be plenty of homework done on the French club in the lead-up.

The former Scarlets skipper said: “Brive had a good win against Sale beating the English club on their home soil in January in this competition, so it shows what they can do. They may be mid table and not one of the best-known and high profile French clubs but they are working hard and their results are now improving.

“They’re another big, physical pack and outmuscled Sale and Brive were in the knock out stages of the Amlin last season too, so will come to the quarter-final with confidence particularly at their home ground.

“But that was a pretty big win for this group of players at the weekend on a number of levels and it will be in our minds and that will give our mental edge a boost.

“In the first half against Castres we really got into gear and looked comfortable and dynamic with the ball – just goes to show what we can do in attack when the boys gel; but it was the rear-guard action in the closing stages of the game, where the players showed real steel to claim a big Heineken win that’s significant – given that many of the players are in their first Heineken season.

“To get something out of that game is testament to the amount of work and effort they’ve put in.”

Easterby paralleled the opportunity ahead with some of the Scarlets European campaigns in his playing career.

“It’s about building mental strength as well and I remember in 2000 we went out to Bourgoin and won (36-30) and that was a young Scarlets side with limited experience but from that win we went on and achieved some significant European performances with knock –out stages including European semi-finals for a few years running.

“We’re a side that seems to travel quite well – in France in particular and to go back out to a French club with all that comes with that in terms of match atmosphere and local supporters will be great for our team and supporters and something we can work for on the back of. “