Scarlets seek step up for big European opener at Quins

The Scarlets will be looking to go up a gear in their opening Heineken Cup fixture against Harlequins away from home as the 19th season of Europe’s club competition gets underway this weekend.

With opponents in Pool Four including two top-flight French clubs, Clermont Auvergne and Racing Metro, the Scarlets know they have to get a strong start against the powerful English Premiership side in front of a hostile Stoop crowd on Saturday afternoon.

But before they even think about entertaining the star-studded, big-spending Paris side at Parc y Scarlets next Saturday (19th October, kick-off 6pm); the West Wales side will be concentrating on getting their own house in order for a thrilling Anglo-Welsh encounter in the opening round.

Scarlets Head Coach Simon Easterby says will his players have the ability to cause upsets but will need to bring a big performance from the very outset on Saturday afternoon.

Easterby said: “We’ve had a very sharp week in training – the boys have worked very hard. There’s nothing like Heineken Cup weeks to get everyone motivated and especially an Anglo-Welsh contest and we’re confident that if we get our house in order, we can cause other teams problems.

“We’ve seen it in patches in our first five weeks of the season and we can take a lot from those games. However, we know we’ll have to hit a new level this weekend and set our stall out in this opening European fixture. We’ve only been a few per cent off clicking but there’s no room for error in these contests.

“Both sides will be looking to put some frustrating weeks behind them and Harlequins are a very effective team – especially at home.”

The Scarlets have only met the Quins once at The Stoop in European competition — losing 29-24 during the 2008-09 season.

Easterby said there was just a sharp focus on the performance they have to bring to Twickenham on Saturday – despite the backdrop of some notable shocks they’ve brought to the Heineken Cup competition opening rounds in recent years. These include the big bonus point win away from home against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens in the Heineken Cup in November 2011 and the memorable triumph at London Irish’s Madejski Stadium in 2009.

Easterby said: “You can draw on your experiences from those big games – they’re pretty special and as players you can take inspiration from those wins, knowing you’ve done it before; but we have to be very focused on this game, our levels of consistency and our own performance.”

“Our scrum has been effective this season; it’s something we have put a big focus on for the last 18 months and is certainly adding more to our game with Danny Wilson’s input; but it’s a constant work on and we have plenty more to do. And when we get some good quality ball delivered to our back line we know how dangerous those players can be; so it should be a great contest on Saturday.”

With club captain, back rower Rob McCusker out with a calf injury and Wales international hooker Ken Owens also on the side-lines with an abdominal strain; Easterby has switched Josh Turnbull to no8 alongside Shingler and Barclay in the back row and Llandovery born hooker Emyr Phillips starts in his 78th appearance for the Scarlets region.

Scarlets Team v Harlequins Heineken Cup Saturday 12th October, The Stoop kick off 3.40pm; 15 Liam Williams; 14 Kristian Phillips; 13 Jonathan Davies (capt); 12 Scott Williams; 11 Jordan Williams; 10 Rhys Priestland; 9 Rhodri Williams; 1 Phil John; 2 Emyr Phillips; 3 Samson Lee; 4 Jake Ball; 5 George Earle; 6 Aaron Shingler; 7 John Barclay; 8 Josh Turnbull

Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Joe Snyman, 20 Craig Price, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Gareth Maule.

Players not available for selection: Ken Owens, hooker (abdominal strain), Rob McCusker, back row (calf strain), Deacon Manu, Prop (fractured arm), Richard Kelly, second row (hamstring strain).