John expecting big up-front battle on Friday

John expecting big up-front battle on Friday

Scarlets take on Edinburgh Rugby, at Parc y Scarlets on Friday evening, as the Guinness PRO12 returns amidst the Six Nations campaign.

The Scottish side’s solitary victory on their last five trips to Wales came on their most recent visit to Parc y Scarlets in March 2015, bringing to end Scarlets’ impressive PRO12 home record.

The two meetings between the clubs in the Guinness PRO12 last season ended in a 20-all draw at BT Murrayfield and a 26-15 Edinburgh win in Wales.

Speaking ahead of the Celtic clash on Friday night prop Phil John said: “The season has been going well so far. We broke it into blocks at the start of the season. The first block went so well it has put us where we are today.

“There’s some pressure on ourselves now with the latest results going against us. It’ll be a shame to let that slip. We will take every game week by week and try and stay in the top four.”

Ulster’s victory over Scarlets last weekend saw the West Wales region slip to second in the table and there are only five points separating the top six teams.

John went on to say: “So many teams are capable of wins that can put them into the top four. To have results against teams in the top six or seven over the next few weeks would be massive.”

Scarlets have lost just one of their last eight home games at Parc y Scarlets in the PRO12: 26-27 to Ospreys on Boxing Day but John is aware of Edinburgh’s threats.

“It will probably be a forwards dominated game against Edinburgh. It’s likely to be a tough up front battle.

“We’ll work hard as a forwards unit; work hard on things that didn’t work so well for us in the last game.

“The conditions will probably be against us and not allow us to play the type of rugby we want to.”

Scarlets v Edinburgh, Friday 12th February, kick-off 8.15pm at Parc y Scarlets. Tickets are available now by calling 0871 871 8088 or from tickets.scarlets.wales