Super Scarlets Secure Quarter Final Spot

Just over a month ago, this season’s European dreams were minutes away from being shattered – two losing bonus points in the opening rounds were not the ideal start and losing at home to Treviso would have been the final nail in the coffin. However, a last gasp victory in Parc y Scarlets and a comprehensive victory in the away leg put the European train firmly back on track.
Last weekend’s victory against Bath was probably the best performance from the boys since the Semis and Finals last season. It was not just the fact that the Scarlets secured an important bonus point win away from home, but the manner in which it was won.

Today’s fixture was a winner takes all affair, described as “a grand final” by Head Coach, Wayne Pivac during the week, a Scarlets victory would see them win the Pool and secure a home Quarter Final…. any other outcome and progression through to the Quarter Finals would depend on results elsewhere.
An explosive start from the home team saw them put the Toulon team under immense pressure as the Scarlets pinned the visitors in their own 22. A superb pass from Rhys Patchell found Tom Prydie who scored his third try in three games as he dived over unopposed in the corner. Dan Jones added the tricky touch-line conversion to give the home team the start they wanted as they led 7 points to 0 after just a few minutes played.
Disappointingly, the Scarlets allowed Toulon to get straight back into the game from the kick-off, with number 8, Duane Vermeulen squeezing over for the visitor’s first try of the evening. Anthony Belleau was wide with his attempt to add the extras as the Scarlets clung onto their lead by 7 points to 5.
A penalty from Outside Half, Dan Jones extended the Scarlets’ lead to 10 points to 5, before Belleau added a penalty of his own to keep the scoreboard ticking over for Toulon as his successful kick brought them back to within 2 points again – 10 points to 8.
Despite their initial dominance, the Scarlets found themselves behind for the first time as English Wing, Chris Ashton’s pace saw him eventually dive over in the corner, despite the efforts of Paul Asquith who managed to get an ankle tap in on the way to the line. Belleau was successful with the boot to add the extras to give Toulon the lead by 10 points to 15.
A charge down from Aaron Shingler was enough to set up the Scarlets’ second try of the evening which saw Hadleigh Parkes become the second player to score tries in successive matches. An outstanding touch-line conversion from Dan Jones saw the Scarlets take the lead once more – 17 points to 15.
A further penalty from the boot of Jones following some immense scrummaging from the Scarlets saw the home side’s lead extended to 20 points to 15 before gifting the visitors an easy three points to bring them back to within two points – 20 points to 18,
The attacking play was at times sublime as the Scarlets ran angles that totally dominated an often off-side Toulon, patiently building up the phases before crossing for try number three. From an attacking line-out five metres out, Paul Asquith looked like he was going to cross, but he managed to get his pass away to Dan Jones who grounded the ball under the posts. Adding the simple conversion of his own try saw the Scarlets’ lead increase to 27 points to 18.
Another penalty at the breakdown saw referee, Wayne Barnes hear the wrath of the crowd as thunderous boos drowned out Sosban Fach as it seemed there was little wrong with the turnover. Fortunately, Belleau didn’t have the legs for the long-range attempt, but another questionable penalty decision from Barnes saw Belleau end the half with an easier kicking attempt as the Scarlets ran in for the end of the half in the lead by 27 points to 21.
The pace of the game continued into the second half….it literally was blink, and you miss it with the fitness of the Scarlets beginning to shine through. Following a succession of penalties, Rhys Patchell stepped up for a long-range attempt that just sneaked over the posts to give the Scarlets 30 points to 21 advantage.
Replacement Francois Trinh-Duc added a further Toulon penalty to bring the score line to 30 points to 24 as Barnes again heard the wrath of the Parc y Scarlets faithful as more and more controversial penalty decisions went against the Scarlets.
As the refereeing decisions went to farcical, with Toulon securing a penalty despite the player being both off his feet and upside down, the frustration around the majority of the 14,476 crowd was evident. Another Trinh-Duc penalty brought the visitors to within three points – 30 points to 27, thanks mainly to the man in the middle and his absurd decisions who basically kept Toulon in the game.
With just quarter of an hour remaining of the game, the Scarlets’ management sent on fresh legs with Leigh Halfpenny making his return from injury.
With just minutes of the game remaining, the Scarlets patiently played the clock down, slowly making their way into the Toulon half as the Scarlets’ defence was tested by the visitors as Hymns and Arias rang through Parc y Scarlets in a bid to lift the boys home to the final whistle.
It was tense, nail-biting stuff, but somehow, the Scarlets managed to dig deep and hold out the endless phases from Toulon, before the visitors opted to take an attempt at drop goal to draw the game. Parc y Scarlets breathed a communal sigh of relief as the kick sailed wide. The scenes at the end of the match can only be described as memorable as the team did a lap of honour, thanking the supporters for adding their vocal support as the Pro12 champions claimed a spot in this season’s Quarter Finals. They now face a waiting game from results elsewhere to see where they are ranked to determine whether they have been successful in their quest for a home Quarter Final…. but for tonight, the Scarlets are celebrating reaching an European Quarter Final for the first time in 11 years.