GOLDEN CHANCE OF GOES BEGGING FOR
IT is no disgrace to lose by five points in a European quarter-final against Toulon at Stade Mayol, but the Scarlets will still feel an opportunity passed them by in Saturday evening’s Challenge Cup clash on the Cote d’azur.
The hosts were not especially outstanding.
In fact, for long periods they struggled to get out of third gear.
But despite a game effort, the Scarlets uncharacteristically lacked the craft – and poise – to take advantage, with Toulon running out 11-6 winners.
Here are the talking points...
KEY MOMENTS
Perspiration will take a side only so far in pursuit of silverware.
Often, the key is the ability of a team to make maximum capital out of big moments.
The Scarlets had three opportunities in the second half in Toulon but couldn’t take any of them. The first saw Steff Evans reeled in by Gabin Villiere.
In Evans’ defence, he was carrying the ball, making his task of outsprinting Villiere more difficult, while the suspicion is the Toulon wing is quick enough, anyway, to chase down a high-powered car.
But still, it was a chance. Villiere not only caught Evans as the Scarlet broke clear with the line beckoning, he also turned him over. Chance gone.
Secondly, with barely five minutes left, a drive for the line saw Tyler Morgan lose possession a metre or so out.
Opportunity gone.
Thirdly, in the final minute, again within striking distance of the whitewash, the Scarlets once more couldn’t convert, with a torrent of Toulon forwards pouring through at a ruck, forcing young Javan Sebastian backwards.
Game over.
SPARK MISSING
Even though they had opportunities, the Scarlets were untypically short of potency behind. Johnny Williams and Johnny Mcnicholl had their moments but the West Walians could have done with the attacking threat of Liam Williams in their back three and the thrust of Jonathan Davies in midfield.
Rhys Patchell’s pace and invention might also have come in handy. At this level, depth is key. Toulon brought off Baptiste Serin in the second half, sent on Louis Carbonel and the new fly-half changed the game, nailing a couple of kicks and setting up the only try with a devastating piece of quick thinking.
Sensing an opportunity at a tapped penalty, the youngster made 35 metres before the Scarlets could bring him down. With the defence in disarray, Villiere carried play on for the support to work Sergio Parisse over the line.
It was the replacement’s moment of inspiration that proved the difference.
On the night, Toulon had it in them to unlock the cover. The Scarlets didn’t.
THE BRILLIANCE OF LEIGH HALFPENNY
Maybe it deserves to be ranked as the finest tackle of his career.
Whatever, it was the takeaway moment of the game for many watchers.
Breaking right from a line-out, Toulon worked the ball to fly-half Baptiste Serin in centre field. At that point, Halfpenny was covering close on 40 metres across the pitch on his own, with three Toulon players bearing down.
When Serin threw out a long pass to full-back Daniel Ikepfan, a score looked certain, but the Toulon man made the mistake of trying to beat his opposite number for pace, and Halfpenny was having none of it, flinging himself at Ikepfan and taking him out around the ankles.
Try saved.
Seconds later Halfpenny forced the same player to spill the ball with more brave defensive work.
But it was the first tackle that will stick in the memory.
It involved speed to get there and textbook technique to make the sideon hit.
Instantly, social media lit up in appreciation.
Sadly, the evening was not to end well for the Scarlets and Wales fullback, as he left the field with a black eye and looking dazed after being injured attempting to halt Toulon’s right wing Masivesi Dakuwaqa.
MCNICHOLL INJURED, TOO
The Scarlets’ woe on the injury front wasn’t confined to Halfpenny.
A couple of minutes from time, Mcnicholl sustained an ankle injury.
He appeared in real pain but managed to walk from the pitch.