PEEL: WE GAVE EURO CHASE EVERYTHING
SCARLETS boss Dwayne Peel said his players gave everything as they fell agonisingly short of securing Champions Cup qualification with a last-gasp 26-21 defeat to the Stormers.
They needed victory to surpass the Ospreys – who had lost the previous night – in the United Rugby Championship table.
And tries from Johnny Williams and Ryan Conbeer put them in contention in what was an impressive performance, with the scores level heading into the final few minutes.
However, Peel’s side were denied top-tier European rugby next season as the Stormers scored at the end to ensure it was the Ospreys who will be playing in the Champions Cup next year.
Peel said: “It was a huge effort. We emptied the tank.
“Everyone has seen the Stormers play this season, they have been high energy, big physicality, with big carries.
“We went toe to toe with that. “I’m proud of the effort we’ve put in.
“The game was about fine margins, and either side could have won it.
“Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.”
The result meant Scarlets finished 10th in the 16-team league and Peel added: “It is about how we react.
“We can compete, yes, but we have to compete consistently.”
The Scarlets started with intent and after just eight minutes they were 10 points to the good.
The reliable boot of Sam Costelow opened the scoring from the tee, before a try of real quality stretched them further ahead.
From a line-out in their own half, Gareth Davies chipped over the blitzing Stormers defence into acres of space behind.
Jonathan Davies, having been overlooked by Wales coach Wayne Pivac earlier in the week, was first to it, before feeding Williams – one of the men selected ahead of him for a
Welsh centre spot – to race over for the opening try.
The away side, seeking to secure their own status as South Africa’s highest-placed side, didn’t take long to hit back.
The dangerous Hacjivah Dayimani slipped off a couple of poor tackling attempts to release Leolin Zas with a neat offload.
Despite being faces with full-back Tom Rogers in front of him, the try was a mere formality, with Zas wrong-footing the Scarlets full-back to score.
The boot of Costelow kept the Scarlets
in front, building a solid first-half lead. However, the away side began to wrestle back some control through their relentless carrying.
And tries either side of half-time put them ahead.
Evan Roos crashed over from close range just before half-time to reduce the gap to two after a series of brutal carries.
Then, just a minute after the break, Ruhan Nel waltzed over after the Scarlets midfield was caught too narrow defending a line-out.
From there, the scoring slowed down a little with nothing more before the hour-mark.
However, just before the clock reached 60 minutes, the away side were reduced to 14 men as Deon Fourie was sin-binned for a high hit on Kieran Hardy.
Moments later, both the Scarlets and Wales suffered a blow as Rhys Patchell, fresh from being named in a first Wales squad in two years, departed injured.
It came just a few minutes after he came on to the field as a replacement.
His chances of touring South Africa now look in the balance, while it
left Peel’s side with centre Williams at fly-half for the final quarter.
Despite that disadvantage, the Scarlets kept pushing and relentless pressure saw Conbeer cross out wide to level the scores.
However, makeshift kicker Liam Williams couldn’t add the conversion from out wide.
Shortly after, Williams departed for a HIA, allowing Costelow to return as they pushed for victory.
But it was the Stormers who had the final say, confirming the Scarlets’ fate with a winning try from Nel at the death.
WELSH international prop Rob Evans has signed for the Dragons just days after it was announced he was being released by the Scarlets.
The 39-times capped loosehead joins the Men of Gwent after nine years with the Scarlets, where he made more than 150 appearances.
Evans, 30, said: “I’m happy to be joining and excited to get going next year.
“It feels like the right time for a change and, with the other signings and what Dean (Ryan) wants to build here, it will be brilliant and I’m looking forward to it.
“I love playing at Rodney Parade and the fans are really loud and intimidating.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of it and having them on my side.”
Director of rugby Ryan said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming a player of
Rob’s calibre to the Dragons and excited about the impact he can make with us.
“Rob is highly driven and motivated to help us move forward as a squad.
“He also still has big international ambitions with Wales that he wants to achieve as a Dragon.”
Having made his Wales debut against Ireland in 2015, Evans went on to be a mainstay of Warren Gatland’s team, making his mark as a mobile front-rower with slick handling skills.
He started four games in the 2019 Grand Slam campaign, with his last cap coming against England at Twickenham in March 2020.
Evans is the latest in a long list of signings by the Dragons, following the likes of Highlanders centre Sio Tomkinson, Ulster hooker Bradley Roberts and returning Scarlets back Angus O’brien.
Evans says he is leaving the Scarlets on good terms after his shock exit was revealed.
“I don’t think it’s hit me yet, to be fair,” he told BBC’S Scrum V podcast before news of his move the Dragons was announced.
“Obviously I’ll miss the boys and stuff and miss the club, but every good thing comes to an end and I’m looking forward to what is to come now.
“I’ve been chatting to them for a while and obviously money is getting a lot less now in Wales, some good looseheads heads now as well.
“It was an accumulation of a few things really and what’s good for me going forward.
“It was a few things but we haven’t fallen out on bad terms or anything. Leaving the club with good feeling really. It’s all good.
“I don’t mean money in that way (personally), I mean funding to try to build a squad.
“If we had four or five looseheads, when you might need players for either positions. Unfortunately I was the one who was out of contract this year and they need to re-boost in other positions.
“That’s the way it is, really. As I said, I’m looking forward to other opportunities now and moving forward.”
Other players to be leaving the Scarlets include former captain Steff Hughes, Wales international Tyler Morgan. James Davies, Liam Williams, Marc Jones, Tom Phillips and Tom Lewis.