We must be accurate, says Whiffin
SCARLETS need to produce an 80-minute performance in order to defeat Zebre at Parc y Scarlets tomorrow (5.15pm), says attack coach Richard Whiffin.
The region are looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat against Edinburgh, where Josh Helps was sent off as they lost 6-3.
It was Scarlets’ third Guinness PRO14 defeat in four games this season, but Whiffin believes the side are not far away from clicking into gear.
He said: “We are creating, we are getting into the red zone, 29 times in these first four games, which is a good number per game.
“We have just got to be more accurate in all of our aspects, be it pick and go, be it drive, be it catch pass, running lines, to be able to execute.
“[Against Edinburgh] In that top end of the field we created five or six gilt-edged opportunities which unfortunately we did not end up taking.
“That is the nuts and bolts of the game and we have got to be better at and that is something we are continually working on to make that last pass stick and get over the whitewash.
“We want to go in and execute an 80-minute performance. We have shown in parts our ambition to play, our defence has been outstanding, obviously we need to sharpen up on our discipline.
“If we can nail those three things then hopefully it will put us on the right side of the result. It is a big game because it is the next one.”
Scarlets have scored just two tries this season, but Whiffin is confident that will change too.
He said: “If we weren’t creating the chances I would be disappointed and I’d be looking at what we are doing. We are creating a lot, that last pass that it is not quite going to hand.
“If you look at the games in isolation, Munster gave us kickable penalties that stopped us getting red zone opportunities.
“Glasgow is the niggly one, we felt we didn’t perform as an attacking unit as we could, in the last two games we have played the conditions and the pitch as the weather has allowed us.”
Zebre travel to Wales after their 23-17 win over Ospreys in Parma last Monday, and Whiffen is well aware of the threat the Italian side pose.
“They are a team that will play from deep and have a couple of good young half-backs that are starting to control their game,” he added.
“Zebre are a threat, and have been building over the last couple of years and will come here and give it a big lash.
“We have to be on our mettle because they will come here with nothing to lose; they will have passages when they are on top and we will as well.
“It is about having the right mindset and intensity to take hold of those passages when we are on top and get the result we are after.”
Ospreys, meanwhile, face a tough assignment in their bid to recover from the setback in Italy, when they entertain champions Leinster at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow (3pm).
The visitors will be without New Zealandborn wing James Lowe, who has been called up into the Ireland squad for the Autumn Nations Cup.
Both Ospreys and Scarlets line-up will be announced today. Go to walesonline.co.uk/ rugby for details.