Scarlets surge into last four as Beirne enjoys luck of the Irish
SCARLETS marched into the European Cup semi-finals for the first time in 11 years as Parc Y Scarlets enjoyed a wonderfully noisy gala occasion – but this was also a frustrating game, eccentrically referreed with La Rochelle definitely coming off second best in that respect.
The West Walians have lit up the tournament this season and will adorn the semi-finals, but English referee Luke Pearce did La Rochelle no favours during the key phase of the game.
The nub of La Rochelle’s displeasure will be a long period of pressure on the Scarlets’ line in the third quarter when just 15-10 down. A couple of metres out and looking to work the touchdown, Tadhg Beirne, who had swum through the maul, then collapsed it for one of the more obvious yellow cards you will see.
Already the Irish lock had been trying Pearce’s patience although his ability to disrupt and win turnovers is part of his genius. He treads a delicate line.
Pearce started to reach for the card – and who knows possibly a penalty try as well – but then extraordinarily allowed himself to be talked out of it by Scarlets skipper Ken Owens, with whom he appeared to keep up a pretty constant dialogue throughout the game. The Irish lock escaped with a final warning.
From the next play Scarlets were awarded a penalty which Gareth Davies tapped but quickly got isolated and failed to release. That should have been another penalty to La Rochelle but instead the home side were allowed to clear. Moments later La Rochelle were back storming the line again, not quite so close but still very threatening, when Beirne repeated the offence, only to get a second ‘final warning’. Dreadful reffing.
Predictably when La Rochelle got nothing – mathematically or figuratively – from that prolonged period of play, French heads dropped and Scarlets hit back with a well-taken try by Rhys Patchell which effectively sealed the deal.
Scarlets also added a second from Scott Williams in only their second meaningful visit to La Rochelle territory in the second half after good work from James Davies, although Aaron Shingler’s pass to Davies might not bear close examination.
By then it didn’t matter although La Rochelle worked off a little anger when Pierre Boudehent sprinted 80 yards for a late interception try to make the score a little more representative of actual play.
The game has been a little scrappy and chaotic from the start, as occasionally happens when two sides known for their fluent approach meet and a try fest is predicted.
This wasn’t the Scarlets side that let rip in the latter stages of their pool – many of them have been off on international duty and reintegrating into the club is tricky – while La Rochelle are not a one trick poney. They can certainly attack thrillingly but even with some of their big name forwards missing through injury they were well capable of trucking it up.
And, of course, this was also a European Cup quarter-final, the first for La Rochelle and the first in a very long time for Scarlets. There were nerves everywhere.
La Rochelle, if anything, produced the more fluent rugby but from the off incurred the displeasure of Pearce at the breakdown and contact area.
Scarlets took full advantage with Leigh Halfpenny kicking four penalties while La Rochelle scored a try from lock Romain Sazy
after Levani Botia challenged for a crossfield kick which bounced free.
To the naked eye it looked as if Sazy had missed the ball with his left hand but it was close enough to call the TMO in and to the surprise and consternation of the crowd there was no doubt that his left hand applied downward pressure.
Botia had been La Rochelle’s best player by some distance and it was a blow for the French when the Fijian departed with a twisted knee, even if Kevin Gourdon, himself returning from injury, was a high class replacement.
La Rochelle also lost fullback Bouldoire to injury – replaced by Boudehent – while Scarlets had a major injury issue with Paul Asquith departing with a torn hamstring.
Rather than bring on Dan Jones they opted for a radical reshuffle with flanker Davies going out onto the wing and Josh McLeod coming into the back row. It was an odd call but Davies gives Scarlets that versatility.
None of this helped the game’s continuity and after Bales narrowed the lead to 12-10 on half-time both sides were glad to get down the tunnel to take stock. Halfpenny extended the lead after the break when Priso appeased to be hauled across a ruck into an offside position and got pinged. It was a taste of things to come for the visitors.