Owens thinks big, but Scarlets hit by injuries
IN Ken Owens’ first season of senior rugby with the Scarlets, he sampled a breathtaking European journey that ended in another heartbreaking semi-final defeat.
In the 11 years that have followed that loss to Leicester Tigers, the west Walians haven’t got anywhere near repeating the feat.
It has been a cause of annual frustration for the Wales and Lions hooker, but tonight, as his Scarlets side take on Bath at The Rec (7.45pm), a first elite knockout tie since 2007 is firmly in the sights of the defending PRO14 champions.
“I am not sure of the exact mathematics of it, but if we win our next two games we are not going to be too far off,” said the Scarlets skipper.
“It is still in our control, which is something we haven’t had for a long time.
“We have always been waiting on other results, or sneaking through the back door into the second-tier competition.
“We qualified on our own merit in my first season, it has been a long time since then for a club with our history in Europe.”
After narrow defeats to Toulon and Bath in the opening two rounds, the Scarlets’ salvage mission has been impressive, aided by their Pool 5 rivals cancelling each other out in their December double header.
Back-to-back bonus-point wins over Benetton means Wayne Pivac’s side head across the Severn just a point behind their hosts and buoyed by an unbeaten festive period as well as the return of a clutch of Wales internationals.
“You go back two or three years and our focus wasn’t quite on Europe,” admitted Owens.
“We were looking to get ourselves into good shape in the league, building squad depth which we didn’t have at time.
“I remember us getting belted by Racing (in Paris); we just didn’t have the depth to rotate and rest players and we almost had to do in Europe that year to make sure we could compete in the league. “That has changed. “We went to Toulon this season and were disappointed not to win out there, a couple of errors cost us.
“We have a much deeper squad now, boys have had plenty of rugby in Europe and the PRO14. You look at the derby games, we made a lot of changes and still got results.
“We are playing a top side away from home, but I don’t think we fear any side now.”
The Scarlets, though, will have to upset their rag-doll rivals without Leigh Halfpenny and Johnny McNicholl, who have both been ruled out of the clash because of injury.
The pair had originally been named in the Scarlets starting XV, but both failed fitness tests during the side’s captain’s run at Parc y Scarlets yesterday afternoon.
Halfpenny has been nursing a pectoral muscle issue picked up against Cardiff Blues on New Year’s Eve, while Kiwi flyer McNicholl hasn’t been seen since damaging his shoulder late on against the Ospreys on Boxing Day.
With Steff Evans suspended, it means the Scarlets’ first-choice back three, such a weapon for them this season, are absent en bloc. They are also without long-term absentee, British Lion Jonathan Davies.
The reshuffle sees Rhys Patchell again pressed into emergency fullback duty with Dan Jones restored at fly-half. The versatile Paul Asquith covers the wing with Hadleigh Parkes renewing his midfield partnership with fellow Wales international Scott Williams.
“In the last game they were more clinical than we were, more disciplined than we were, played the conditions better than we did and they got the result,” said Scarlets head coach Pivac.
“We have got healthy respect for them across the board, they have some class players and they had a good win last weekend (against Worcester).
“But this week it has been about us, it has been about trying to get our attacking game going again.
“It is a must-win game, it is like a knockout game, competitive people like these situations and we are looking forward to the occasion.”
For Bath, former Scarlets favourite Rhys Priestland again starts at flyhalf, having delivered a man-of-thematch display in the 18-13 win at his old stamping ground back in October.
England international Sam Underhill returns to action following his concussion issues, while Wales lock Luke Charteris is also recalled.
“It is a real challenge,” Bath rugby director Todd Blackadder said, ahead of the Recreation Ground encounter.
“They are a team that will come firing. They are still in this competition with a lot to play for, so it’s a big game for both teams.” BATH: A. Watson; M. Banahan, J. Joseph, B. Tapuai, A. Brew; R. Priestland, C. Cook; B. Obano, T. Dunn, H. Thomas, E. Stooke, L. Charteris, M. Garvey (capt), Z. Mercer, S. Underhill. Reps: M. van Vuuren, L. Noguera, M. Lahiff, J. Phillips, P. Grant, K. Fotuali’i, F. Burns, J. Wilson. SCARLETS: R. Patchell; T. Prydie, H. Parkes, S. Williams, P. Asquith; D. Jones, G. Davies; R. Evans, K. Owens (capt), S. Lee, T. Beirne, D. Bulbring, A. Shingler, J. Barclay, J. Davies. Reps: R. Elias, W. Jones, W. Kruger, L. Rawlins, J. Macleod, A. Davies, S. Hughes, W. Boyde. Referee: Jerome Garces (France).