Our pack won it for us, insists Davies
SCARLETS skipper Jonathan Davies paid tribute to the forward effort that laid the platform for the Scarlets’ record 49-14 victory at the Arms Park on Saturday.
The Wales and British & Irish Lions centre ran in for one of the Scarlets’ seven tries in Cardiff, but afterwards he hailed another dominant performance by the pack.
“The foundation of that win was set by the forwards. The shift they have put in over the last two weeks has been huge,” he said.
“It gives us opportunity to play how we want and also gives us an opportunity to not have to play as well. They have been excellent.
“We knew Cardiff would come with emotion, it was about weathering that storm and sticking to what worked last week.
“I felt our physicality was good last week and we grew into it this week. Cardiff are a good side at home with a great record – that is a good result for us. Maybe in the past going down 14-0 we might have folded or allowed them in for more points, but the character we showed to get that try just before half-time was massive.
“We probably didn’t appreciate the strength of the wind and how effective it was in the game. The boys took control and made sure we played in the right areas.”
The win has lifted Scarlets into ninth in the URC standings and within striking distance of the playoffs with four matches remaining.
It also took them seven points clear of nearest rivals Ospreys in the battle to claim the Welsh Shield and secure Champions Cup qualification for next season.
Davies added: “It was frustrating at the start of the season how things panned out.
“We are in a position now where we can really push on to get into the top eight. That is where we want to be playing, knockout rugby, we want to finish as the top Welsh side as well.”
Next up for the Scarlets is a home clash with the Dragons at Parc y Scarlets this Saturday (7.35pm kick-off ).
“We have come away with 10 points from these two derbies (against Cardiff),” added Davies.
“We have to make sure we keep working hard and not get ahead of ourselves.
“The talent in this group is very exciting, we come into work every day and we get challenged.
“The style we play is enjoyable, training is enjoyable – obviously it helps when you are winning. Long may it continue.”
Head coach Dwayne Peel said he was very pleased at the second-half turnaround.
“It would have been easy for the dam to break when you are under the pressure we were in the first 20 minutes, but it didn’t break,” he said.
“We grew stronger as the half went on. From my perspective, the fact that we weathered that storm was huge.
“The wind was strong, you could see that from the kicking so at halftime it was about being calm. At halftime I felt we were 10% off everything, we were second to the body height at breakdown, didn’t have enough punch in the carry, and our line speed wasn’t there.
“We also slipped off a couple of tackles and got beaten to a few rucks. From there on in, we had the bit between our teeth and were pretty good in the second half.
“Momentum is huge in this game. We want to climb the league. Apart from the Bulls result, where we got pumped in all honesty, we have had consistency and a level of performance which is what we are after. If we have that, results tend to come.
“We know we haven’t had any consistency in our season, it has been all over the place. Personally, I wanted a run of games to see where we are at.
“We are eight months into a project. We need to get better, we need more consistency in what we are doing. I am passionate about where I want the club to go and the play-offs is the challenge for us, but it is about performing each week and the boys driving that.”
Peel added: “The level of togetherness we had against Cardiff was good. We played for each other, which is important when you are playing for a club like the Scarlets.
“We want to grow real competition and depth. You look at someone like Shaun Evans, who has been outstanding these last few weeks. He was nowhere in the mix, he has played four or five games at 7 for us,
“He is from Llanelli, he loves the club, and to see him put in performances week in week out really pleases me. That is what I want to see.”