SCARLETS FACING LAST-DAY DRAMA
THE Scarlets have had the gauntlet thrown down to them by their fiercest rivals if they are to dine at Europe’s top table next season.
The Ospreys are now in pole position to claim the spot on offer to Welsh sides in the Heineken Champions Cup following their victory over the Dragons on Sunday.
Both sides are locked together on 44 points in the United Rugby Championship with one match left to play. The Ospreys host the Bulls on Friday week, with Dwayne Peel’s Scarlets also facing South African opposition in the form of the Stormers.
That clash at Parc y Scarlets comes a day later.
It is a situation that does not sit well with Ospreys head coach Toby Booth, who has questioned why all games in the URC final round are not kicking off at the same time, insisting they should for the sake of the competition’s integrity.
If the Ospreys can claim a bonuspoint victory against the Bulls, they will finish the term as the top Welsh team.
If they fail to get a bonus point, the
Scarlets could finish the season as Wales’s top side when they face the Stormers, with Peel’s men knowing what they need when they head into the game.
“For the integrity of the competition, surely it has to be at the same time, especially when there is something tangible on it,” said Booth.
“I appreciate things like television. But even now, if there are meaningful games with big repercussions, there has to be that integrity of competition, despite the TV picks. There are enough quality games so we can fill the schedule.”
Meanwhile, Angus O’Brien has left the Scarlets to rejoin the Dragons.
The 27-year-old fly-half or full-back left Rodney Parade for Parc y Scarlets in 2018 and has made 41 appearances for the West Wales region.
He recently scored twice against the Dragons in their United Rugby Championship win on April 23.
“I’m excited to be returning to Rodney Parade and my home region,” said O’Brien.
“I’ve loved my four seasons at Scarlets, it’s been a great experience for me and I’ve a learnt a lot that I’ll be able to bring back with me to the Dragons.
“I came through the academy system at Dragons, grew up with a lot of the players, so to be rejoining those boys and working with them again is an exciting prospect.”
Dragons boss Dean Ryan said: “He returns with a wealth of experience and will give us a different way of playing the game. Angus is a talented and versatile player who will really add to the competition we have for the fly-half and full-back jersey.”