SECOND SCARLET FACES UP TO BAN
THE Scarlets face being without another of their key forwards after Sam Lousi was redcarded in the weekend win over Zebre.
The 36-12 verdict over the Italians was the first time this season Dwayne Peel’s men had tasted victory.
But their relief was tempered by the dismissal of Lousi, his offence being a shoulder to the head of Zebre fly-half Geronimo Prisciantelli
His red card comes just a week after summer signing Vaea Fifita was sent off in the home defeat by Cardiff.
Lousi will discover how long his ban is this week, but it means Peel is set to be without two of his most powerful forwards for crucial United Rugby Championship matches against Connacht and Leinster.
Fifita was suspended for a month after a dangerous ruck clearout on Shane LewisHughes. It saw the Tonga international make contact with the head area of the Wales international.
The incident came as the Scarlets were pressing for victory. Cardiff were leading at the time, but the West Walians were building up a head of steam and looked to have a major chance of taking the spoils.
Meanwhile, Peel has ruled out an immediate emergency move for Wales internationals Ashley Beck and Owen Williams to ease the Scarlets’ centre crisis.
The midfield cupboard in Llanelli has been looking relatively bare in recent weeks.
Johnny Williams, Joe Roberts, Corey Baldwin and Ioan Nicholas are all currently sidelined, though the return to action of Scott Williams in the weekend win over Zebre offered some comfort to the region’s head coach.
Williams, who has been plagued by injury himself in the opening weeks of the season, lined up in midfield alongside fellow Wales veteran Jonathan Davies.
To add insult to injury, former club captain Steff Hughes – who was released at the end of last season – has recently joined the Dragons as injury cover just as the Scarlets are battling through their own fitness issues.
However, Worcester Warriors’ recent financial troubles that saw the club suspended from all competitions and the contracts of their playing squads terminated has meant there are currently a number of free agents on the market looking for new clubs.
Two of those – Beck and Williams – happen to be Welsh and play their rugby in midfield.
In theory, that would make them an ideal fit for the Scarlets at this moment in time.
However, Peel has ruled out any immediate move for either due to the continued uncertainty over playing budgets, with the four Welsh professional sides still in the dark about what their budgets for next season will be.
“We’ve allocated our budget for this year so it’s tough now, especially with what is going on with funding,” said Peel.
“From my perspective, we have to be happy with what we’ve got now.
“If an opportunity arises that we can pounce on, I’m sure the club can do that.
“But we wouldn’t be looking to do that immediately in that position.”
The Scarlets make the trip to Conacht on Friday evening (7.35pm).