SCARLETS ARE OVERPOWERED
THE Scarlets remain winless in 2024 after they were put to the sword by a powerful Munster side in Llanelli. Dwayne Peel’s side have only won twice this season, and to be brutally honest it’s hard to see where a third victory is coming from.
The west Walians showed glimpses of their attacking potential, and Wales centre Joe Roberts was excellent, but they don’t have the power to compete with the stronger sides in the United Rugby Championship while they also have serious issues at the scrum.
They are also far too porous in defence as Munster exposed a soft underbelly to cross for six tries.
The Scarlets made a slow start, and after a period of sustained pressure on the Munster line No. 8 Gavin Coombes powered his way over from short-range for the opening try with Joey Carbery adding the extras.
Munster continued to pile the pressure on the Scarlets, and after the home side conceded a penalty Carbery drove the Irish province deep into the 22.
The Scarlets had initially done well to repel Munster with two big tackles from scrum-half Archie Hughes but the visitors took a penalty quickly which resulted in Coombes brushing aside a couple of weak tackles to claim his second try.
Carbery was yet again successful with the conversion meaning Munster held a commanding 14-0 lead at the interval. The Welsh club began the second-half strongly, and out of nowhere the Scarlets struck.
A lovely short pass from Eddie James sent Roberts charging through the Munster defence. The Wales international ran 35 metres up-field before showing his strength to get over the whitewash with Charlie Titcombe adding the extras.
But Munster suddenly clicked into gear and began to flex their muscles with their power game really putting the hosts under pressure. Conor Murray had a try disallowed due to Teddy Leatherbarrow getting tackled off the ball but Munster went again with Jack O’Sullivan powering over from short range.
Munster were in no mood to take their feet off the gas, and they were soon celebrating their bonus point try when Seán O’Brien broke the Scarlets defence before putting Tom Ahern over. By now the Scarlets’ confidence had evaporate, and Munster took advantage of tired legs with O’Brien scoring at the corner.
Munster rubbed further salt into the Scarlets’ wounds when Shay McCarthy ran in their sixth try from long-range.
SCARLETS: Johnny McNicholl; Tomi Lewis, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ioan Nicholas; Dan Jones, Archie Hughes; Kemsley Mathias, Eduan Swart, Harri O’Connor, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi (capt), Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita. Replacements: Harry Thomas, Wyn Jones, Sam Wainwright, Jac Price, Teddy Leatherbarrow, Efan Jones, Charlie Titcombe, Steff Evans. MUNSTER: Mike Haley; Seán O’Brien, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell; Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, RG Snyman, Ruadhán Quinn, Alex Kendellen (capt), Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Eoghan Clarke,
Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Sullivan, Ethan Coughlan, Rory Scannell, Shay McCarthy.