Latest
Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
London Irish on the attack in their last season in the European Rugby Challenge Cup
London Irish return to European Rugby Challenge Cup action after a one-season absence in Pool 2 on Saturday against a team they have never beaten in European competition in Scarlets.
The Welsh region, who will be making their pool stage debut in the tournament at Parc y Scarlets, have won all four of their meetings with the Exiles, although the quartet have come in the European Cup.
Key facts
- Although this is Scarlets’ first pool game in the Challenge Cup, they have appeared twice in the quarter-finals, losing both – to RC Toulon in 2009/10 and Brive in 2011/12.
- London Irish will be bidding to complete a hat-trick of Challenge Cup wins for the first time since 2014/15, having won their last two games in the competition in 2017/18.
- Scarlets averaged 190 passes per game in the Heineken Champions Cup last season, more than any other side.
π½οΈ "Itβs about winning the moments and making sure weβre better today than yesterday. We want to put a performance on that befits the jersey, the club and the supporters."
Brad Mooar issues a rallying call ahead of Saturday's European opener against London Irish #ynypac pic.twitter.com/NN37tIC4Yk
— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) November 14, 2019
Steff Hughes scored the solitary second half try
Scarlets narrowly defeated London Irish 20-16 on Saturday night in what was a hotly-contested Challenge Cup Pool 2 clash.
London Irish’s Motu Matu’u dotted down for the visitors after 19 minutes before deft kicks from Scarlets fly-half Dan Jones helped wing Corey Baldwin and centre Steff Hughes grab tries either side of the interval.
London Irish fly-half Stephen Myler would add 11 points for the visitors while Jones slotted over 10 crucial points of his own.
π UCHAFBWYNTIAU | HIGHLIGHTS π
Dyma'r uchafbwyntiau wrth i @scarlets_rugby guro Gwyddelod Llundain ar Barc y Scarlets!
The highlights as Corey Baldwin and Steffan Hughes ensure a flying start for the Scarlets in Europe!#CwpanHerEwrop #EuropeanChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/hk3bbYeUdh
— S4C Chwaraeon π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ (@S4Cchwaraeon) November 16, 2019
Scarlets face a trip to RC Toulon next Friday in Round 2 of the Challenge Cup while London Irish will host Bayonne the following day.
Speaking after the match Scarlets head coach Brad Mooar said to the BBC:Β “The boys stayed composed. We had a real mentality to want to play a lot and our guys stuck to it and kept asking questions.
“London Irish are a good side, they’ve got some depth and they challenged us so we’re happy with the win.”
LIVE - TEST - Commentary