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![London Irish aim to end Scarlets jinx London Irish aim to end Scarlets jinx](https://djl5pr6hub29v.cloudfront.net/epcr/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/14134746/EPCR-London-Irish-e1573739453448.jpg)
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
![Scarlets edge out London Irish after tense finish Scarlets edge out London Irish after tense finish](https://djl5pr6hub29v.cloudfront.net/epcr/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/16214943/inpho_01355888-scaled-e1573941039821-1024x569.jpg)
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.”
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