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Le dernier match de la 4e journée de la Champions Cup se déroule sur la pelouse des Scarlets. Les Gallois comme l'Ulster
Scarlets host Ulster with both sides firmly in the knowledge that it is do-or-die time in Pool 3 of the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Toulon’s win over Leicester Tigers, a reversal of last weekend’s result, keeps the pool wide open but neither the Scarlets nor Ulster can afford any slip-ups at this stage if they are to qualify for the knock-out stages.
Ulster’s bonus point win at Ravenhill when the two sides met a week ago will make them pre-match favourites but having already beaten the Tigers at Parc-y-Scarlets this season the Welsh region must fancy their chances.
Prop Rob Evans said: “We were off the mark a little bit last weekend. The boys are hungry to put it right and I’m pretty confident the boys are ready to take it on.
“It’s a pretty mental group really. Four good teams. Everyone in the group has got a chance to go through. There’s not really an easy game in that group.
“We’re targeting the game massively on Sunday. If we do win, which we have to win, we’re back in the game. We want to put Sunday right first and then go from there.”
The Scarlets came under huge pressure at Ravenhill and with two men sent to the sin bin, Ulster were able to end a three-game losing run in the tournament.
It continued a poor run of results for the Scarlets, who are without a win in 11 matches against Irish opposition in the competition.
Scarlets Head Coach Wayne Pivac said: “We know we can win at home. The game is massive for us now – Tigers did both us, themselves and Ulster a favour.
“It’s a massive game in the context of our European championship. If we get the result we’re after then we’re alive and it’s bring on the next opposition which is Toulon and that can hopefully be a magnificent occasion here at the Parc.”
Match Facts
- Ulster ended a three game losing run in the tournament with their bonus point victory over Scarlets last weekend.
- Scarlets have not won in 11 games against Irish opposition in the Champions Cup (D1 L10) and have lost the last seven by an average margin of 15 points.
- Rory Pitman made 18 carries against Ulster last week, more than any other player during the weekend.
- Three of the five players to manage the feat of a try and an assist in the Champions Cup last weekend came from Ulster; Darren Cave, Ruan Pienaar and Tommy Bowe each had a direct hand in scores for their teammates as well as dotting down themselves
L'équipe de Llanelli n'a jamais tremblé sur sa pelouse face à l'Ulster (22-13) et reprend la deuxième place à Leicester dans cette poule dominée par Toulon. Les Gallois respirent encore en Champions Cup. - 14/12/2014 20:35
The Scarlets got revenge over Ulster to keep alive their hopes of qualification from the so-called group of death.
After being battered 24-9 in Belfast the previous week, the Scarlets produced a much-improved display to see off Ulster and move up to second in pool three behind leaders Toulon.
Wales international Rhys Priestland kicked the Scarlets into a 12-0 half-time lead but they had to fend off a brave second half comeback from Ulster before a late James Davies try secured the victory.
The Scarlets will travel to face Leicester Tigers when the pool fixtures resume in January in a battle that could decide if either side will make the knock-out stages.
In wet and windy conditions at Parc y Scarlets, outside-half Priestland kicked four first half penalties as they punished some poor discipline from the visitors.
Ulster hit back with a well-worked try 77 seconds after the interval when centre pairing Luke Marshall and Darren Cave exchanged passes to send the latter under the posts.
Fly-half Ian Humphreys added the conversion but Ulster wasted a superb opportunity to grab a second try moments later when they made a mess of a driving line-out.
Priestland notched up his fifth penalty for the home side before Ulster had prop Declan Fitzpatrick sent to the sin bin for repeated infringements at the scrum.
Despite going down to 14 men it was Ulster who took the game by the scruff of the neck and two Ruan Pienaar penalties brought them to within two points.
Pienaar then missed a third which would have put Ulster in front for the first time in the match and it proved to be costly when two minutes from the end Davies intercepted Roger Wilson’s pass to race under the posts and secure the victory for the Scarlets.
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