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Scarlets' Vaea Fifita goes over in the Round of 16
Scarlets will be looking to avenge their recent defeat at Glasgow Warriors and so halt their six-match winning sequence when the teams meet for the first time in the EPCR Challenge Cup at Parc y Scarlets in Saturday’s semi-final.
The Welsh region hold a 4-2 advantage in their head-to-head with Glasgow in the Heineken Champions Cup, although the Scottish side won their last two encounters in 2015/16.
However, the Warriors enter the weekend clash in great form, having won four BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) games on the spin – including a 12-9 success over Scarlets on April 14 at Scotstoun Stadium – as well as their Round of 16 and quarter-final EPCR Challenge Cup ties.
Meanwhile, the Scarlets have lost their two URC matches since their EPCR Challenge Cup knockout successes to slip to 14th – 10 places behind the Warriors.
The match kicks off at 17:30 (UK & Irish time) and can be watched on S4C, BT Sport, beIN SPORTS, SuperSport and FloRugby.
Key quotes
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel: “We have to try and go and play, and that’s what I will try and encourage the players to do. I am sure it will be a great occasion.”
Glasgow Warriors prop Zander Fagerson: “Playing a Welsh team in Wales is also very different to playing them up north on your own patch. I think it’s going to be a great challenge for us and one we are definitely up for.”
Is this the best @GlasgowWarriors #ChallengeCupRugby try so far this season? 👀
Scarlets stand between the Scots and a place in the 2023 final on Saturday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EMav3iuFPY
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 25, 2023
Key facts
Scarlets
- Steff Evans has a tournament-high 11 clean breaks after making two in the quarter-finals.
- Ken Owens has made more dominant tackles in the competition than any other player (9).
- Scarlets have scored more tries from turnover ball than any other team (6).
Glasgow Warriors
- Glasgow have scored more maul tries (8) and made more metres from mauls (227) than any other team in the competition.
- Huw Jones has made more break assists than any other player (6) in this season’s EPCR Challenge Cup.
- Richie Gray has made a tournament-high six lineout steals, including three in the quarter-finals.
Glasgow Warriors centre Stafford McDowall opening the scoring in the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final against Scarlets
Glasgow Warriors clinched a first ever EPCR final as they came from behind to beat Scarlets 35-17 in the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals in Llanelli on Saturday.
The Scottish region were seven points down at the break but tries from Stafford McDowell (2), George Horne – who tallied a total of 15 points thanks to his efforts from the tee – Johnny Matthews and Rory Darge ultimately proved decisive.
Scarlets led on several occasions but were hampered by a yellow card for Sam Wainwright in the second half, Steff Evans providing their only try of the game while Sam Costelow kicked 12 points.
Glasgow were excellent during the opening exchanges and opened the scoring when centre McDowell skipped past two defenders and went over on four minutes, scrum-half Horne adding the extras.
Buoyed by their home support, Scarlets grew into the game and eventually notched their first points when Costelow slotted a penalty on 25 minutes.
We liked that, the players liked that, and a packed-out Park y Scarlets LOVED that 😍@Scarlets_Rugby’s Steff Evans puts the home side into the lead 🔥#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/1qEec3HUjA
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 29, 2023
A second three-pointer from the fly-half reduced the deficit further four minutes later as the hosts began to pile on the pressure, and they would finally notch a try when wing Evans finished off a brilliant move out wide.
Costelow couldn’t convert but he sent Scarlets into the break with a 14-7 lead when he dispatched a third penalty from in front of the posts in the final act of the first half.
But Glasgow were back on the front foot following the restart and crossed for their second try on 43 minutes as the second-row pairing of JP du Preez and Scott Cummings combined before Horne managed to get the ball grounded.
Horne’s conversion levelled the scores and Scarlets were delt a further blow as Sam Wainwright was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Rory Darge in the build-up to the score.
However, the 14-man Welsh region were back in front moments later as Costelow struck his fourth penalty of the game.
JP du Preez 👉 Scott Cummings 👉 George Horne
Support goals, @GlasgowWarriors go over the line 🔥#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/b3dDYILPVl
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 29, 2023
That lead didn’t last long, though, as Glasgow made their numerical advantage count, replacement hooker Matthews powering over at the rear of a maul, Horne adding the extras again.
Despite Scarlets returning to their full complement, Glasgow wrestled further control just before the hour mark as they pounced on a wayward home lineout and flanker Darge eventually forced his way over.
Scarlets threw everything at Glasgow over the remaining minutes but couldn’t convert their late pressure into points, and as their hopes of reaching the final slipped away, McDowell finished off a slick lineout move to compound their misery, Horne converting for a fifth time.
The EPCR Challenge Cup final takes place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 19. Click HERE for more detail on EPCR’s 2023 Dublin finals.
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