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A sample of the video evidence used in the discipline hearing following the citing of Stade Francais's Juan Cruz Guillemain - 17/01/2013 11:39
Llanelli Scarlets are in a commanding position in Pool 5 and a win at Ravenhill would see them secure quarter-final qualification with a match to spare.
After two impressive wins over Toulouse in December, The Scarlets are on the verge of being the first Welsh region to qualify for the quarter-finals since they themselves achieved the feat back in 2004.
Ulster need to win both their remaining games and hope the Scarlets slip up twice if they are going to be in with a chance of topping the Pool.
When the sides met in October, the Scarlets won 21-15 at Stradey Park.
Morgan Stoddart is the shock inclusion in the Scarlets side tackling Ulster in Saturday’s Heineken Cup showdown at Ravenhill.
The 22-year-old has bounced back brilliantly from an early pre-season injury setback when he broke a leg in Devon. He has been in stunning form with the Llanelli semi-pro side and stood out when coming on for a cameo role against Edinburgh on Friday night in the Magners League.
He comes in for Garan Evans while Mark Jones replacing Darren Daniel on the wing is the only other change in the backs.
“Morgan deserves his chance with the Scarlets,” said Director of Rugby Phil Davies. “He’s been in great form for the semi-pro side. He’s strong and elusive and offers us something different.”
Stoddart is looking forward to the challenge which awaits him. “It’s a big step up but it’s a challenge I can’t wait for. Hopefully I can rise to the occasion,” he said.
In the forwards there is an entirely new front row with Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees and Deacon Manu coming in while Gavin Thomas returns to the back row in place of James Bater in the back row.
- 26/09/1998 14:30
Llanelli Scarlets stormed into the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup with a record win at Ravenhill over Ulster.
Despite monsoon conditions, the Scarlets ran in five tries to extend their unbeaten run in Pool Five and book a place in the last eight of Europe.
Alix Popham, Regan King, Morgan Stoddard, Dwayne Peel and Gavin Thomas all went over as Llanelli gave their hosts a devastating lesson in wet-weather rugby to overturn a half-time deficit.
And Stephen Jones converted all five tries to overtake Diego Dominguez as the second highest points scorer in the history of the Heineken Cup, behind Munster’s Ronan O’Gara.
It is the first time a Welsh region has reached the knock-out stage of the competition and left director of rugby Phil Davies eying home advantage in the quarter-finals.
For the second game in a row, Llanelli were forced to come from behind but jut like at Toulouse, they did so in emphatic style.
Tommy Bowe went over on 15 minutes from Kieran Campbell’s well-judged kick after Paddy Wallace had banged over a penalty inside two minutes.
But Llanelli’s defence stood firm, despite the loss of Popham for ten minutes following a high tackle on Wallace, who staggered off before half-time.
And Popham roared back onto the field to score his team’s first response, stepping out of the sin bin and over for a try four minutes before the break.
Paul Steinmetz guided a penalty between the posts on the stroke of half-time but Ulster’s 11-7 lead always looked frail and they turned to face the mighty wind for the second half.
Ulster battered the Scarlets line but lacked a clinical edge and they were made to pay a heavy price. With the wind at their backs, Llanelli could finally clear their lines and the tries duly came.
King glided over on 58 minutes following Gavin Evans intitial break to give Llanelli the lead for the first time – but more tries were soon to follow.
Stephen Jones missed a conversion but Morgan Stoddard capped his first start at regional level with an impressive try moments later before Peel went over in the corner following a scintillating break by Matthew Watkins for the bonus point.
Thomas wrapped up a remarkable afternoon’s work for the now highly-fancied Welsh region who look set for home advantage in the quarter-finals.
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