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Uzair Cassiem is tackled while playing for Scarlets
Scarlets, four points behind Pool 2 pacesetters RC Toulon in the European Rugby Challenge Cup, will be looking for their first win over the French club in the competition when they host them on Saturday night.
Toulon have won both the sides’ previous meetings in the Challenge Cup, although neither were at Parc y Scarlets.
Key facts
- Scarlets have won their last three home games in European competition.
- Toulon have won 10 of their last 11 pool games in the Challenge Cup, including their last seven in a row.
- Scarlets have the best lineout success rate (93%) in this season’s competition.
- Scarlets back-row forward Uzair Cassiem has made the most carries (31) over the gain-line after four rounds.
🐉 @scarlets_rugby are on fire at the moment, and none more so than @LeighHalfpenny1 🔥
Will the Welsh wizard help them to a win in #ChallengeCupRugby Round 5? pic.twitter.com/ybbARt0t4q
— Challenge Cup (@ERChallengeCup) January 7, 2020
RC Toulon came from behind to beat Scarlets – and progress from Pool 2 to the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup.
The French side led the pool going into the match, and Scarlets had won their previous three home games in European competition.
However, they had never beaten Toulon – and knew that they had to achieve a club first if they were to qualify for the knock-out stages.
#SCARCT C'est terminé ! Toulon est qualifié pour les Quarts de Finale avec cette victoire bonifiée ! Félicitations à nos Rouge et Noir ❤️🖤
Seul point noir de la rencontre, la blessure d'Anthony Etrillard 😪 pic.twitter.com/7c7Wa1vRmt— RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) January 11, 2020
The hosts started well, with a try in the first minute from Gareth Davies, and Leigh Halfpenny making amends for missing the conversion by adding a penalty nine minutes later.
After that, though, Toulon looked like they would be the only side to trouble the scoreboard, with first-half tries from Anthony Etrillard, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Julian Savea and Bastien Soury. Anthony Belleau added two conversions and a second-half penalty.
☔️ L’échauffement est en cours sous la pluie au Parc y Scarlets avant le choc de la poule 2️⃣ #SCARCT 💥 pic.twitter.com/SB5t6FWjgi
— RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) January 11, 2020
Scarlets piled on the pressure in the closing stages, and their effort was rewarded with a 73rd-minute try from Steff Evans, converted by Halfpenny.
The match was marred by what looked to be a serious injury to Etrillard in the lead-up to Toulon’s second try.
Toulon have now won 11 of their last 12 pool games in the Challenge Cup, including their last eight in a row.
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