Oppostion - Llanelli Scarlets

By Web Team
July 16 2003

As the new season approaches celticwarriors.tk will be previewing the teams which we will face in the Celtic League. This week it is the turn of the Llanelli Scarlets to go under the spotlight.

The Opposition: Llanelli Scarlets

   When the Llanelli Scarlets were launched recently they claimed that they were representing the whole of North, Mid and West Wales with their region. How? By playing two games against Scottish opposition in North Wales. Here we will take a look at the Llanelli Scarlets squad and give our thoughts and predictions on their 2003/2004 campaign. 

The Backs

    Like most of the new regional teams, the Scarlets have been busy recruiting for the new season. However, there are only a few new players  who will feature in the Scarlets backline and they are Wales centre Mark Taylor, former Newport scrum half Dale Burn and a hot prospect who has played some rugby for Bridgend Athletic, Lee Byrne.

    Garan Evans, Barry Davies and Lee Byrne are the full backs in the squad but none of them are highly experienced full backs and in the event of injuries they may suffer some problems. Mark Jones and Salesi Finau will be first choice to play out on the wings although should one of them get injured, Tal Selley, more accustomed to the centre position will be able to step up and take a place out wide.

    In the centre Leigh Davies, Matthew Watkins and Mark Taylor will be competing for the two spots and all three are excellent club players but like with most regions, during the world cup Watkins and Taylor could be away which will leave the Scarlets stretched to the limit. Also the first choice half back pairing looks likely to be Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel with Gareth Bowen, Dale Burn and Mike Phillips on standby should they be required.

    Overall, the first choice backline for Llanelli would be pretty strong but with World Cup commitments and the probability of players picking up injuries, the Scarlets could face some problems early on in the season. 

The Forwards

     In the forwards, Iestyn Thomas, Robyn McBryde and Martyn Madden will form a solid front row although the scrummaging ability of Madden has been questionned in the past and the cover for the tighthead prop comes in the form of John  Davies whose best years are now behind him. Also, cover for McBryde is Aled Gravell, a youngster who has played in the back row until recently and so the step up to regional rugby may be a bit too much.

    Locks Chris Wyatt, Vernon Cooper, Adam Jones and James Griffiths should ensure a solid lineout platform for the Scarlets and in the back row Scott Quinnell, Dafydd Jones, Dave Hodges and Simon Easterby should all be capable of playing at a high level.

Overall Thoughts and Prediction

     The Llanelli squad doesn't look as strong as it has done in previous years and the lack of experienced cover in certain positions may cause some problems for the Scarlets. However, they are usually able to raise their game when it is needed and so we will predict them as Quarter Finalists in the Heineken Cup as they face the Scottish Borders, Northampton Saints and Agen, all of which are beatable at home but for the Celtic Legaue we find it hard to see them coming any higher than mid table.

What do you think?

Let us know on the messageboard