SCARLETS: ‘Five or six moments which we got wrong’: Davies on the errors that cost the Scarlets

Nigel Davies said the Scarlets gifted Cardiff their scoring platform in Saturday’s 21-15 defeat at Parc y Scarlets, with all three visiting tries coming from line-outs after home errors.

The director of rugby saw plenty to like in the opening half hour of the United Rugby Championship opener before the mistakes crept in.

“There was plenty of effort and endeavour, particularly in that first half. In that first 30 minutes we looked like the team we want to be,” he said.

“But then some errors started creeping into our game. Cardiff took their tries well but they didn’t really have to work for them. It was more about our errors giving them three entries into our 22, and they scored from three line-outs.

“We lost a bit of energy as well, which was disappointing.”

A kick that kissed the touchline

The pivotal moment came midway through the second half, when a Blair Murray clearance that appeared to give the Scarlets an attacking platform inside the Cardiff 22 was judged to have brushed the touchline. Cardiff went on to score the try that settled the game.

“It was a big moment, and there were a few moments like that which turned the game on its head,” Davies said.

“There were five or six moments which we got wrong, which was the game, ultimately.

“Margins are so fine at this level. It is the start of the season, everyone is finding their feet, and you need those small margins to go your way and to make sure your error count isn’t as high as it was in that second half.”

‘A team strong enough to win that game’

Davies was clear that the personnel were not the problem, with Will Evans and Osian Williams among the young players handed URC debuts.

“We had a team strong enough to win that game, and a lot of young boys would have learned a lot, particularly up front,” he said.

“We exposed a lot of young players tonight and I thought in the main those boys did really well and will be better players for it. For us, it is about accelerating their growth and development, and we are working hard to do that.”

He gave Cardiff their due, while pointing to what the scoreline might have been.

“You take the errors away from it, it is a different result, but credit to Cardiff for grinding out a result,” he said.

“It is the first game of the season, we have identified a few things we need to put right quickly, and we have a huge derby match again against the Dragons next week.”

The Scarlets travel to Newport on Saturday.

Author

Richard Bond

Swansea-based sports journalist.
Twitter: @RichBond00
Email: RichardBond@swanseabaynews.com