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The Scarlets welcome French club Pau to Parc y Scarlets this evening in a must-win game for the west Walians.
The Scarlets’ Champions Cup hopes are hanging by a thread after a breathless but ultimately costly 47-38 defeat to Pau in Llanelli.
In a contest that swung wildly from one extreme to the other, Dwayne Peel’s side were left to rue defensive frailties and missed opportunities as another European night ended in frustration. Having fallen 26-10 behind inside the opening half-hour, the Scarlets appeared to have turned the game on its head when they surged into a 38-26 lead early in the second half.
But Pau finished the stronger, punishing some alarming first-up tackling and capitalising on home indiscipline as the visitors snatched victory back.
While qualification is not yet mathematically impossible, it is highly improbable, with a daunting trip to Northampton Saints looming next weekend.
Toshi Butlin (twice), Clement Mondinat, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Remi Seneca, Theo Attissogbe and Siate Tokolahi scored Pau’s tries while Axel Desperes kicked 12 points.
Josh Macleod (twice), Archie Hughes, Taine Plumtree and Joe Hawkins scored tries for Dwayne Peel’s side. Hawkins also contributed a further 13 points from the kicking tee.
Hawkins opened the scoring for the hosts from the kicking tee after the Scarlets’ maul forced Pau to concede a penalty.
But the Scarlets’ defence was found wanting throughout the first 40 minutes and it was Pau who claimed the first try.
France international Theo Attissogbe took a penalty quickly and raced into the Scarlets half before finding Butlin out wide who crossed at the corner with Desperes adding the extras.
Pau continued to apply pressure and after some goal line pressure Butlin claimed his second try out wide.
The Scarlets defence got badly exposed for the third Pau try when Attissogbe ran straight through Eddie James before putting Mondinat over.
But there was plenty of character in this Scarlets side and they hit back when Macleod touched down off the back of a well-worked driving lineout which Hawkins converted.
Just when the Scarlets thought they were back in the game they made a mess of the restart shortly before Kemsley Mathias got penalised at the subsequent scrum.
Pau went to the corner and former Scarlets No 8 Tuipulotu hit a good angle to score.
At 26-10 the Scarlets looked dead and buried but they refused to throw in the towel. After working their way back into the Pau 22 Henry Thomas forced his way over the line but upon referring the try to the TMO it was disallowed, although Pau openside Reece Hewat got sent to the sin bin.
But the referee was playing penalty advantage and this time the Scarlets made no mistake as Macleod claimed his second courtesy of another strong maul.
The Scarlets burst into life at the stroke of half-time as they chanced their arm by attacking from deep as the ball found its way to Plumtree out wide. Plumtree chipped over the top of the Pau defence before the ball was gathered by Tom Rogers who kicked ahead for Hughes to score.
Hawkins converted and the Scarlets tailed 26-24 at the break.
The hosts must have had a rocket from Peel at half-time because they started the second-half with the bit between their teeth.
Kemsley Mathias got held up over the line but they were soon ahead when a lovely tip on pass at the point of contact from Fletcher Anderson put Plumtree over for the try.
Hawkins added the extras and the Scarlets were soon celebrating a fourth try. The Scarlets maul got brought down just short of the line but it didn’t matter because the ball got spun wide for Hawkins to score.
Hawkins converted and the Scarlets held a 12-point lead but this game was far from over.
Pau refused to throw in the towel and replacement scrum-half Dan Robson’s tactical nous got them back into the game.
After a tremendous kick into the Scarlets 22 from the former England number nine Pau built pressure for replacement prop Seneca to score from short-range.
Pau retook the lead when a lovely pass from Desperes put Attissogbe over.
The Scarlets threw the kitchen sink at Pau in the closing stages of the game and should have scored when No 8 Anderson smashed over the line only to have the ball stripped from his grasp in the act of scoring.
But the referee went to the TMO and it showed the ball had been stripped backwards with Scarlets scrum-half
Hughes knocking the ball forward over the try line.
That proved to be the Scarlets’ final chance as Tokolahi crashed over for Pau to seal the Welsh clubs European fate.
Scarlets: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Joe Hawkins, Archie Hughes; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Sam Lousi, Jake Ball, Taine Plumtree, Josh Macleod (captain), Fletcher Anderson.
Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Alec Hepburn, Harri O’Connor, Jac Price, Dan Davis, Dane Blacker, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Ioan Nicholas.
Pau: Attissogbe; Arfeuil, Decron, Valentino, Butlin; Desperes, Daubagna (capt); Etchebehere, Delhommel,Arrieta, Jolmes, Capelli, Zegueur, Hewat, Tuipulotu.
Replacements: Rey, Seneca, Tokolahi, Liufau, Iosefo, Pelesasa, Robson, Mondinat.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco)
Assistants: Ian Kenny (Sco), Finlay Brown (Sco)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (Sco)
