Let’s kick things off in Europe then. And in my midweek preview of the competition as whole I did consider how seriously the new regime would consider the challenge cup this year, the side they’ve put out raises more questions than it answers in that regard.
On the one hand, Josh Hodge makes his first start in anger at 15 after being kept out of the side with a hand injury and there is a debut for Francisco Moreno in the front row alongside a strong midfield pairing of Cam Hutchinson and Chris Harris. However the presence of Jake Dalziel at 10 and a general shuffling of the pack all over the park suggests we may be using this as a bit of a testing ground for some of the fringe members of the squad.
Yes I know Dalziel was superb against Exeter, I still wouldn’t say he’s our starting fly half.
I am glad to see Ollie Leatherbarrow get a go from the off, he has been great in all his cameos so far this year and Obi Ene showed his class at home vs Tigers. It’s good to be in a position now where we do have depth on the bench for those big league games and the players who can start in this sort of European game as well. A big hallmark of the tough few years we’ve had was battling away until the hour mark and then getting absolutely flattened by whatever reinforcements the other side could call on, so I’m glad to see the depth in the squad now and I’m grateful that they can all get a run out. That said, as I mentioned midweek, I would’ve loved for us to have a real crack at Europe this year, although I get that the lads need resting.
Enough about us, what about the Scarlets then. Well first off, apparently this is our first ever visit to Parc y Scarlets, which I find remarkable given the 20 odd years of European competition we’ve both been involved in and even more so considering we’ve both been operating at a similar level for that time. And, in a similar vein, it’s been a tough time for the Scarlets recently. There’s a lot going on with Welsh rugby at the moment, far too much for me to dive into, but from a sporting standpoint, this could be a pretty good time to play them with their only win so far in the URC coming over fellow strugglers and pool rivals Benetton.
As for the playing squad, well they’re bolstered by a returning Taine Plumtree (as much as you can be bolstered by a Welsh international at the moment) and Gareth Davies at 9 remains a class operator. Also sure to be a danger are the capable backfield combo of Blair Murray and Ellis Mee.
Danger man – Gareth Davies. This one might well come down to who can control it better on the day, and for me Davies might be the one piece of quality that makes the difference.
Prediction – I think we’ve got a win in us against a team with a lot going on at the moment. Red Bulls by 10.
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