Perpignan flew home from south Wales yesterday taking with them a bonus point that might be vital later in the competition, but leaving behind a fug over the future of James Hook, the Wales international out of contract with the Ospreys at the end of the season and seeming destined to join the Catalans.
According to the Perpignan president, Paul Goze, contract talks are at "a very advanced stage" and the suggestion is that Hook will be heading south with a two-year deal once the World Cup is over.
Perpignan, who broke the bank signing Dan Carter but are desperately short of a fly-half at the moment, attempted to sign Hook last season but this time are more confident. "Nothing has been signed with Hook or any other player and no one is allowed to sign a pre-contract until 1 February, but the talks with Hook are at a very advanced stage," said Goze, whose words conflict with those of Hook's representatives in Wales.
According to them, neither the player nor his representatives have spoken to either Goze or Perpignan's officials, although it is widely known that Hook is unhappy playing at centre for the Ospreys and sees a better chance of becoming the first-choice Wales fly-half if he starts at No10 for his club.
The issue was splendidly side-stepped by Jacques Brunel, the club's head coach after Saturday's game at Parc y Scarlets. "The president does not talk to me," said Brunel, who was more confused that his team could score five tries yet still lose.
"Bizarre", said the coach in total agreement with Scarlets' Nigel Davies, who was delighted with the four tries in 14 minutes either side of half-time – two in three minutes for the full-back Rhys Priestland – but less happy that Perpignan dominated the first quarter and the last 30 minutes.
Perpignan are not a side who travel well – they have now lost their last four away ties in the Heineken Cup, one more than the number of defeats they have suffered in 15 years at home – and Leicester at Welford Road will be a tougher proposition in the second round next Sunday.
"I was pleased with the way we played with the ball. We scored some excellent tries, but without the ball we have got to step it up a couple of notches," said Davies. "It's probably a very strong position to be in going into our next fixture because we can take a lot out of the game, but we can be pretty hard on ourselves as well.
"We have come a long way in a relatively short space of time and we are moving in the right direction, but there is still a lot of work to do which is good coming off the back of a bonus point win." Scarlets hope to have the centre Jonathan Davies fit and in contention to play on Sunday.
Scarlets Priestland; Stoddart, Maule (Williams, 49), King (Evans, 76), Lamont; Jones, Roberts (Knoyle, 61); I Thomas (John, 73), Rees (capt; Owens, 72), R Thomas (Manu, 63), Reed, Cooper (Fa'amatuainu, 53), McCusker, Turnbull (Edwards, 62), Lyons.
Tries Priestland (2), King, Jones. Cons Jones 4. Pens Jones 5. Sin bin Fa'amatuainu 67.
Perpignan Porical; Planté (Michel, 70), Marty, Grandclaude (Edmonds h-t), Candelon, Hume, Cazenave (Mélé h-t); Freshwater (Schuster 56), Geli (Tincu, 61), Mas (capt; Pulu, 70), Vivalda, Tchale-Watchou, Guiry, Britz (Tonita, 56), Chouly.
Tries Grandclaude, Candelon, Planté, Tonita, Chouly. Cons Porical 2. Pens Porical. Sin bin Porical 27.
Referee A Small (England). Attendance 8,911.
