The Scarlets successfully launched their European campaign, but not without being given a bit of a going over in some of the raw fundamentals by a giant Castres pack. There is a buzz in the far west and a feeling that after a period of nurturing and promoting from within, the Welsh region might be poised for a breakthrough.
This opening victory was not perfect but it came with a sparkle and even with a dash of cruelty as Rhys Priestland marked his return to action, after injuring his shoulder at the World Cup, with a tricky penalty at the very end to deny Castres a losing bonus point. The incidentals – or the lack of a bonus – in a gruesome pool may count for much down the line.
It was sparkling and tough on the French – and more than a tad scrappy. This was more like pinball at times, with the ball cannoning off legs and bouncing all over the shop with never a hand laid on it. This untidiness did not exactly creep into the Scarlets' play, because it was there at the start of the match, when No8 Ben Morgan let the kick-off bounce. The ball sat up invitingly a yard from the line for Steve Malonga, but such was the wing forward's surprise at having a chance to score within four seconds that he knocked-on.
The Scarlets settled down, lively on the counterattack and always looking to move the ball in the direction of George North, who never failed to make progress through the first two tackles. The supply to the wing was improved by a couple of turnovers at the breakdown.
In general, though, the willingness to run was hampered by the original scrappiness. Stephen Jones and Tavis Knoyle both nudged the ball forward, and there was a forward pass near the line, causing Sean Lamont to be called back. The Scotland wing then failed to find Jonathan Davies a yard out after a kick by the centre after one of those turnovers opened up Castres.
The Scarlets were left with their noses in front at half-time, three penalties by Jones against two by Romain Teulet. The advantage was deserved, and there was the promise of greater reward after the Castres No8, Joe Tekori, was sent to the bin for barging, elbow first, into Scott Williams after a kick by the Scarlets' other international centre.
The less positive sign for the home team was the scrum. Throughout the first period Castres asserted an ever-increasing pressure. Luc Ducalcon was fresh back from France's World Cup exploits and seemed to relish the joys of scrummaging in Wales. As in punishing a Welsh scrum in Wales. The Scarlets' backs were full of promise in broken play, but their forwards were up against it at the set piece.
While Tekori was away, and before the other forwards had a chance to scrummage again, the Scarlets scored, Lamont driving over from short-range after Morgan had made one of his signature breaks, low and path-clearing, from further out.
The imposing Tekori returned just in time to see Teulet reduce the gap with his third penalty, but, even at full strength, Castres could do nothing about the next try. Where his own 22 met the touchline, Jonathan Edwards performed an act of contortion to keep a bobbling ball in play. Three passes later the ball was on the other side of the field, with Matthew Rees, fully restored after missing the World Cup with a neck injury, releasing North. Morgan was on hand to support the wing, Jones added the conversion and it might have been all done and dusted.
Except Castres decided to take this to the death. They reimposed their authority up front, and kicked the ball high. One such kick landed on their side and the forwards drove at ground level. Little Marc Andreu, the short appendage to all the bulk up front, scampered over.
It placed the French club within a bonus point of their opponents, but the lead soon stretched back to 12 points. From one of those pinball episodes of the ball flying out of control, it finally fell into the safe arms of Davies, He combined with his partner, Scott Williams, and stayed with him to take a return pass. From a chaotic start on the halfway line, it was a clinically taken try.
Again, that might have been that, but Castres refused to give the game away. Back they rumbled, kicking a penalty to the corner and driving from the lineout. Chris Masoe, their captain and former All Black, finished the controlled shove and the bonus point was back on for the visitors.
Masoe then tried to unscrew a Scarlets head in a maul and was penalised. Up stepped Priestland to announce that he was back and that his team were up and running. Not sweeping all before them, but contenders. For the moment, it will do.
