Easterby vows to restore Scarlets pride

Dec 12 2007 by Simon Thomas, Western Mail

SCARLETS skipper Simon Easterby has hailed this weekend’s rematch with Munster as a defining moment for the men from Stradey.

Easterby (pictured right) & co can’t progress in Europe, having lost their opening three Heineken Cup matches, failing to secure a single point so far in the so-called group of death.

But, as he prepares to head for the Emerald Isle, the Irish international flanker says it’s vital the Scarlets restore some pride and get back to winning ways.

“This is a real test for us as a group of players,” he said, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Thomond Park.

“It will define us. It’s a massive game out in Limerick and we need to get a win.

“It’s a huge week for us with the whole build-up to the game.

“We’ve been disappointing so far in Europe and we are out of this group now, but we’ve got to front-up.

“It’s an ideal time for us to go out to Munster and play in a relatively hostile environment.

“To come away with a result would be fantastic for us as a group of players.

“We’ve put a lot of work in and we are not getting the results at the moment.

“But, hopefully, the conditions will be better than they were at Stradey at the weekend and that will give us an opportunity to play some rugby.”

Last Saturday’s meeting with Munster was played out in appalling weather.

And it was the visitors who adapted better to the elements as they splashed their way to a 29-16 victory that took them to the top of Pool 5.

“That’s as bad as I’ve played in,” said Easterby.

“We chose to go against the elements first and we felt at half-time, what with the wind, that we’d come out after the break and take control of the game.

“But the conditions really deteriorated in the second half and, when you are behind at that stage, as we were, it’s very difficult to play rugby.

“The wind and rain picked up and just effected the way the game was played.

“We found it very hard to get anything going. Fair play to Munster, they played the conditions particularly well and taught us a few lessons in how to keep the ball.”

Easterby insisted the Scarlets had to try and move on after a desperately disappointing European campaign.

“We want to win the last three games of this group,” he said.

“There’s no doubt we are a capable side. We are just inches away from winning games at the moment and that’s the difference at this stage.“