Scarlets star Peel fears Blues bounce back effect

Apr 9 2008 by Simon Thomas, South Wales Echo

WALES star Dwayne Peel is expecting the Blues to come out firing against his Scarlets as they look to bounce back from their European exit.

Peel is well aware that the Blues will be determined to return to winning ways following their 41-17 Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Toulouse.

He also recognises they will be out for revenge having lost 35-17 down at Stradey Park in the Magners League last month.

So he knows the Scarlets team he skippers will be in for a stern examination when they travel to the Arms Park on Friday night for a league rematch.

“I am sure the Blues will come out firing this week,” said the Lions scrum-half.

“They are in the same boat as us now and they will want to finish the season strongly as well.

“After a heavy defeat in Europe last weekend, I am sure they will come out and try and get back to winning ways.

“It should be a good game. We played each other only a fortnight ago and that was an exciting, high-quality game.

“It was a great match to play in. It was physically intense with some good running rugby.

“It was a cracking game so, if we can have more of the same, that will be great.

“I’m sure it will be an exciting game for both sides.”

Looking at the threat posed by the Blues, Peel said: “They are a well-rounded side.

“Martyn Williams and Tom Shanklin are always there, but the addition of people like Xavier Rush and Paul Tito has been great for them.

“They have got key men up front in ball carriers like Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Williams and Rush, while Tito has obviously added strength to their pack this season and they’ve always had an exciting backline.”

Scarlets coach Phil Davies agrees the Blues have developed into a quality outfit under his opposite number Dai Young.

“They have built a lot of stability over the last four years,” he said.

“David has changed the squad, he has changed the culture and they are really moving forward rapidly now.

“I think they are ahead of us purely because this is the end of my second year here, whereas it’s the end of David’s sixth year. He’s done a fantastic job there.

“They will want to continue the progress they’ve shown in Europe in the league.

“We were in the top end of the league last year and we are there again. We want to stay there and I know they do as well, so it will be a pretty tough battle.

“They are coming off a real high-intensity game, which I think is a real advantage, and they are going to be extremely difficult to beat.”

Davies admits he loves being in the opposition camp at the Arms Park.

“It’s like Stradey. It’s got another couple of years left at this level before the Blues move to a new stadium.

“It’s a great ground with huge tradition and lots of fantastic games have been fought out there. I think Friday’s game will be no different.

“It will be a high quality, high-intensity game with some fantastic talent on show and refereed by arguably the best referee in the world in my opinion, Nigel Owens.

“You’ve got a lot of Welsh Grand Slam players on show, and some outstanding foreign players like Xavier Rush, Ben Blair and Regan King.

“Gethin Jenkins has had a good season and I’ve always liked the way Martyn Williams plays football. He’s a supremely intelligent rugby player.

“We’ve got a good back row ourselves and Gavin Thomas is a quality No 7, so there are some intriguing battles.

“But overall it’s about the collective coming through and let’s hope the team in red comes through.”

The Scarlets welcome back regional skipper Simon Easterby for the first time in six weeks following a knee injury, but the Irish international flanker is restricted to a spot on the bench, so Peel retains the captaincy.

Coach Davies has made five changes to the side that lost the top-of-the-table league clash against Leinster a fortnight ago, with Vernon Cooper and Iestyn Thomas both back from injury in the front five.

Morgan Stoddart, who has a slight back injury, has dropped to the bench to allow Ceiron Thomas a start at full-back, while Jonathan Davies replaces Gavin Evans (hip) at inside centre.

Scarlets: C Thomas; D James, R King, J Davies, M Jones; S Jones, D Peel (capt); I Thomas, M Rees, B Douglas, V Cooper, S MacLeod, D Jones, A Popham, G Thomas. Replacements: P John, M Schwalger, N Thomas, S Easterby, G Cattle, R Priestland, M Stoddart.