Mooar please! Five reasons why Scarlets fans are falling for Brad Mooar
There’s another Kiwi coach in west Wales and he’s proving a big hit with the fans. RugbyPass takes a look at why Brad Mooar is so popular among the Scarlets faithful.
The results are back
Under Wayne Pivac, Scarlets fans were getting used to being the top Welsh region. In his final season, an injury crisis that was brutal even by modern standards struck and Scarlets were reduced to finishing behind regional rivals Ospreys and Cardiff Blues, missing out on the top tier European competition for the first time in their history.
This season, despite missing fifteen internationals away at the World Cup (many of whom returned injured), they have already picked up five wins – half of last season’s total. A heavy defeat away to Ulster in the Pro14 might have caused more alarm had not nine players been away again with Wales and another 13 still injured, including Gareth Davies, the influential brothers James and Jonathan Davies, props Wyn Jones and Samson Lee, Rhys Patchell, and Aaron Shingler.
A crucial victory away in Bayonne to keep Scarlets hopes alive in the Challenge Cup won’t have done Mooar any harm either. As Cardiff Blues have proved, even Europe’s second tier competition has its charms if you win it.
He’s getting the best out of Steff Evans again
The Scarlets wing’s struggles last season seemed, in many ways, to reflect that of the wider club. He was regularly left to play for Scarlets A to work on his defence and only managed four starts in the league all season, despite injuries biting into the regions’ squad depth. In his absence, the side frequently seemed to miss his attacking spark and their defence was regularly an issue anyway.
This season, he seems to be back to his exciting best. As Evans prepared to lead the side out for his one hundredth regional cap against Toyota Cheetahs, Mooar said, “Steff has been outstanding this season. It’s there for all to see. You can see a real spark, a spring in his step and a smile on his face.”
He also made clear his belief that Evans deserves these rewards, adding, “But what people don’t see is the work and input that he has behind the scenes in team meetings and with other players and how he is continuing to grow himself and helping to grow others. It has been a real pleasure to work with him.”
Evans is very popular with the local fans for his twinkle-toed interventions and his return to form, as well as the vocal backing by the new coach, is a big factor in the current positive feeling towards Mooar. If he can keep it up, fans will start dreaming of another tilt towards the Pro14 title.
He’s put his trust in the wider squad
Evans isn’t the only one who has been making an impression while the big name players were away at the Rugby World Cup. Mooar put his faith in Steff Hughes, long a local favourite, as joint vice-captain of the squad, while captain Ken Owens, and fellow vice-captains the Davies brothers have been away. He has been rewarded with a series of steady performances and displays of leadership as captain, supported by Werner Kruger, the final vice-captain.
Elsewhere, Corey Baldwin and Dan Jones have reminded fans what they can do, Taylor Davies and Jac Morgan have emerged as potential stars, and Kieran Hardy is having a fantastic start to the season. Blade Thomson seems to have put his World Cup disappointment behind him and Josh Macleod continues to put in a shift every week with impressive consistency. Uzair Cassiem, meanwhile, has emerged as a fan favourite on and off the field, enthusiastically engaging with fans before and after his outstanding performances on the field.
Given how many Scarlets players remain injured after the World Cup, and with the Six Nations looming, Mooar’s ability to get the most out of the whole squad bodes well going forward.
When @uzair_cassiem is needed for a man-of-the/match interview!!! pic.twitter.com/KrBU6zf6IF
— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) December 7, 2019
He’s balancing flair with pragmatism
The all-court game that Scarlets seek to play is always a little vulnerable to weather and savvy opponents. From the start, Mooar has emphasised his commitment to playing a flair game and has spoken approvingly after games of his players’ desire to play but he has also spoken regularly about playing smart.
Five of Scarlets ten games so far have been within five points (four wins, one last minute loss) and, with the weather getting worse before it gets better, Mooar is right to highlight the need to keep the scoreboard ticking over as well as playing positively. The return of reliable goalkicker Leigh Halfpenny allowed Scarlets to pull away against Bayonne, with the Welsh international kicking four penalties and a conversion to guarantee Scarlets a win.
That said, Scarlets fans are used to a certain attacking style and Mooar has made clear he is not only aware of that but keen to continue the traditions. If he can find a way to maintain a thrilling attacking game while adopting a more streetwise approach when needed, he is going to remain very highly thought of.
He’s engaging the fans
When Mooar was announced, Scarlets general manager Jon Daniels said, “Throughout the process we have been hugely impressed with Brad’s appreciation of Scarlets’ place in the community, his passion for developing players and the research he had done on our heritage.”
A message to our fans in Toulon #thankyou
Neges i’n cefnogwr allan yn Toulon #diolch pic.twitter.com/eCqQAu0Df5
— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) November 24, 2019
And, from the off, Mooar has made sure fans understand he really is aware of Scarlets’ culture and history. From his introductory greeting, when he mentioned knowing, “the Carwyn James, Phil Bennetts, the Delme Thomases, the Quinnells, Ken Owens, Foxy” to his video personally thanking fans for their support, shot against the backdrop of west Wales and referencing the travelling support’s rendition of Sospan Fach, it’s clear Mooar has done his homework.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Ever so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to comments