Scarlets prop Evans on Pivac to Wales rumours, facing Tadhg Furlong and playing through a broken finger
Wayne Pivac and the Scarlets are on the verge of a Champions Cup final – standing in their way is Leinster, the bookmakers favourites for the title, in the semi-final at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday.
The Scarlets have been here before and ripped up the script. They defeated Leinster 27-15 at the RDS in Dublin in the Pro12 semi-final last year, even playing the entire second half with 14 men thanks to Steff Evans’ red card – they’re a resilient bunch in West Wales. That was reinforced with the revelation from prop Rob Evans that he’d broken his finger in the first few minutes of that game too. “Not ideal, but that’s the way it goes”, the laidback 26-year-old said ahead of game. “I don’t mind breaking them once you have won”, he quipped.
Once again the Scarlets are the underdogs, but it’s a label that doesn’t bother them.
“Maybe we are underestimated but we don’t really care. We are happy with ourselves, we have a good spirit amongst the boys and people in this community have belief in us as well. If people want to underestimate us, ‘happy days.’ We’ll see the outcome afterwards, if they’re right, they’re right, but hopefully we can make sure we are on the money and get the result.”
“I think both sides have improved, especially Leinster, so it’s going to be a whole different challenge for us.”
One man Evans is certainly wary of is tighthead Tadhg Furlong, his direct opponent on Saturday. But at 118kg and 1.88m himself, the loosehead is no slouch either.
“He’s obviously a good player, a British (and Irish) Lion. He’s probably known as one of the best in the world now. It’s nothing I’m really scared about or anything, I’m looking forward to giving it a good go.”
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The Scarlets have shown doggedness in this Champions Cup campaign. Down and apparently out after defeats in the opening two matches and on the verge of a third against Treviso, only to score two tries in the last four minutes to snatch a 33-28 victory. They haven’t looked back since, rattling off another win over Treviso, followed by impressive wins at Bath and at home against big-spending Toulon to seal top spot in Pool 5.
La Rochelle were defeated 29-17 at Parc y Scarlets in the quarter-finals. Their impressive performances in Europe have earned admirers, notably at the WRU. They’ve sounded out Pivac as they seek a replacement for Warren Gatland following the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
But has the speculation been a distraction? “No, not really”, says Evans. “Obviously there has been the odd bit of banter flying about but we’re very much focused on what we’ve got to do in hand and towards the end of the season, as we want to be very successful. Nothing has really been spoken of. As soon as the media get hold of something in Wales they will make it massive”.
“I know Wayne is happy at the Scarlets at the moment, but I’m sure if Wayne did get the Welsh job he would do a good job.”
Pivac has played a large role in Evans’ rise and he eulogised about the New Zealander’s attributes as a head coach.
“He means a lot to me, he came in gave me a shot. He’s a great bloke to talk to. He’ll give you good advice and, as you say, he’s a very knowledgeable bloke and very humble and down to earth. He’s great for us boys and great for the squad, he manages extremely well.”
“He definitely demands a higher standard on the pitch. He goes about it in the right way. He has a good way of getting the best out of us. I know boys the respect him a lot and when you respect someone you want to give it your all for them.
But asked whether there were similarities between Gatland and Pivac and Evans joked “Yeah, both from New Zealand!”, before adding “Both going grey!”
The Scarlets have failed at the semi-final stage in Europe three times, the last of which was in 2007, were they to reach the final this year the clamour for Pivac to take over from his fellow greying New Zealander would ramp up.
Comments on RugbyPass
AI 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.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
58 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to comments