Davies vows to keep fighting as Scarlets hunt big scalp

LLANELLI coach Phil Davies has promised Munster they will take a big scalp in their remaining Heineken Cup fixtures — good news as they battle for knockout qualification in the New Year.

Davies is relishing taking on Wasps and Clermont Auvergne: “I’m convinced we have a big contribution to make to this pool yet. We’re determined to end our losing sequence and play our part in ensuring that we don’t hand advantage to any particular team,” he said.

Davies is convinced yesterday’s defeat will spur his side on: “I think we have come on in leaps and bounds over the last couple of weeks. This is very much a learning process for a number of our players, and I am sure they will come on from the experience.”

Davies commented on the on the intensity of the battle between these two old foes. “There was a lot of tenacity and intensity. There wasn’t a phase when something wasn’t going on; if it wasn’t a big hit, it was a big charge. It was big too on the physical stakes, and there are a lot of tired and bruised players in the dressing room.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t win. We knew what was at stake. It was a hard grind in Stradey Park last week, and I knew it would be more of the same.

“We set out our stall, took a risk in playing against the wind but I felt we made the right decision when we turned around a mere seven points in arrears. We were in the game right through and there was never a point where I felt we had no chance, at least until the last couple of minutes.”

He admitted mistakes cost his side, but that could be worked upon: “It’s easy to eradicate mistakes by hard work in training, and I guess we have a bit of hard work to do. The boys were anxious to produce a result and maybe they pushed it too hard and too soon at times.”

He paid tribute to Munster: “They’re clinical when they get chances; that is down to experience but also shows they have what it takes to score. In other parts of Europe, Munster haven’t been given the credit they deserve. They have gone to France and England, Wales and Scotland and secured victories; we have designs on doing the same; we came close today, but maybe we just have to experience a bit more for it to happen.”

Battle hardened captain Simon Easterby said: “We feel we’re not far from a big win, and I agree with Phil that we can have a positive role to play in this group.”

And Munster’s hopes of making the quarter finals? “Munster will find it tough in France, but they proved a big point in running Wasps so close on the opening day. They’ll be very tough to beat at Thomond Park and if they can salvage something against Clermont then they could be in business.”