Scarlets keen to make amends

For a region with such a proud European history last season was a terrible humiliation for the Scarlets to bear.

Even in the midst of a campaign where they were genuine challengers for the Guinness PRO12 play-off places, suffering six defeats out of six in the Champions Cup was not a state of affairs their fanbase were prepared to accept.

In fairness to head coach Wayne Pivac and his men, there were no shortage of injury problems to deal with in the wake of the Rugby World Cup and they were hardly in the most accommodating of pools as Racing 92, Northampton and Glasgow wiped the floor with them.

But shipping 40 points in Scotland and 60 in Paris still stung and were referenced by both Pivac and skipper Ken Owens in the build-up to this weekend’s opener against Sale.

After all, the Scarlets have been to three Champions Cup quarter-finals in their history and through much of the history of European competition they have been Wales’ flagship side.

So it goes without saying that a pool also containing Connacht, reigning champions Saracens and three-time winners Toulon will serve as no sort of excuse for another poor season when they are the only team from the principality in the top-tier tournament.

“We are looking forward to it, it is a great tournament, a great stage and we are fortunate enough to be involved in it,” said hooker Owens.

“You look across the groups and since they have cut it to 20 teams there are no easy groups.

“What happened last year hurt, we are still smarting from it.”

To that end the Scarlets should be stronger with Liam Williams and Scott Williams back to full fitness, while the acquisitions of Jonathan Davies and Rhys Patchell means Pivac can field an all-international back division.

There is further good news in the return to fitness of Wales tighthead Samson Lee after shoulder surgery, although loosehead Rob Evans will miss the opening two rounds with a wrist problem. But with the likes of Jake Ball, John Barclay and Aaron Shingler to call on, Pivac will be hoping his forwards can provide the platform to spark an exciting backline into life.