Easterby relishes big stage after World Cup woe

Simon Easterby enters the Heineken Cup sharing a common bond with many of his Llanelli team-mates which spans international boundaries.

Easterby has been forced to come to terms with possibly the most bitter experience of his career following Ireland’s disastrous performance at the World Cup.

The Scarlets flanker started all four pool matches of a dismal campaign that witnessed Ireland’s extraordinary collapse from semi-final prospects to a laughing stock.

The scarring from such a disappointing showing in France will take time to heal - and the pain is shared to a lesser extent by a handful of other Llanelli players.

Wales emulated their Celtic rivals in failing to reach the World Cup quarter-finals and the fall-out has been equally bitter, with coach Gareth Jenkins losing his job as a result.

Llanelli big guns such as Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel and Alix Popham have been confronted by the anger of a disgruntled Welsh public.

But Easterby insists the grieving process finished when the shellshocked players returned to the reassuring comfort zone of their region.

Instead, the 32-year-old has urged those members of the Llanelli squad who experienced failure in France to use the Heineken Cup as an outlet for their anger.

“We cannot do anything about the disappointment of the World Cup,” he said.

“But we’ve had time to reflect on that and it does excite the players to be coming back to the Scarlets.

“It would have been easy to come back and bury our heads in the sand but it is important to get back on the horse.

“We are a close-knit squad and enjoy the style of rugby we play.

“Individually we are all in a good place now as we are back to what we know best.

“It’s enjoyable here at the Scarlets and we want to get back into the Heineken Cup.”

Easterby’s place in the Ireland side during the World Cup appeared to be under threat, but Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan’s support for his blindside was unwavering.

A Test career spanning 62 caps has taken its toll, however, and Easterby insists he will decide during the group stages of the Heineken Cup whether it is time to announce his international retirement.

“It is just the disappointment of it. I know myself I am not going to play in another World Cup,” he said.

“To go out on the biggest stage like that was a huge disappointment. If you play your best and are beaten by a better side then you accept that.

“But, if you don’t play well, it is harder to take. We know we did not produce the rugby we can.

“We feel we did not live up to our expectations, never mind those of the media and the fans.

“I don’t know if I will continue. I will probably look at it in a couple of months time and make that decision.

“I intend to focus on playing well for the Scarlets and on the team doing well.”

Llanelli reached the semi-finals of last season’s Heineken Cup where they crashed out with a 33-17 defeat by runners-up Leicester.

Their hopes of scaling those heights this term have been significantly damaged by their ludicrously difficult pool.

An absurd seeding system based on nationality, not results, sees the Scarlets drawn alongside Clermont Auvergne, champions Wasps and perennial big hitters Munster.

Llanelli have a strong European pedigree, reaching the semi-finals on two occasions before last season – and they have been by far the most successful Welsh province in the competition.

But this term to qualify for the knockout stages alone would represent an enormous achievement in itself and it is hard to see them figuring in the last eight.