European Weekend Review 16-18 January

By Lestyn
January 20 2004

Wales's hopes of Heineken cup progression suffered, as only Cardiff could come away with four points. Although there were at least some crumbs of comfort for the Warriors and Scarlets who picked up bonus points.

Stade coach John Mallet described the Heineken cup as "extraordinary" following his sides drubbing of the Dragons on Sunday. But on a weekend of dramatic reverses, "Ruddocks rejects" always looked like being on the end of a Stade backlash.

Hal Luscombe, Adam Black and Jason Forster were all sin binned on a miserable Parisian day Sunday afternoon. Forsters yellow card proving to be fatal as the French side punished the seven man Gwent pack with two push over tries in the flankers absence.

Ulsters heavy defeat at Leicester made it imperative that Ruddocks side did not concede a fourth try, Christophe Dominci put pay to that with a score shortly after the interval.

For all their defensive endevour, the lack of quality in the Dragons backline was shown up in a big way on Sunday. With bonus points needed against both the Tigers next week and even more dauntingly in Belfast against Ulster, their European ambitions look doomed.

Losing in France, abeit by a closer margin Llanelli Scarlets paid the price for a sloppy first half. Slipping behind 19-3 just before half time, after Conrad Solz had caught the Scarlets defence napping, collecting his own kick through to dive over in the monsoon like conditions of South France.

Torrential rain made it an even bigger up hill struggle for the Turks, Stephen Jones's bootgot the visitors back in touch at 19-12, only for Dwayne Peel to squander a golden chance, spilling the ball after charging down on the Agen line.

Another Jones penalty reduced the deficit further, only for the home sides outside half Miquel to lengthen it back to seven points before the final whistle.

Quarter final qualification is still in their hands, but defeat to Northampton in two weeks would almost certainly end any hope of giving Gareth Jenkins a possible send off, should he get the Wales job.

Like the Dragons the Scarlets found their limitations in the backline, against Gallic opposition in France, with the exception of the Warriors, Welsh sides have been found out in that department.

More to follow.