Scarlets signed off the first block of Guinness PRO14 fixtures with a dramatic late win over Benetton at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.
Here’s what head coach Brad Mooar had to say to the media in the aftermath of the 20-17 victory.
Brad, five wins from six, you must be happy?
BM: “That sounds good doesn’t it? It has been a great start, we are really happy with five wins from six from this block of matches. The points table has a nice look to it, we are accumulating and winning a few tough. We have just got to keep being bold and keep playing and keep firing shots.
“I loved the confidence of Steff Hughes to keep going at them and keep having a crack. A couple of times we could have taken the points, but we backed ourselves and we back ourselves to stay strong and stay tough right to the end.
“Benetton are a good side, they are going to knock some sides over. It was a critical game for us with them being in the same conference, a big swing match and also important to close off this first block of the season as we go into Europe.”
What about Dan Jones’s late kick to win it?
BM: “Dan has ice running through his veins, that’s how it looks to us, although he did tell us his heart was pumping. He works hard, he is a great Scarlets man.
“After they kicked a penalty to tie it up, I thought the guys showed fantastic character to say ‘well how can we win this?’ They got the ball back from the kick-off and they’ve given us an opportunity to win.
“Our scrum then got a penalty which was great for Werner, on one side playing in his 100th game and then on the other, Rob Evans, who has been through a bit and you can see the impact he has had for us in the last two weeks off the bench.”
What is the plan for the coming weeks?
BM: “The squad has been worked pretty well.There are some people that haven’t managed to take the field yet, but it’ll come and obviously we will start phasing in the World Cup boys over the next five to six weeks. It’s going to be on an individual case-by-case scenario. Look, they’ve had a massive five months it’s been huge for them mentally and physically. We’re starting to see some of them back in and around around the place and in terms of the knocks and bumps and bruises they’re all getting assessed by the medical teams.
“There have been three or four changes to the side each week and you’ll see that moving forward. We are never going to have the same 23 week to week. We’’re really excited about the European window and it’s going to be a really good energy buzz for us to get up on our toes and get excited.”
Scarlets take on London Irish in the opening round of the European Challenge Cup on Saturday. You can get your tickets here