Shane Williams: Scarlets must not lose their self-belief in Pool of Death
Scarlets may be in the Pool of Death but for the sake of Welsh rugby, they have to target three wins. It still grates me that we have only one team in the Champions Cup, which is a sad indictment of where regional rugby has gone over the last few years.
We are no longer competitive in the top flight of European rugby in the way the likes of Llanelli, Cardiff, Swansea, Pontypridd and then the Ospreys were over the early years of the tournament.
And let’s face it, who on earth gives Scarlets a snowball’s hope in hell of surviving a pool including Saracens and Toulon, who between them have lifted the cup for the past four years? But Scarlets cannot and must not just accept being the also-rans among these guys.
They have suffered a whitewash in two of the last four seasons in this competition and suffered their worst defeat in Europe, 64-14 at Racing 92. For a club of that history, it’s just not good enough.
I accept that Wayne Pivac turned all his focus to the Pro12 after making such a good start but that didn’t work out either in the end. He gambled and he lost. Don’t get me wrong, Welsh regions are finding it almost impossible to match the finances and resources of these clubs. But when you have 15 against 15 on the pitch, I honestly believe Scarlets are capable of claiming three wins.
Clearly they have to target next week’s opening game against Sale Sharks at Parc Y Scarlets. Sale are strong and have my old mate Mike Phillips in great form right now, but with Liam Williams in scintillating from, Scarlets have the talent and rugby ability to run past the Sharks home and away.
I’m still convinced they can beat Toulon in Llanelli as well. Toulon are not quite the side they were a few years ago when they had a team full of world champions like Jonny Wilkinson, Bakkies Botha and Ali Williams who knew exactly how to win big competitions.
Yet Cardiff Blues still proved even that team was beatable when they got the better of them at the Arms Park while on their way to lifting the trophy and Toulon have also had a shaky start in the Top 14. That’s why Saracens have to be favourites, not only to get out of this pool but to go on and win the whole thing outright.
They have been the most consistent team in Europe for the past four years and after finally shaking off the near-misses and winning it last year, they can now become the dominant force in the same way Toulouse, Leinster and Toulon were for periods in the past.
They have got that stubbornness and bloody-minded attitude that means they can go anywhere in Europe – even Toulon – and win.
Welsh interest is likely to focus on the Challenge Cup and the time is right for that trophy to head over this side of the Severn Bridge. Ospreys and Cardiff Blues may have ambitions of playing in the Champions Cup and it sounds bizarre talking of the Ospreys in the Challenge Cup. But it is still a prestigious piece of silverware and both Steve Tandy and Danny Wilson should not only be looking at progressing from the pool stages, but winning the cup. Newport Gwent Dragons also have a decent record in this competition and seem to come alive in Europe.
They all have tricky groups, Ospreys have two French teams while Blues have two local rivals in Bath and Bristol.
But Ospreys had success in France last year and appear to be coming to terms with what it takes to win there. You never assume you’re going to be in for anything but a tough game in France, I’ve played there enough times to know that.
But in Grenoble and Lyon, there is always the chance that once you have fronted up, they could have their eyes on a relegation fight in the Top 14.
