Scarlets 31 London Irish 22:London Irish failed to keep pace with Leinster at the top of Pool Six as they suffered an unexpected reverse at the Scarlets. Leinster can now afford to lose next weekend and still qualify for the last eight, as long as the Exiles don't secure a bonus point win when the two sides meet at Twickenham.
Leinster now lead Pool Six by five points with just one match remaining. And given their mean defence – they have conceded just five tries in the entire competition – the prospects of London Irish gaining that bonus point win are slim .
Even in the unlikely event of a Leinster collapse against London Irish, they remain well placed to secure a berth as best runners-up at least (as do Munster in Pool One) after results this weekend went in the Irish province’s favour.
The exiles Irish blew a 22-10 lead at the Parc Y Scarlets and only have themselves to blame after racing clear through tries by wing Tom Homer, hooker David Paice and number eight Chris Hala’ufia, while outhalf Ryan Lamb added two conversions and a penalty.
The Scarlets looked down and out, 12 points behind after 57 minutes, yet two second-half tries from flanker Rob McCusker and a double by Wales centre Jonathan Davies confirmed a thrilling win.
Davies’ injury time touchdown meant Irish even missed out on a losing bonus point.
Outhalf Rhys Priestland slotted four conversions and a penalty and it would have been a comfortable home success had he not missed four other penalty chances.
Irish arrived in west Wales knowing victories over the Scarlets — and then Leinster — would guarantee a quarter-final place.
Exiles boss Toby Booth made a handful of changes following the 24-22 English Premiership loss to Northampton last time out, with Lamb handed Irish’s critical outhalf playmaker role.
The Scarlets though, were missing injured Wales internationals Jones and Matthew Rees as they looked to breathe life into a European campaign deflated following pre-Christmas home and away defeats against Leinster.
The game began at a rapid rate of knots, with three tries in the first 15 minutes — two for Irish.
Homer collected the first, rounding off impressive work by centre Seilala Mapusua and England full-back Delon Armitage, but the Scarlets staged an immediate response.
Like Irish, they looked to spin possession wide, and their adventure was rewarded when wing Andrew Fenby sprinted outside his opposite number before sending the supporting Davies sprinting over.
Priestland added the conversion for a 7-5 advantage, yet Irish quickly regrouped to carve out an opening for Paice.
Lamb’s conversion opened up a threatening lead, and it looked as though Irish would take charge when Scarlets lock Lou Reed was sin-binned for deliberate obstruction on Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson.
Lamb slotted the resulting penalty, but Irish were unable to capitalise on their temporary one-man advantage and Priestland ended the half by kicking a long-range penalty following his earlier misses.
Priestland, though, turned villain 12 minutes into the second period, failing to gather Irish wing Peter Hewat’s steepling kick, and with the Scarlets defence ball-watching, Hala’ufia collected a kind bounce and cruised clear.
It was a soft score for the Scarlets to concede, although they kept plugging away despite facing a 12-point deficit entering the final quarter.
And their resilience was rewarded 15 minutes from time when McCusker showed a considerable turn of speed for the Llanelli side’s second try, converted by Priestland.
Irish, who had been chasing a bonus point, suddenly found themselves scrapping just to stay in front, with Booth looking for stronger half-back control by sending on Peter Richards and Chris Malone as the clock ticked down.
North Walian McCusker though, had other ideas, claiming his second try — it required confirmation from television match official Daniel Gillet — and Irish could only stare in disbelief as Priestland rifled over the touchline conversion.
The visitors mounted an inevitable onslaught during a frenzied finale, yet the Scarlets were not to be denied after putting themselves in pole position.
Irish repeatedly ran possession at them, but a defensive structure moulded by former Australia international defence coach John Muggleton held its shape amid intense pressure.
And referee Jerome Garces’ final whistle — immediately after Davies finished Irish off — sparked scenes of wild celebration, with the Scarlets travelling to Brive next weekend knowing that another victory could see them finish second in the group.
Scarlets:Evans, Stoddart, Lamont, J. Davies, Fenby, Priestlend, Roberts, I. Thomas, Owen, Manu, Reed, Day, McCusker, Turnbull, Lyons. Replacements:John for I. Thomas (60), Welch for Day (60), Edwards for Turnbull (60). Not Used:Phillips, Corsi, L. Williams, Newton, Maule.
Tries:J. Davies 2, McCusker 2. Cons:Priestlend 4. Pens:Priestlend.
Sin Bin:Reed (28).
London Irish:D. Armitage, Hewat, Seveali'i, Mapusua, Homer, Lamb, Hodgson, Dermody, Paice, Rautenbach, Kennedy, Casey, Thorpe, S. Armitage, Hala'ufia. Replacements:Rudd for Seveali'i (52), Malone for Lamb (66), Richards for Hodgson (66), Murphy for Dermody (78), Ion for Rautenbach (52), Johnson for Casey (74), Roche for Thorpe (73). Not Used:Coetzee.
Tries:Homer, Paice, Hala'ufia. Cons:Lamb 2. Pens:Lamb.
Ref:Jerome Garces (France).