The five Welsh clubs have won just four out of their 15 Heineken Cup matches so far this season – and Llanelli account for half of those victories.
Round 3 did see Swansea and Newport both winning for the first time, against Bristol Shoguns and London Irish respectively, but Neath – who drew against Leicester Tigers in Round 1 – and Cardiff are still waiting to savour that winning feeling. Llanelli notched up their second Pool 3 win by beating high-flying Sale Sharks 30-19 at Heywood Road but collectively it all adds up to Welsh quarter-final hopes resting firmly on Scarlet shoulders.
“Winning away from home was a big, big result – but the job is far from done,” said Llanelli coach Gareth Jenkins. “We realise we did well last Friday night but it is what happens this Friday night that counts.
“Sale Sharks have a lot of ability and are a very dangerous side. It is clear to see why they are right up there in the Zurich Premiership and we beat them because we kept playing good rugby.
“We have to look at where we need to change things a bit for the return – which we know we have to do – but we will be looking for a repeat in most areas, like our defence, intensity and tempo. If we achieve that, we can go on in the tournament.
“It was a great team effort but there were some huge individual performances, Leigh Davies and Scott Quinnell took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half and Simon Easterby ran himself into the ground.
“Overall it was just a great game of rugby – and we have to thank referee Joel Jutge for that. He was outstanding. He was not as pedantic as some other officials and, because of that, what we got was a flow and tempo to the game that allowed the players to perform to their potential.
“Is it a coincidence that the PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP match between Bridgend and Bath was also a cracker – and that they had French referee Didier Mene in charge?”
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