Llanelli are preparing for what Scott Quinnell described as “the most important week in the club’s history” as they build towards their final Pool 3 clash with Glasgow on Friday.
At stake is a place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals for the fifth time in seven years – but they must avoid defeat in Scotland.
When Dwayne Peel ran in the Scarlets’ fourth try at a passion packed Stradey Park 13 minutes form the end, Llanelli were almost into the last eight.
That made it 6-6 in tries against Bourgoin, and with a 37-10 lead at that stage the home side were well ahead of their French rivals on points difference
Had it stayed like that then Llanelli would have been through regardless of the game in Glasgow but, to their credit, Bourgoin showed plenty of mettle to hit back with two tires in the final ten minutes to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
For them to reach the last eight in Europe for the first time they will have to hope that they can beat Sale Sharks at home and see Llanelli lose in Glasgow. Then they would top the pool on try count.
Llanelli were given a flying start by their former Wales No. 8 Scott Quinnell when he brushed aside three defenders before racing 40 metres to score his side’s first try.
Stephen Jones added the conversion and Llanelli were 13-0 ahead with 17 minutes gone.
Jones continued his personal vendetta against Bourgoin by matching his average of 17 points per game against the French side as he hoisted his tally to 70 points against them in four games.
By half-time he added a second penalty to his earlier drop goal and also converted a corner try by Garin Evans.
That made it 23-7 to the home side at the break, centre Glenn Davies crossing for a try when Alex Peclier converted for Bourgoin, and two more tries in the second half from Evans and Peel helped hoist the home side into a 37-10 lead.
The 8,421 crowd were singing their heads off by this stage, but a driving try from prop Frederico Pucciariello and Peclier meant there was a sting in the tail for Llanelli.
Now they face a date with destiny in Glasgow when a victory will guarantee them a place in the last eight.
Llanelli 37 Bourgoin 22
HT: 23-7 Attendance: 8,421
Llanelli: Tries – G Evans 2, S Quinnell, D Peel; Cons – S Jones 4; Pens – S Jones 2; DG – S Jones
Bourgoin: Tries – G Davies, G Pucciariello, A Peclier; Cons – A Peclier 2; DG – B Boyet
