Their Judgement Day defeat came on the back of a narrow, rain-soaked 12-9 defeat to Glasgow Warriors in Scotstoun. Now they have to pick themselves up for a home clash with the Warriors in the semi-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday, 29 April.
Reaching a first European final would be a red-letter day in its own right for the Scarlets, but it would also keep them on course for a potential return to the Heineken Champions Cup if they could then go on to beat the winners of the other semi-final, Toulon and Benetton Rugby, in the final in Dublin.
That would mean them joining the Welsh Shield winners, Cardiff Rugby, in the top tournament next season. If either Scarlets or Benetton Rugby carry off the Challenge Cup, it would mean Connacht losing their place in the tournament next season as the eighth qualifier in the URC table.
“In all aspects we need to raise standards. We have to make sure we come in with a positive mindset and go up a few levels ready for a huge game,” said Peel.
“We’ve had consistency and steeliness over the last couple of months, but we didn’t have it against the Dragons. We have to look at ourselves – that goes for staff and players.
“If we are not better against Glasgow, we are going to get hurt. We will need to look after the ball better, and we will need to be more clinical when we create opportunities.
“Our set-piece didn’t function last weekend and we were sloppy in a lot of areas. The boys know that and are disappointed by that.”
Scarlets have never met Glasgow in the Challenge Cup before, but the two sides have met six times in the Champions Cup. Scarlets won the first four, home and away in the Pool stages in 2002-03 and 2004-05, but were beaten 43-6 and 9-6 away and home in the 2015-16 campaign.
The last time the two teams clashed at Parc Y Scarlets in the URC, Scarlets came out on top 35-10 on 5 March, 2022.
