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Scarlets staying positive

Scarlets staying positive

The Scarlets won’t let their early European disappointment derail their season according to head coach Simon Easterby.

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Their Heineken Cup hopes may be hanging by a thread after they were beaten by Clermont Auvergne and Leinster over the past two weekends but it’s still been a strong start to the season nonetheless.

Prior to those frustrating reverses to two of the continent’s real heavyweights, the Scarlets had been flying high thanks to four wins from six domestic fixtures.

Easterby’s troops still sit second in the PRO12 table and the former flanker is keen for them to head to Edinburgh with a positive outlook as they prepare to return to league action on Friday night.

“It’s certainly not doom and gloom. We have plenty of positives to focus on,” said Easterby, who has picked the majority of his 12 Wales call ups but has to do without the likes of injury victims Tavis Knoyle and Jon Davies.

“Our execution could have been better last weekend but that’s also partly about playing one of the best sides in the Europe for the last three years.

“We just can’t let the last two results affect the strong start we’ve made in the league and for us the negatives from those two fixtures are a motivating factor for us to kick on now.

“The players are all very focused on this game and they have an opportunity to go to Edinburgh and back up the hard work and commitment we’ve already given to our league campaign.

“There is a realisation for everyone that we played against the European Champions and semi-finalists over the past fortnight and for 40 minutes in both those games we competed well against Clermont and Leinster.”

Easterby isn’t underestimating the importance of the trip to Scotland despite many seeing it as a less daunting challenge than the two they have faced in recent weeks.

Michael Bradley’s men were humiliated two rounds running in the Heineken Cup as they shipped a combined total of 78 points without troubling the scoreboard themselves against Saracens and Munster.

The Scarlets were edged out 26-23 when the two teams met at Murrayfield last season but the year before saw them pick up a first win in eight at the home of Scottish Rugby.

Victory over Glasgow at Scotstoun in Round 2 will give the Scarlets greater belief that they can return to Wales with a vital win but Easterby knows that Edinburgh will be targeting the same sort of comeback his side are after following the European slip ups.

“Edinburgh will see every game now as an opportunity to turn around and it will be no different against us,” added Easterby.

“We’ve had couple of good results in the last couple of years after a few years of not traveling well in Scotland.

“For us, it’s a big game, and it’s really important for us to get back to winning ways. It’s a decent track which will hopefully suit some of our players and it’s important to get a result to see those (Wales) boys off on a good note.

“With a limited turnaround this week, our focus has been on our game and getting some of the execution and decision-making issues we faced last weekend put right. We will be better at the things in our control and put pressure on Edinburgh.”

Scarlets (v Edinburgh, Murrayfield, Friday 7.35pm)

Liam Williams; George North, Nick Reynolds, Scott Williams, Morgan Stoddart, Aled Thomas, Gareth Davies; Phil John, Matthew Rees, Samson Lee, Sione Timani, Tomas Vallejos, Aaron Shingler, Johnathan Edwards, Rob McCusker (capt)

Replacements: Ken Owens, Shaun Hopkins, Deacon Manu, Richard Kelly, Kieran Murphy, Aled Davies, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Owen

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