:00:17. > :00:23.For the Scarlets, this season has been a numbers game. They celebrated
:00:24. > :00:26.the start of 2017 by returning to the top four. It has been a
:00:27. > :00:32.remarkable recovery for a side that lost its first three in a row. Since
:00:33. > :00:37.then, it has been win, win after win. With one exception. That defeat
:00:38. > :00:42.aside, they have won eight their last nine. But the challenge only
:00:43. > :00:45.get tougher from here on in. To mites opponents are hot on their
:00:46. > :00:54.heels. This match is the proverbial ten pointer. We are into the second
:00:55. > :00:57.half of the regular season and those with title ambitions cannot afford
:00:58. > :01:02.to slip up now. Both of these teams are in contention for the play-offs
:01:03. > :01:05.but the Scarlets could put distance between Ulster and themselves to
:01:06. > :01:11.night with a win. It has all the ingredients for an absolute cracker.
:01:12. > :01:18.Welcome to a pretty wet and windy stadium. The weather seems to be
:01:19. > :01:22.following us around, a monsoon in Newport a few days ago and now this.
:01:23. > :01:26.It will probably change things because we know the Scarlets like to
:01:27. > :01:30.play with width and attack from their own half but the weather may
:01:31. > :01:34.dictate otherwise. Young we will see some kicking again tonight, properly
:01:35. > :01:39.from Jackson of Ulster. Scholars like to use the players on the wing,
:01:40. > :01:45.I'm not sure they will change much despite the rain. Context, we
:01:46. > :01:48.touched on it, a ten pointer in the Scarlets double whammy if they win,
:01:49. > :01:54.they can climb the table themselves and put some distance with ring them
:01:55. > :01:56.and Ulster. For both teams, it is the last and they will have their
:01:57. > :02:02.internationals before the Six Nations starts. Ulster have
:02:03. > :02:06.jewellery so as their game in hand, you would expect them to get a bonus
:02:07. > :02:12.point, but if Scarlets went mad, they will have a good gap going into
:02:13. > :02:16.the Six Nations. Interesting team selection, Johnny McNicol, normally
:02:17. > :02:20.on the wing, playing at full-back, is that significant or will they
:02:21. > :02:27.swap places as the match continues. They will use their wings, van der
:02:28. > :02:31.Merwe coming in as a decoy and then getting it as quickly as they can
:02:32. > :02:37.into the hands of McNicol. They like to use their wingers of the
:02:38. > :02:42.blindside. He switches play. They bring the DH back on the inside.
:02:43. > :02:47.Here, the winner goes to the middle of the field, why does he do that,
:02:48. > :02:51.it opens up both sides of the field to attack either side of the rock.
:02:52. > :02:57.Look who crops up, it is McNicol office open wing. Pat jewel against
:02:58. > :03:01.the Blues last week counter-attacked and who is there again on the short
:03:02. > :03:06.side, it is both the wingers together and McNicol puts Steph
:03:07. > :03:10.Evans away. Conditions aside, look out for the back three to have
:03:11. > :03:14.involvement. The banks will get involved but the forwards will win
:03:15. > :03:20.this game. You are looking forward to the Battle of the hookers. Nice
:03:21. > :03:23.like this, the real men win the game for you. Six Nations around the
:03:24. > :03:29.corner, a Lions year, they are in the mix. Owen is under pressure, he
:03:30. > :03:32.has been Berlin but still number one, the captain and leader even
:03:33. > :03:36.though Rory Best has given up the captaincy, his game this year has
:03:37. > :03:41.been outstanding for Ireland and Ulster. A big bonus for them having
:03:42. > :03:45.him back to night. In the drizzling rain, they're throwing skills will
:03:46. > :03:48.be tested to the max. Not a happy hunting ground for Ulster, only
:03:49. > :03:53.winning twice in 13 attempts here in West Wales. Scarlets favourites with
:03:54. > :03:57.the home advantage this evening, let's find out how they will fare to
:03:58. > :04:01.night. Martyn Williams on his way to the commentary box. We will hear
:04:02. > :04:13.from Jonathan Davies and Gareth Giles. Data macro you very much.
:04:14. > :04:19.COMMENTATOR: As Ulster come out onto the park, fourth against six. After
:04:20. > :04:27.such a good start for Ulster to the season, a blip since then. Looking
:04:28. > :04:31.to get back to winning ways, a different front row, Rory Best back
:04:32. > :04:38.at hooker. Henderson back in the second row, as is Chris Henry in the
:04:39. > :04:44.back row. No Pienaar or Charles the towel, Jackson at half-backs. Andrew
:04:45. > :04:53.Trimble plays and his second match of the season and leads the team. It
:04:54. > :05:01.is not the night to be hanging about a night. The rain came in earlier
:05:02. > :05:06.and it has stayed all day. The brave supporters giving their backing to
:05:07. > :05:13.the Scarlets, in fourth at the moment. Ken Owens rested against the
:05:14. > :05:19.Blues returns to captain the team. James Davies is back after a
:05:20. > :05:23.three-week ban. Dan Jones in for the injured Rhys Patchell, who started
:05:24. > :05:27.every game and ten. Johnny McNicol at full-back, perhaps a sign of
:05:28. > :05:33.things to come with Liam Williams's imminent departure to the Saracens.
:05:34. > :05:36.Mickey Thomas could make his debut off the bench for Scarlets and
:05:37. > :05:43.another former Ospreys player, Toby Bowen, the most familiar name on the
:05:44. > :05:53.Ulster bench. Italian referee in charge this evening. And no baiting
:05:54. > :06:03.in the conditions. Not as cold but it is going to be wet and slippery
:06:04. > :06:11.and difficult out there. First juggle and catch from Tom Pryce.
:06:12. > :06:14.Gareth Davies preferred at scrum-half this evening, the choice
:06:15. > :06:21.between him, Aled Davies and Jonathan Evans. Ludik with a good
:06:22. > :06:26.take. These will be trying conditions. These forwards don't
:06:27. > :06:34.want to stray too far from the scrum-half. Don't want to be asking
:06:35. > :06:40.too much of him. That is big Stuart McCloskey in midfield. I think we
:06:41. > :06:43.will see a lot of him to night. The conditions will dominate the style
:06:44. > :06:46.of play. It is not going to be an end to end thriller. It will be
:06:47. > :06:55.about or retention and handling errors. Jackson, we will see plenty
:06:56. > :07:00.of that this evening as well I dare say. Safely taken by Dan Jones. A
:07:01. > :07:04.little bit too far there. Didn't really know what to do there,
:07:05. > :07:12.looking for the up and under but put too much distance on it and an easy
:07:13. > :07:26.take for Dan Jones. First league start of the season for Dan Jones.
:07:27. > :07:34.Successfully negotiated by the outside-half. The kick charged down
:07:35. > :07:39.by Sean Reidy, the Ulster number eight, Johnny McNicol at full-back.
:07:40. > :07:52.The ball still in play down to Andrew Trimble.
:07:53. > :08:06.Plenty of early possession for Ulster. Again, McCloskey the big
:08:07. > :08:16.ball-carrier for them. Trimble again involved.
:08:17. > :08:33.Henderson, good to see him fully fit again. Ulster keeping the ball well.
:08:34. > :08:42.A little slide through to Dan Jones. A couple of minutes, straight off
:08:43. > :08:46.the park from Dan Jones, making his first appearance of the season in
:08:47. > :08:49.the league. Some breaking news this evening, Rhys Patchell, who has
:08:50. > :08:53.played every other game, picked up an ankle injury against The Blues
:08:54. > :08:57.and has seen the surgeon today and he will have surgery tomorrow and he
:08:58. > :09:02.could be out for up to 12 weeks. Which is really bad news for Rhys
:09:03. > :09:07.Patchell. I saw the news in the press, he got so excited that he was
:09:08. > :09:19.going to play on telly. Forget about the game. He couldn't wait. He is
:09:20. > :09:25.bristling. Dan Jones with an early chance, his football skills in the
:09:26. > :09:29.wet conditions will help him slide over as Jones and Jackson go over
:09:30. > :09:39.together. Now then, who got a hand on that one? He's got to go to the
:09:40. > :09:51.TMO. Paddy Jackson has done brilliantly to get back and recover.
:09:52. > :10:05.There it is. This is a very tough call. I think that is not a dry. We
:10:06. > :10:09.have to wait and see where the try line is, they go early because the
:10:10. > :10:16.conditions, you have to go early and slide over. I think daddy Jackson
:10:17. > :10:23.has got that, I think he has done brilliantly, Paddy Jackson. Turn of
:10:24. > :10:27.speed. This is the angle. I'm not sure you can give that. I think
:10:28. > :10:35.Paddy Jackson has put his weight on it. Anyway, the upper part of the
:10:36. > :10:39.body will do. For a try. He deftly got his body on it there but look at
:10:40. > :10:58.the try line, he slides over, Paddy Jackson is there. It is grabbed by
:10:59. > :11:06.white. All the best I say to that. It is a white scrum. He's called it
:11:07. > :11:15.as a knock-on in the end. Disappointment for the crowd but
:11:16. > :11:19.Jones's body was on it before the line but he was not part of it over
:11:20. > :11:24.the line, excellent work by Paddy Jackson. Great work by both of them,
:11:25. > :11:27.Dan Jones putting pressure and charging the kick down but a great
:11:28. > :11:33.scramble from Paddy Jackson to get back, making a good ten or 15
:11:34. > :11:37.metres. From the charge down, all your money is on Dan Jones to score
:11:38. > :11:43.that drive. One kick, his control it well. He goes down early and Paddy
:11:44. > :11:56.Jackson put his foot on the gas and made some great yards there.
:11:57. > :12:05.There is the charge down, halfway. One good strike and you think that
:12:06. > :12:17.is it. But then, the stars treading water and Paddy Jackson takes him on
:12:18. > :12:18.the outside, a great save. Dan Jones will be disappointed with that, in
:12:19. > :12:34.that position, you expect to score. Just to compound things for the
:12:35. > :12:47.Scarlets, the free kick goes against the front row.
:12:48. > :12:54.I think the Scarlets will fancy themselves to night. A couple Ulster
:12:55. > :13:22.players missing. Accidental offside by James Davies.
:13:23. > :13:29.Not a great mistake. Just runs into his own player. They managed to work
:13:30. > :13:59.themselves up to the 40 metre line. First was a free kick, the second
:14:00. > :14:05.one is a full penalty. Conditions like this, the scrum, if the referee
:14:06. > :14:16.gets into his head that Ulster have the edge on it, it could be a long
:14:17. > :14:18.evening. Through the decisions and indiscipline against them, they've
:14:19. > :14:28.gone from their own 22 the Scarlets 22. Rob Evans, it is quite harsh
:14:29. > :14:34.initially. He will feel he had the better of Ross came, the 22-year-old
:14:35. > :14:38.tight head for is that, starting just his second game. -- Kane. His
:14:39. > :14:43.first appearance was the first game of the season. Sean Reidy gets the
:14:44. > :14:58.pressure on the Scarlets 22. The third member of the back row,
:14:59. > :15:08.Chris Henry. From the blindside comes Paddy Jackson and he finds
:15:09. > :15:19.Ross Kane waiting there. They went through the phases in the Scarlets
:15:20. > :15:25.half. This time, defence wins out. The presence of the breakdown wins
:15:26. > :15:31.the home side the penalty. Brilliant from John Barclay, so consistent,
:15:32. > :15:34.Whee Kim and week out. He will get two or three penalties again for
:15:35. > :15:38.that exact action. He is brilliant at getting over the ball, he and
:15:39. > :15:47.Stephen Davies really are a threat for Scarlets. There is John Barclay,
:15:48. > :16:28.straight in over the tackle. Jake Ball, back to full fitness
:16:29. > :16:37.after an injury picked up last year. Good angle, beating Tredwell in the
:16:38. > :16:41.second row. Henderson tried his best to hold him up. They do that well,
:16:42. > :17:01.Ulster. Ulster offside in midfield. Then a
:17:02. > :17:07.second offence at the breakdown. He gave an offside before that. I
:17:08. > :17:13.didn't really think they were offside, good lines beat, not
:17:14. > :17:17.committing many to the ruck area. It is going to be like a war of
:17:18. > :17:21.attrition this evening. Not going to be many gaps up there, all doing the
:17:22. > :17:26.hard yards. Hopefully take the points when the penalties come. You
:17:27. > :17:50.are right, he didn't look offside at all. You didn't think so as well.
:17:51. > :17:57.The first points of the evening do go to Dan Jones. Couldn't convert
:17:58. > :18:05.the try but he does convert the penalty and the Scarlets 3-0 up. The
:18:06. > :18:10.Scarlets manager is talking to us. Rhys Patchell and footwear with, how
:18:11. > :18:16.big a blow is that? It is a blow. The last couple weeks he has been a
:18:17. > :18:22.leading light for in good form. We are naturally disappointed for him,
:18:23. > :18:28.he has grown in confidence in every game this year. It is a good chance
:18:29. > :18:36.for Dan to stake his claim. Bouncing down with rain, do you have to think
:18:37. > :18:40.about changing tactics at all? We knew the weather was coming in and
:18:41. > :18:46.we know the type of game it will be. We like to play wide and expansive
:18:47. > :18:50.but we may have to play a bit more of a kicking game into the right
:18:51. > :18:56.areas. Kicking game were the words, I don't like to tempt fate. It's not
:18:57. > :19:02.going to be a repeat of what we had last time out at Rodney Parade,
:19:03. > :19:06.don't worry. And affective kick from the Scarlets, decent return from
:19:07. > :19:19.Paul Marshall but Ken Owens will be throwing into the line-out. Are
:19:20. > :19:31.these jerseys getting bigger? They'll be banned soon for being too
:19:32. > :19:57.dangerous. Hopefully, the new law means they
:19:58. > :20:03.won't get smacked on the GPS either. Found its way to the tail. The huge
:20:04. > :20:11.hit coming in which has left Gareth Davies hobbling for the next phase
:20:12. > :20:30.of play. Jake Ball over the gain line. Ken Owens, and Davies trying
:20:31. > :20:35.to run that knock off. Take the penalty again, take the points. With
:20:36. > :20:39.the conditions, you tend to narrow in attack. The Scarlets had an
:20:40. > :20:44.opportunity on the left-hand side but they were all very narrow in
:20:45. > :21:11.attack. They need to keep their width defensively as well.
:21:12. > :21:24.Gareth Davies is in a bit of pain. Evans is down as well. There is a
:21:25. > :21:28.pretty big injury list with the teams before the games started. The
:21:29. > :21:32.macro two key players. The last thing you want this only in the
:21:33. > :21:43.game. He is up. Looks as if he is OK.
:21:44. > :22:22.Dan Jones, 21 tomorrow. Celebrates with a second successful kick. What
:22:23. > :22:29.they've done is turn the field position in to pressure into points.
:22:30. > :22:30.As you mentioned, the conditions, though got to get the scoreboard
:22:31. > :22:51.ticking over. Clever. Not quite. You are graded
:22:52. > :22:56.and pick it up. The macro Gareth Davies is not happy, he is still
:22:57. > :23:01.limping. He needed another yard, a bit more pace for Gareth Davies to
:23:02. > :23:09.execute it properly. He has to pick it up to touch it down. He didn't do
:23:10. > :23:22.so. I don't see him being on for long. Here we go, that's the first
:23:23. > :23:26.one. You macro here we go, no, accidental. It is a penalty.
:23:27. > :23:43.Nevertheless it is yellow. It's because of where he has ended
:23:44. > :23:50.up, the initial contact is OK. As he slides up. It is a grey area, that
:23:51. > :23:55.is. He has dipped in low to run into him. As a tackler, you're meant to
:23:56. > :24:03.Bentaleb can get under the ball-carrier. I know it is all down
:24:04. > :24:06.to players health and safety at a lot of it has to be common sense as
:24:07. > :24:14.well. It is difficult for the referees. Difficult for the players
:24:15. > :24:16.as well. You'll get more and more ball-carrier is getting low and slow
:24:17. > :24:26.and then the tacklers have to try and do the same, which will be very
:24:27. > :24:32.difficult to do. You could make a comeback. Gil Andre the giant next
:24:33. > :25:03.to me. Ulster have their first points. That's a good kick.
:25:04. > :25:15.He thought about the quick one. John Barclay pretty glad he didn't go for
:25:16. > :25:23.it. Stockdale in what is a pretty big back line, by and large. As a
:25:24. > :25:28.professional player, all of your training, is in the dry ground and
:25:29. > :25:45.nice weather and you think this morning that has all gone to pot.
:25:46. > :25:52.Berkeley on his own, the rest of the forwards involved in driving them
:25:53. > :26:03.on. They came off the wing to help them. Scholars are finding it
:26:04. > :26:16.difficult to get over the gain line. Good reaction for the ball spinning
:26:17. > :26:17.away from Gareth Davies. Liam Williams and Stockdale go up
:26:18. > :26:30.together. It's gone forward so the choice is
:26:31. > :26:45.therefore Scarlets. You have to think about the
:26:46. > :26:51.substitution at this early stage for Gareth Davies. He is limping. He is
:26:52. > :26:54.such an important link and in these conditions, he's not going to be a
:26:55. > :26:59.threat the way he is. He's got to decide whether it is worthwhile him
:27:00. > :27:15.staying on or bring on the scrum-half off the bench. We haven't
:27:16. > :27:16.seen Aled Davies warming up yet. The crowd could see the hand on the
:27:17. > :27:41.floor to support Callum Black. I don't think we've had a scrum
:27:42. > :27:42.completed yet, have we? One free kick, one penalty and that one
:27:43. > :28:04.collapsed. The ball does get away that time in
:28:05. > :28:09.the hands of Clive Ross. Marshall looking to give Jackson a run.
:28:10. > :28:13.Johnny McNichol just brushing the whitewash. You'll macro may have
:28:14. > :28:24.saved him there, the few players on him going back to his own line. He
:28:25. > :28:36.did well to take it. That was close. Little toe. Ken Owens, how Ulster
:28:37. > :28:38.ended up with the ball from the previous scrum. Referee saying it
:28:39. > :29:00.was out. The majority of the game has been
:29:01. > :29:13.played in the middle third of the field. A concerted drive by Ulster.
:29:14. > :29:18.McCloskey got it away for Jacob Stockdale and that is far too soft
:29:19. > :29:23.for the Scarlets. Well worked, McCloskey was always going to be the
:29:24. > :29:31.target and he had far too much room to feed it to Jacob Stockdale. We
:29:32. > :29:36.mentioned big McCloskey, that is very slow. That is an easy pop.
:29:37. > :29:46.Williams and Davies, he just gets his hands free and that is far too
:29:47. > :29:50.easy. They will be really disappointed, the ball had stopped,
:29:51. > :29:59.he was static, it was just a few steps that Marshall has taken which
:30:00. > :30:03.has held James Davies. That is a soft defensive work from Scarlets.
:30:04. > :30:18.Good support play from Stockdale. The defence would have been
:30:19. > :30:26.expecting that. Successful conversion. All lead 10-6. A nice
:30:27. > :30:30.try but it is the build-up I am interested in. Are the Ulster
:30:31. > :30:36.players in front of Marshall? Just there. The touch judge should spot
:30:37. > :30:44.that. They wouldn't have had the line-out.
:30:45. > :31:03.Those are the breaks and Ulster take them. So is the touch judge on this
:31:04. > :31:18.site. -- Rizzo. Good kick by Marshall.
:31:19. > :31:32.The referee just once Ulster to speed things up at line-out time.
:31:33. > :31:40.Black making sure the instructions are for Rory Best.
:31:41. > :31:47.Good control about this Ulster driving line-out.
:31:48. > :31:53.They have taken the game by the scruff of the net in the scrums. The
:31:54. > :32:04.line-outs, the mauls. Paul Marshall quite happy to go aerial. Back to
:32:05. > :32:08.James Davies. White eight, within ten metres.
:32:09. > :32:27.Eight White, offside. Sean Reidy.
:32:28. > :32:35.That is a great kick. That is a super kick from Dan Jones. He went
:32:36. > :32:44.for everything there. He warily did past. A great kick. These galas
:32:45. > :32:57.could not have asked for better. -- the Scarlets.
:32:58. > :33:06.Lost it. Just when the Scarlets were looking to do what Ulster did so
:33:07. > :33:08.effectively down the other end of the field but they couldn't keep
:33:09. > :33:26.hold of the ball. McNicoll. The Ulster defence has had a chance
:33:27. > :33:50.to re-form. Steff Evans gets the ball in his
:33:51. > :34:03.hands for the first time this evening. The game is 25 minutes old.
:34:04. > :34:07.Again, they are a bit narrow, the Scarlets. If they are narrow their
:34:08. > :34:13.defensive line is narrow and the narrower it gets the more difficult
:34:14. > :34:20.it is to hit the hole. Hadleigh Parkes having to do a lot of
:34:21. > :34:29.carrying but effective in getting over the gain line.
:34:30. > :34:44.Nicely weighted to Liam Williams. Barclay is on the outside. Inside is
:34:45. > :34:49.Hadleigh Parkes. Past the defence. Again, Ulster battling hard in the
:34:50. > :34:55.breakdown. The Scarlets still have it. It has all slowed down. James
:34:56. > :35:12.Davies. Again, flies out of the tackle.
:35:13. > :35:17.McCluskey cannot gather. In the end, all the Scarlets can have is a
:35:18. > :35:24.potted in these grim. Ulster are winning in the tackle
:35:25. > :35:29.area. They are organising their defence. The ball is so slow coming
:35:30. > :35:43.out they can't use it effectively. Another game is being played this
:35:44. > :35:48.evening at Rodney Parade. Treviso are the visitors. They went ahead
:35:49. > :35:55.earlier thanks to a try. But the Dragons heads back and notorious had
:35:56. > :36:01.one in front of the posts. At half-time the Dragons lead 13-8.
:36:02. > :36:13.Usually you would need a hovercraft over the water there!
:36:14. > :36:22.Former Llanelli, Wales, Lions, Phil Bennett. He has had his say about
:36:23. > :36:45.the Dragons and all things Welsh rugby this week.
:36:46. > :36:57.Their scrum has been MS. -- a mess. There is no pattern or continuity to
:36:58. > :37:02.any part of the game so far. There are too many errors. One
:37:03. > :37:11.opportunity, they have taken it. That is the difference. Territory
:37:12. > :37:16.and possession. The half chance the Scarlets had early on, Paddy Jackson
:37:17. > :37:25.got back to say. But Ulster took theirs. Play in either 22 has been
:37:26. > :37:29.at a premium. Marius Mitrea 's knees to get a grip of this. It is
:37:30. > :37:32.difficult enough in these conditions but you need more control of the
:37:33. > :37:37.scrum as well. I know the ground is slippery but
:37:38. > :37:42.let's not use it as an excuse. We cannot do better. Make sure you get
:37:43. > :37:44.the distance, keep the gap and minimum hit until the ball gets in.
:37:45. > :38:29.Keep the bind. Time on. That scrum is completed and the
:38:30. > :38:34.Scarlets hit the blindside. That is where the two centres were waiting.
:38:35. > :38:42.Gareth Davies arrives. He seems to have shrugged off they knocked to
:38:43. > :38:50.the left leg. Steff Evans has to go in as temporary scrum half a couple
:38:51. > :38:53.of times. Jake Ball pushing back that Ulster defence. Better
:38:54. > :39:05.clearance. They add up very quickly, Ulster.
:39:06. > :39:11.Good speed in defence. They are arising that's Scarlets attack. Liam
:39:12. > :39:18.Williams always looking to be near the action. Surely, that was a hand
:39:19. > :39:23.on the floor. But Rob Evans has it anyway.
:39:24. > :39:34.The counter wrecking has been good by Ulster. They are not
:39:35. > :39:39.overcommitted to the ruck. It is difficult for the Scarlets to find
:39:40. > :39:53.any space. They are very clever, their commitment in the wreck. --
:39:54. > :39:57.ruck. It has gone forward. I'm sure the Scarlets would like a bit more
:39:58. > :40:03.assistance from the referee at the breakdown.
:40:04. > :40:14.It is all about pushing the barriers as far as you can. You have to be
:40:15. > :40:18.very clever. They have numbers on their feet and Scarlets are running
:40:19. > :40:22.into the brick walls. I think the service isn't very good
:40:23. > :40:30.from nine. The last thing you want is a slow ball with a great line
:40:31. > :40:33.speed that Ulster has. I don't know why they haven't made the
:40:34. > :40:59.substitution because he is not at his best because of that injury.
:41:00. > :41:11.The Blues visited Glasgow is S4C's game tomorrow night. Cardiff City
:41:12. > :41:18.against Fulham in the FA Cup third round tomorrow morning. And then
:41:19. > :41:30.highlights of the weekend's accent, read the action that is, on Scrum V
:41:31. > :41:31.at 5:30pm on Sunday. Apologies, it is Sunday the FA Cup game is the
:41:32. > :42:09.rather than tomorrow. The Scarlets have almost two thirds
:42:10. > :42:15.of the possession so far in the first half.
:42:16. > :42:19.They haven't looked like scoring, that is the problem. The defence has
:42:20. > :42:45.been good. Ross Kane. These grams have been
:42:46. > :42:46.struggling anyway. Has got a bad elbow that will not help matters
:42:47. > :42:59.much. Maybe he should put some of that on
:43:00. > :43:33.his elbow! Liam Williams left out and the ball
:43:34. > :43:38.reaches John Barclay. The Scarlets have lots protected possession well
:43:39. > :43:40.enough. They have had a lot of ball but they have spilled a lot of ball
:43:41. > :44:00.as well. McNicoll is not afraid of trying to
:44:01. > :44:04.spread it. But the pressure comes back on and Steff Evans having to
:44:05. > :44:17.her leave the game. Ken Owens is offside. Lightning fast! He was
:44:18. > :44:27.having a rest there. Lewis Rawlins ran straight into the elbow. But he
:44:28. > :44:34.is up. Conditions are pretty awful as you
:44:35. > :44:37.can see. That very scrappy period of play, the Scarlets trying to play
:44:38. > :44:43.some rugby which best thing in these conditions. Maybe Lewis Rawlins
:44:44. > :44:53.should have ten minutes. He missed time the tackle. Just cops one. He
:44:54. > :44:59.is low. He had spilled the ball and tried to make up for it. He went
:45:00. > :45:02.straight into the shoulder. Ken Owens can have his arrest now! He
:45:03. > :45:27.needs to go off and have a cheque. I am not sure what they are trying
:45:28. > :45:32.to do here. Ken catches it. This is the opportunity. They were all
:45:33. > :45:46.streaming back. That is a great take. In these conditions on the
:45:47. > :45:51.rent. Wide receiver! He wasn't behind but forces Gareth Davies into
:45:52. > :45:55.another bypass. That is another reason why Gareth Davies has not had
:45:56. > :45:59.the ball away because they are living on the offside line. You have
:46:00. > :46:04.either got to take them out and make there are very referee that Alltel
:46:05. > :46:09.directory, if you don't affiliate, we are going to take them out at the
:46:10. > :46:17.fringes. At least you make the rest of the aware of it. Will Boyde has
:46:18. > :46:25.come on. He is one of the form players this season. He has been
:46:26. > :46:28.superb. Got his opportunity in Cardiff just before the autumn
:46:29. > :46:34.internationals and has not looked back. He has been superb for the
:46:35. > :46:44.last two months. Callum Black had to stretch for that one.
:46:45. > :47:02.Jackson has peppered those kicks in. Dan Jones under pressure from Luke
:47:03. > :47:21.Marshall. The Scarlets have managed to get
:47:22. > :47:26.back and support their outside half. Gareth Davies on to take over the
:47:27. > :47:30.kicking duties, no Number 10 him. Ulster have played these conditions
:47:31. > :47:35.far better than Scarlets. They have tried to go through the phases. They
:47:36. > :47:39.have turned the Scarlets and the Scarlets have tried to run it back.
:47:40. > :47:46.But they haven't been successful. In the last ten minutes they have got
:47:47. > :47:52.to grips with this game, Ulster. The Scarlets have to be patient and if
:47:53. > :48:00.it is not on, turn them, forced the error in the Ulster 22. They have
:48:01. > :48:01.got to be more clinical. Ulster equally happy with or without
:48:02. > :48:12.possession. Jackson getting McCluskey over that
:48:13. > :48:21.gain line. Nothing fancy. Up the guts, recycle
:48:22. > :48:27.and go. If it isn't going, put the boot to it. And use the forwards and
:48:28. > :48:38.then use McCluskey again. He gets the off-load to Ludik. Simple but
:48:39. > :48:47.very effective by Ulster. Paddy Jackson is just off-loading. A loose
:48:48. > :48:55.pass by Callum Black. Still possession for Ulster.
:48:56. > :49:02.In these conditions there is nothing wrong with the old-fashioned and
:49:03. > :49:08.under. But the full-back under pressure, hang it up in the air get
:49:09. > :49:16.the chases to it. If there is nothing on, silhouette against the
:49:17. > :49:26.Cleverley and settle for a scrum. -- check it against the referee.
:49:27. > :49:33.Let's go back to Phil Steele. Last Saturday the premiership before they
:49:34. > :49:38.split split tomorrow. The big games are Ebbw Vale against Crosskeys,
:49:39. > :49:46.Cardiff against Bedwas. If Ebbw Vale win they will join the other teams,
:49:47. > :49:50.Merthyr Tydfil, Panther that possibly than the others in the top
:49:51. > :49:54.league. You can play in every stage in the world from the Principality,
:49:55. > :50:06.Eden Park, everywhere, Cape Town that you haven't played Gardiffaith
:50:07. > :50:12.in January, a haven't played anywhere. Remember to go to
:50:13. > :50:34.Garndiffaith. That is where I made my first ever
:50:35. > :50:37.reporting, Open Garndiffaith. Nice little inside ball to Paddy Jackson.
:50:38. > :50:44.They are controlling possession so well, Ulster. Scarlets can't get
:50:45. > :51:11.their hands on the ball at the moment. Louis Ludik.
:51:12. > :51:16.Just changing the point of the tackle. Getting away from the
:51:17. > :51:19.Scarlets defenders. Keeping that possession well.
:51:20. > :51:35.Not making any mistakes. It is a lesson in wet weather rugby
:51:36. > :51:41.from Ulster. Pushing the Scarlets all the way back to that far corner.
:51:42. > :51:47.That was a lovely little kick but the chase was not there. Here they
:51:48. > :51:51.come again, the men in white led by Iain Henderson and Trimble.
:51:52. > :52:08.Ludik was on there. Extra man outside. A penalty. They will go for
:52:09. > :52:13.goal. A 7-point advantage. The crowd may not like it but it is copybook
:52:14. > :52:39.stuff from Ulster. Paddy Jackson averaging 70% with his
:52:40. > :52:44.kicks. He has controlled the game very well
:52:45. > :52:49.because he has had a lot of ball. He has put a lot of variety in it, the
:52:50. > :53:23.long kick, the shortcake. -- short kick.
:53:24. > :53:33.One conversion and one penalty to his name. Paddy Jackson prepares
:53:34. > :53:41.with the final kick of the first half. Again, well struck, very well
:53:42. > :53:47.struck indeed. Paddy Jackson add Ulster have had an excellent first
:53:48. > :53:52.hour. A couple of penalties for the Scarlets but Ulster in control of
:53:53. > :53:58.possession and the scoreboard. At half-time, 6-13. Phil Steele is with
:53:59. > :54:04.Ken Owens. These conditions are not going to be better, it is going to
:54:05. > :54:10.be cavemen stuff in the second half. The scrum is 50-50 at the moment but
:54:11. > :54:15.I were line speed is good. One mistake in the back of the line-out,
:54:16. > :54:21.we need to tidy it up. Thanks for your time. Have a good orange.
:54:22. > :54:29.It was the Scarlets who had the first chance to cross the whitewash.
:54:30. > :54:34.Dan Jones was beaten to the ball by Paddy Jackson, excellent cover from
:54:35. > :54:39.the Ulster fly-half. Jose knocked over a couple of penalties to put
:54:40. > :54:44.the Scarlets to a 6-0 lead but Paddy Jackson pegging them back. The only
:54:45. > :54:51.try of the half came via Jacob Stockdale. Hayward will not be happy
:54:52. > :54:55.with this. The winger waltzed through the Scarlets defence. On the
:54:56. > :55:01.stroke of half-time, a beautifully struck kick by Paddy Jackson to put
:55:02. > :55:04.Ulster in a lead. For much of that first have the Scarlets enjoyed the
:55:05. > :55:10.greater share of possession but Scarlets coming back into it was the
:55:11. > :55:15.end to have a 55% share. Elsewhere, there is that virtually the same.
:55:16. > :55:19.Very even on the stats. Ulster committee would have to say, playing
:55:20. > :55:25.these conditions better. They have been more streetwise today. They
:55:26. > :55:30.have pushed the limits with the death in the breakdown. Generally
:55:31. > :55:37.got the better of the Scarlets in the scrum. The nines and tens have
:55:38. > :55:44.kicked better than the Scarlets halfbacks. They are very difficult
:55:45. > :55:52.conditions. We talked about how Byron Hayward
:55:53. > :55:55.will be tearing his head and the ease Ulster went over for the try.
:55:56. > :56:03.Is that a defensive error? It is a line error with Liam Williams. They
:56:04. > :56:10.should not have had the line-out. They were in front of the kicker. He
:56:11. > :56:17.goes to shape their kick. They are too eager, the Ulster players. The
:56:18. > :56:23.touch judge should have seen that. Look at the tail of the line. James
:56:24. > :56:27.Davies has to watch their nine. Liam Williams now has a problem. He has
:56:28. > :56:39.to defend both the centre and the winger. His vision is crammed. It is
:56:40. > :56:44.a difficult place to defend but you have to jam in.
:56:45. > :56:50.A bit harsh on James Davies, he came in too early on Marshall. He should
:56:51. > :56:56.never help a little bit and let the play develop in front of him. He has
:56:57. > :57:00.made the decision for Marshall. He is so big and strong, McCluskey,
:57:01. > :57:05.have a chance and he is through. Conditions like this, you don't get
:57:06. > :57:11.many try scoring opportunities. Ulster were clinical. One
:57:12. > :57:19.opportunity and one try. There are not going to be any raft of tries
:57:20. > :57:22.tonight. Dan Jones did not take his opportunity. That could have been a
:57:23. > :57:32.brilliant start for the Scarlets. A big night for Dan Jones. Rhys
:57:33. > :57:36.Patchell was the only Scarlets player to start every game prior to
:57:37. > :57:43.his injury. He has got good skills, Dan Jones. His goal-kicking was
:57:44. > :57:49.excellent. Two difficult kicks in the conditions and got the Scarlets
:57:50. > :57:53.6-0 ahead. This is a good kick with distance. Not easy conditions
:57:54. > :57:58.underfoot. Those things help in those conditions. I taught at the
:57:59. > :58:05.start about the wing is coming off the ten. This was his charge down.
:58:06. > :58:07.He lost his running strike. He got ahead of himself but Jackson showed
:58:08. > :58:13.pace. Dan Jones is a good prospect. As we
:58:14. > :58:22.heard, Rhys Patchell had his operation today. He needs surgery.
:58:23. > :58:26.It is 12 weeks out. A big blow for Rhys Patchell on the Scarlets. It
:58:27. > :58:30.took him a few weeks to get into his stride but he has been brilliant
:58:31. > :58:36.over the last seven weeks. It is a big blow. Dan Jones is a huge talent
:58:37. > :58:43.and just needs a run. A big game today. He will just get better. The
:58:44. > :58:48.breakdown, the boys in commentary talked a lot about this. Ulster are
:58:49. > :58:52.not committing any more than they need do and frustrating the
:58:53. > :59:03.Scarlets. Second game in a row. I am
:59:04. > :59:08.scratching my head. They just leave their hand on the board is the
:59:09. > :59:13.second too fast. Don't roll away quick enough, put the hand on the
:59:14. > :59:20.ball. They're leaving their hands there are second or two longer. They
:59:21. > :59:24.have been very cute. Like Jonathan mentioned, Ken Owens, Gareth Davies
:59:25. > :59:28.have got to be into the referee. I knew he is Italian and maybe that is
:59:29. > :59:33.a communication issue. You've got to make him aware. If that is the other
:59:34. > :59:40.way, the crowd would have gone crazy. Peano would've been into the
:59:41. > :59:47.referee. The Scarlets boys need to do the same. You have got to gauge
:59:48. > :59:54.what the recipe is doing. Is Marius Mitrea leaving Ulster to get away
:59:55. > :59:59.with murder? No. They is pushing the baddies as far as they can to win
:00:00. > :00:02.the game. Scarlets have to be more proactive and work out a way to get
:00:03. > :00:06.over the line. They know how difficult it is to
:00:07. > :00:10.attack so they just need that white line in position. You buy yourself
:00:11. > :00:13.an extra second or two by slowing it down at the breakdown and Vanessa
:00:14. > :00:20.Deeney is to be stronger. These claims have been MS as well. We know
:00:21. > :00:23.the Scarlets have a much bulkier front five. Perhaps thought they
:00:24. > :00:37.could dominate. For me, the Ulster pack have been
:00:38. > :00:40.impressive. The line-out has been really well, the driving line-out
:00:41. > :00:46.has some momentum. It is difficult to see who is on top with scrums,
:00:47. > :00:50.the referee seems to think it is Ulster. They have been a superb at
:00:51. > :00:56.set pieces and around the contact area in the first hour. Another game
:00:57. > :01:00.going on at Rodney Parade, the Dragons hosting Treviso, desperate
:01:01. > :01:04.for a win after their New Year's Day defeat to the Ospreys. And the
:01:05. > :01:10.earlier defeat to the Blues. Treviso struck first, lovely footwork to
:01:11. > :01:18.beat the defence but not long after that, his opposite number went
:01:19. > :01:22.through the gap and went under the posts. Added a penalty for good
:01:23. > :01:26.measure from Angus O'Brien and the second half is just begun at Rodney
:01:27. > :01:32.Parade. Angus O'Brien has added a drop goal, so it is 16-8 at the
:01:33. > :01:37.moment at Rodney Parade. The second half is under way there. We have the
:01:38. > :01:42.second-half here to come. We could see Ospreys going top if they beat
:01:43. > :01:49.Connacht tomorrow and the Blues have a difficult away trip to Glasgow. If
:01:50. > :01:54.Danny Wilson's men want to keep the top six in their sights, a win is
:01:55. > :02:00.vital, it won't be easy against one of Europe's form sides.
:02:01. > :02:10.On Sunday, the capital city counterparts the Bluebirds, Cardiff
:02:11. > :02:14.City take on Fulham in the FA Cup. And scrum V Sunday is on at the
:02:15. > :02:20.earlier time of five 30p. We will review the weekend action and hear
:02:21. > :02:26.how one man turned tragedy into Triumph at the Rio Paralympics. When
:02:27. > :02:31.it actually happened, it was an amazing feeling. A bit of a change
:02:32. > :02:40.from years ago from playing rugby able-bodied and then being in that
:02:41. > :02:47.final and playing in a wheelchair. A cracking interview, June in on
:02:48. > :02:51.Sunday at 5:30pm. As we mentioned, a big game for the Cardiff Blues
:02:52. > :02:55.coming up tomorrow evening in Glasgow. This is the team Danny
:02:56. > :03:04.Wilson has picked, two changes from the side that lost to Scarlets.
:03:05. > :03:11.Blaine Scully returning on the wing. We talked about this being a crucial
:03:12. > :03:14.game, that is a really critical game for the Blues, in seventh at the
:03:15. > :03:19.moment, Sam Warburton has Origi said if they don't win in Glasgow they
:03:20. > :03:23.can kiss goodbye to their top six hopes. You can see the table is
:03:24. > :03:29.already splitting into two. If the Blues lose that game, they are in a
:03:30. > :03:33.desperate situation, top six in the Champions Cup next year which will
:03:34. > :03:36.be a huge disappointment. Seeing how they started the season and the
:03:37. > :03:41.names they had in the squad, I thought they would mail the top six.
:03:42. > :03:46.A huge game against Glasgow and they are a brilliant team, they have so
:03:47. > :03:52.much strength in depth. They need some extra resolve. It will probably
:03:53. > :03:57.need to be the performance of the season to get a win at Glasgow. You
:03:58. > :04:02.know Danny Wilson well, he is a perfectionist, how big and ask is it
:04:03. > :04:07.to go up to Glasgow, who have just beaten Racing Metro back-to-back in
:04:08. > :04:10.Europe. Root they have one eye on Europe and Glasgow are quite shaky
:04:11. > :04:15.at the moment, if there's a time to beat them, it is now. The Blues are
:04:16. > :04:20.paying for recent home form. They have some big-game players but they
:04:21. > :04:24.need them, it is a big game for Glasgow as well. Particularly if
:04:25. > :04:28.Ulster get over the line tonight. That top six is looking into reading
:04:29. > :04:34.at the moment. Back to tonight's game will stop the about to return
:04:35. > :04:38.to return to the playing field. Alan Davies will be replacing Gareth
:04:39. > :04:43.Davies at the start of this half, 13-6, Scarlets still in it.
:04:44. > :04:47.Opportunities to score are few and far between, what do they need to
:04:48. > :04:58.change to get the lead back? You'll macro when they attack. They have to
:04:59. > :05:01.score first, if you go two scores behind in these conditions, it is
:05:02. > :05:06.more or less came over, they need a big start to the second-half.
:05:07. > :05:11.Scarlets don't need the victory as desperate as Ulster do but it would
:05:12. > :05:16.be a massive bonus if they did. Home form is in the Pro12. Boyd coming
:05:17. > :05:21.onto the field will be a big asset but they need Jonathan Davies to
:05:22. > :05:25.come in. Alan Davies will bring a spark but can we see more from
:05:26. > :05:31.McNicoll and Liam Williams? That will be crucial even in these
:05:32. > :05:35.treacherous conditions. The rain continues to fall here, it hasn't
:05:36. > :05:40.stopped since about 3pm this afternoon. Conditions not getting
:05:41. > :05:48.any better, can be Scarlets improve their performance in the second
:05:49. > :05:55.half? COMMENTATOR: Thank you. Changes for the Scarlets but not for
:05:56. > :05:59.ulcer. Aled Davies has replaced Gareth Davies and Will Boyde is on,
:06:00. > :06:06.whether it is temporary or for keeps, we will find out. Not try to
:06:07. > :06:15.force the game, play the conditions, make the referee referee the right
:06:16. > :06:18.areas. Get your foot on it, take it to the fringes if you have do but
:06:19. > :06:22.tell the referee he has to referee Ed. If there is nothing happening
:06:23. > :06:26.and they are not getting success on the gain line, just turn them and
:06:27. > :06:37.put them under pressure in their own 22. A converted try is the
:06:38. > :06:44.difference between the two teams. The try scored by Jacob Stockdale.
:06:45. > :06:49.Converted by Paddy Jackson. Aled Davies gets down on the ball, his
:06:50. > :06:59.100th appearance for the Scarlets this evening. He was held up there.
:07:00. > :07:07.A difficult job getting off the ground from a tackle. Henderson.
:07:08. > :07:14.A handling error, scholars have made eight handling errors to Ulster's
:07:15. > :07:20.three. Conditions like that, it is a crucial stat. Why they haven't
:07:21. > :07:24.peppered the full-back, he has played a lot on the wing, I don't
:07:25. > :07:33.care who you are, it will be difficult to take. Swirling wind,
:07:34. > :07:37.rain, a slippery ball. Steph Evans is a converted full-back and Liam
:07:38. > :07:46.Williams is also a full-back initially. But it is Johnny McNicoll
:07:47. > :07:50.wearing 15 this evening. Scarlets are not going to score from long
:07:51. > :08:20.distance I think so they need to play the territorial game.
:08:21. > :08:25.Rory Best may be looking for another penalty. First time up again,
:08:26. > :08:35.McCloskey. Six feet two, 16 and a half stone of
:08:36. > :09:04.him. West set it up on the ten metre
:09:05. > :09:10.line. A little tester but he claims it this time. Not the best kick from
:09:11. > :09:15.Paddy Jackson but not going anywhere. Just put the pressure on
:09:16. > :09:20.the Scarlets. They can take the ball, kick to touch now and they
:09:21. > :09:29.will get the line-out. He had a long way to go. Very good season for
:09:30. > :09:36.Steph Evans, five tries in the league. He must be on the way for
:09:37. > :09:43.the Six Nations. He is playing exceptionally well. He is creating
:09:44. > :10:13.stuff and scoring tries, he is an effective runner.
:10:14. > :10:22.Trimble and Steph Evans go up together. Chris Henry gets it back,
:10:23. > :10:27.this is dangerous. You let macro I thought there was a knock-on their
:10:28. > :10:38.butt play on. Trimble. Spilled by Rory Best. His headgear has been on
:10:39. > :10:43.and off all evening. Jake Ball as the Scarlets look to get out to
:10:44. > :10:58.their own 22. Good work by the Ulster players. They eventually do
:10:59. > :11:05.go back for the knock-on. I think this is what they are complaining
:11:06. > :11:11.about, he gets up, Steph Evans. Does look like a knock-on really. He lost
:11:12. > :11:14.the ball. Ulster, when they have the ball, they seem a bit more
:11:15. > :11:20.controlled and their line-out is going. They have got the driving
:11:21. > :11:21.line-out going well and they are kicking well. When the Scarlets have
:11:22. > :11:50.the ball, not so much. Aled Davies to John Davies. Left
:11:51. > :12:08.foot again with plenty of distance on it. Ludik returns.
:12:09. > :12:31.Job was done in the end by Clive Ross. Plenty of time for Dan Jones.
:12:32. > :12:40.I then think the Scarlets timing much for touch, are they, just
:12:41. > :12:41.distance. The kicking game is a lot better from the Ulster players
:12:42. > :12:57.unfortunately. Right on cue. Unexpected but the Scarlets will
:12:58. > :13:07.take it. Some news about the injury on Gareth Davies. Gareth Davies has
:13:08. > :13:10.taken a blow on the shin as was thought and the medical staff say he
:13:11. > :13:15.shouldn't be out for too long, which is good news with Europe coming up,
:13:16. > :13:23.the temping Scott and for Wales. Shouldn't be too bad. McBride and
:13:24. > :13:26.Rob Howley keeping a close eye on this one for their selection for
:13:27. > :13:35.Wales, as they will fall of the games between now and the Six
:13:36. > :13:37.Nations announcement. I don't think you'll earn too much about players
:13:38. > :13:58.from this one to be honest with you. Too strong from John Davies. They
:13:59. > :14:01.need to put on some pressure. It is comfortable at the moment, they need
:14:02. > :14:04.a change of tactics. Apply a better kicking game. Do not try and run the
:14:05. > :14:49.ball too much actually. McCloskey straight up the middle
:14:50. > :14:50.again. Ten carries from McCloskey. Not great yardage but keeping them
:14:51. > :15:11.going forward. Held. That is good play. Holding on.
:15:12. > :15:15.This is the first opportunity in the second half, a quick kick and then
:15:16. > :15:59.good field position to start in attack from.
:16:00. > :16:05.Dragons extending their lead, a couple of penalties in the second
:16:06. > :16:15.half of them. First you've got to get field position but then they
:16:16. > :16:28.lose the line-out. Ludik first to react. Will Davies find a way? Aled
:16:29. > :16:36.Davies. Dan Jones. Steph Evans had to take it from a standing start.
:16:37. > :16:53.Goes backwards, so untidy. Scarlets not playing the simple game
:16:54. > :17:01.like Ulster have been doing. Liam Williams giving chase. Not enough
:17:02. > :17:05.room on the far side. I would like to see that again, I think Aled
:17:06. > :17:10.Davies had a split-second to get out wide on the turnover. He chose to go
:17:11. > :17:29.himself but they have numbers on the left. It is a great tackle. Lovely
:17:30. > :17:51.pass. Too narrow an angle. Parks was calling for it. It is a wide angle.
:17:52. > :17:54.Change in the Ulster front row, Andy Warwick comes on to replace Callum
:17:55. > :18:15.Black. James Davies going forward for the
:18:16. > :18:25.Scarlets. This looks more promising, a bit more pace from the Scarlets.
:18:26. > :18:32.It has come up a bit too quickly from the Ulster defenders.
:18:33. > :18:41.James Davies striving to keep the ball alive. They will go back to the
:18:42. > :18:47.offside call. They have been right on the edge all might Ulster. The
:18:48. > :18:50.offside line and on that time creeping little too early, one step.
:18:51. > :19:03.Great decision. There are opportunities, watch here
:19:04. > :19:07.nor, as you watch it, stop it there. Just keep an eye on this guy, he's
:19:08. > :19:13.going to come up to the line first of all. The runner is on. Look at
:19:14. > :19:18.that, stop it there, look at the overlap. Such an overlap, four
:19:19. > :19:23.players there. There are opportunities, he sucks him in and
:19:24. > :19:27.gives the pass and it would have been three on one. The condition is
:19:28. > :19:35.there to attack, you have to scan and play what is in front of you.
:19:36. > :19:40.Too often they have gone for the cut out pass and that was a perfect
:19:41. > :19:47.example of short, sharp passing. They first opportunity for points in
:19:48. > :20:01.the second half. Taken by Dan Jones. The deficit is back to four.
:20:02. > :20:20.His first appearance of the season. And interesting substitution.
:20:21. > :20:26.Marshall has done well tonight. Another poor kick from Scarlets.
:20:27. > :20:32.They rushed it again. Take it in. Recycled the ball but that is a
:20:33. > :20:38.rushed kick again. You've just got to take that, recycle it and give it
:20:39. > :20:59.to the stand-off and welly it down the field.
:21:00. > :21:18.Shanahan to McCloskey. It was good work by James Davies, McCloskey had
:21:19. > :21:23.a lot of time to get that back. Great off-load from Marshall to
:21:24. > :21:33.Ludik. Danger signs for the Scarlets. Up comes John Barclay.
:21:34. > :21:38.Great steel. The Davies Brothers between them couldn't get it away.
:21:39. > :21:55.Great steel by John Barclay under extreme pressure.
:21:56. > :22:03.That is a great tackle, stripped the ball. After a couple of off-loads,
:22:04. > :22:12.just put the Scarlets defence under pressure. James Davies gets
:22:13. > :22:16.attention. I have two Scarlets legends, George, give us a wave in
:22:17. > :22:21.your Swansea City top. A big Scarlets van. The second man to
:22:22. > :22:28.achieve 100 appearances for the Scarlets and 34 caps for Wales. You
:22:29. > :22:35.would have enjoyed this tonight? Yes, I would have, probably with
:22:36. > :22:39.this weather. It is a bit of an arm wrestle with the backs and forwards.
:22:40. > :22:45.No side is dominating the game at the moment. You just feel the
:22:46. > :22:50.players are not doing their own thing at the moment. You need a bit
:22:51. > :22:56.of kick and go or somebody needs to assert authority in the game. What
:22:57. > :23:01.would you be saying right now? I would go pick and go. Go through the
:23:02. > :23:07.middle bit, take the on and create a bit of space for some big backs to
:23:08. > :23:10.get over the gain line. It is all about the gain line momentum. The
:23:11. > :23:17.scholars have a penalty but it is in their 22 at the moment. Your
:23:18. > :23:25.coaching now, with him? And under ten team, my young nephew place for
:23:26. > :23:35.them. It's not all forward oriented but it is a good way to learn the
:23:36. > :23:55.game. We are down in Larne on Sunday and then Sinclair. Nice to see you.
:23:56. > :24:14.Got a hand on that one but Ludik was well up in support. Jacob Stockdale.
:24:15. > :24:30.He's got to pick his spot behind the Ulster defence. That's the
:24:31. > :25:24.counterattack from Paddy Jackson. Hasn't found touch. A mistake. Will
:25:25. > :25:40.they have a go? The supporters felt the pass was forward from the
:25:41. > :25:42.full-back. Henderson charged down. Liam Williams with a few wild ones
:25:43. > :26:10.tonight. The effect of charging that one down
:26:11. > :26:22.for Ian Henderson. As they prepared to make more changes. I think he
:26:23. > :26:26.caught his ribs. As soon as he charged it down, you can see him
:26:27. > :26:39.holding his side. Very unfortunate if he has cracked or broken rib with
:26:40. > :26:46.the ball. The game at Rodney Parade is reaching its conclusion. And the
:26:47. > :26:52.Dragons are pretty much home and dry, skipper Lewis Evans has gone
:26:53. > :27:02.over, a third try for them. Can they squeeze another one into get a bonus
:27:03. > :27:05.point in the remaining two minutes? Johnny Simpson, made his debut
:27:06. > :27:23.against Leinster on New Year's Eve at the tight head for Ross Kane.
:27:24. > :27:40.That will knock the wind out of you. Claimed by James Davies. American
:27:41. > :28:00.football style over the top. Landed outside the 22, forcing Ludik
:28:01. > :28:18.to play it. Well taken by McNicol. Henderson not
:28:19. > :28:46.releasing from the tackle. Kick it. Is this in range for Dan Jones? The
:28:47. > :28:56.corner is the decision. Bill-macro I don't understand that. He was
:28:57. > :29:02.obviously not confident. They really struggled, the Scarlets. They have
:29:03. > :29:11.failed to get their driving line-out going. A big line-out for Ken Owens.
:29:12. > :29:15.Crucial line-out in attacking positions have let Scarlets down as
:29:16. > :29:25.the game goes into its final quarter, they need to be correct.
:29:26. > :29:30.They are initially. Looking for the drive on, I wince seeing how close
:29:31. > :29:38.the try line is, in go the backs as well to join in. A dozen Scarlets
:29:39. > :29:43.players in there. Aled Davies gets it loose, comes to the blindside and
:29:44. > :29:47.Aled Davies hasn't got the ball to ground, Sean Reidy with the
:29:48. > :29:52.all-important tackle saves the day for Ulster. That's a brilliant
:29:53. > :29:57.tackle. Nearly a great decision to go for the touch and nearly scored a
:29:58. > :30:05.try but I thought he was in here. He goes for glory. That's got to be
:30:06. > :30:13.looked at. Is that a high tackle, is it a penalty try, yellow card?
:30:14. > :30:23.It is the two Italians to make the call. You have got to see that from
:30:24. > :30:29.behind. Let's have a look. How high was that? Did it prevent the tried?
:30:30. > :30:36.That is the question being asked. Aled Davies has gone in at a low
:30:37. > :30:45.angle. It is the left arm of Trimble. That is the one more than
:30:46. > :30:53.Reidy. You can't see it. It is the other angle. It is very difficult.
:30:54. > :31:00.How was Reidy not going to stop this? Just watch number eight first.
:31:01. > :31:11.That is a good tackle. He is going global. I tell you what,...
:31:12. > :31:17.And of the rules, that has got to be a penalty.
:31:18. > :31:28.He has penalised Reidy. They have called Sean Reidy's high and that
:31:29. > :31:36.has prevented a possible try. That is going to be a yellow card. This
:31:37. > :31:44.is not the last you are going to see this. The new directive about high
:31:45. > :31:56.tackles, I thought it was Trimble's that is high. But the thought Sean
:31:57. > :32:01.Reidy's try -- arm was high. It is a yellow card and that is a big break
:32:02. > :32:07.for Scarlets. After getting on the wrong side of the crowd all evening,
:32:08. > :32:13.at last Marius Mitrea has done something right. That is a tough
:32:14. > :32:18.call. The issue with the new rule is that if Reidy goes lower than that
:32:19. > :32:27.it is impossible to stop him scoring a try. That was so is harsh. But it
:32:28. > :32:36.is the new rules. Tell me, what is the number eight supposed to do? He
:32:37. > :32:42.can't: oh. He has got his shoulder. Common sense again. If he thinks it
:32:43. > :32:47.is high I would say it is accidental, it is a penalty. You
:32:48. > :32:50.can't give a yellow card, you can't give a penalty try because that is
:32:51. > :32:57.nothing else that number aids could have them. You are going to stop
:32:58. > :33:00.tackling near the try line. I know safety is paramount to be too good
:33:01. > :33:12.to have a little bit of common sense. That you have got to have.
:33:13. > :33:18.That is such a harsh call but Scarlets will take it though.
:33:19. > :33:25.The player was going low as well. He was diving for the try line.
:33:26. > :33:31.I think he is going after Jake Ball for a high tackle now. We're going
:33:32. > :33:44.to be here all day! Can here look at it in real-time.
:33:45. > :33:53.They slow things down and it always looks a lot worse. They are going to
:33:54. > :33:55.have to bring shorts with pockets back because that is where players
:33:56. > :34:06.will have to keep their hands from now on. I love the supporters behind
:34:07. > :34:13.me. Two minutes ago it was, send him off! Now, there is nothing wrong
:34:14. > :34:24.with its! It is dependent on which side you are supporting. Was that
:34:25. > :34:42.any worse than Reidy's? That is never a yellow card.
:34:43. > :34:50.In fairness the 60 minute it hasn't been an issue. Where are we going?
:34:51. > :35:11.Where'er we going? I don't see how they can be yellow
:35:12. > :35:20.cards, I don't. It is going to spoil the game now.
:35:21. > :35:32.Absolutely. None of them were yellow cards. Crazy times.
:35:33. > :35:46.It has brought the crowd to life anyway.
:35:47. > :35:58.What adjustments to the Scarlets do now? Lewis Rawlins, who would have
:35:59. > :36:01.been natural for the second row, he is off anyway. Hadleigh Parkes will
:36:02. > :36:45.go on the flank. Dan Jones looking to get the
:36:46. > :36:51.Scarlets back downfield. Back in. It was merely an outstanding kick. Just
:36:52. > :36:59.went over the touchline, unlucky for Dan Jones.
:37:00. > :37:08.With all that is going on I can't believe the Scarlets in front.
:37:09. > :37:21.19-8 the corresponding fixture at the Kingston Stadium finished. --
:37:22. > :37:26.king span. Scarlets looking to stay in the top four. Ulster as fixed at
:37:27. > :37:31.the moment and looking to stay in that place and getting into the
:37:32. > :37:43.play-off position. Rory Best comes away with it. Shanahan.
:37:44. > :37:50.McCluskey offering himself again. The Scarlets are aware of the danger
:37:51. > :37:55.he poses. Marshall is next in line as they get nearer the Scarlets try
:37:56. > :38:04.line. Working it wide initially through Henderson. Good gains on
:38:05. > :38:09.every occasion by them. Again, they are getting nearer that try line.
:38:10. > :38:21.Disciplined stuff by Ulster. They have rolled up their sleeves up.
:38:22. > :38:27.McCluskey just two metres short. Brown is ready. He gets it.
:38:28. > :38:32.Henderson and up comes the Scarlets defence led by Tom Price. But they
:38:33. > :38:42.have got the ball away from the defenders. They are inching forward.
:38:43. > :38:51.Players like Rory Best and Henderson. They are holding onto
:38:52. > :38:54.possession so well. Trimble is holding his but that is a massive
:38:55. > :39:03.gap between him and Marshall in Centre. That is turned over
:39:04. > :39:09.possession. Have the Scarlets got the courage of their convictions as
:39:10. > :39:19.Mac only as far as Jonathan Davies's effort. Trimble dropped back
:39:20. > :39:21.immediately once the ball was lost. Shanahan to Rory Best, involved as
:39:22. > :39:40.heavily as usual. Ian Henderson has put a shift in as
:39:41. > :39:46.well. They are dragged away from it. Stockdale, seems a long time since
:39:47. > :39:52.he got over for the early try. Such hard work to make any yardage. From
:39:53. > :39:57.both sides. Just a question of keeping possession and not making a
:39:58. > :40:05.mistake. Jackson goes for the gap but the pass wasn't accurate enough.
:40:06. > :40:11.Rob Evans to Dan Jones. That turns again and back goes Ludik. Ulster
:40:12. > :40:20.are backing their half for the first time in a minutes. That is up poor
:40:21. > :40:25.kick. He got away with it. They will settle for that and a breather.
:40:26. > :40:33.Ken Owens did a match saving tackle. He caught Paddy Jackson by the
:40:34. > :40:43.shirt. That'll be his last contribution as a Ryan Elias and Wyn
:40:44. > :40:49.Jones come on. This is the break. He just steps inside, a lovely break.
:40:50. > :40:55.Great tackle. A forward pass there. That is a desperate tackle by Ken
:40:56. > :41:02.Owens. That is what you have to do. You have to look up, see who is in
:41:03. > :41:09.front of you and take it on. He has given everything has Ken Owens. A
:41:10. > :41:16.dozen minutes to go. A charge down into the hands of Marshall.
:41:17. > :41:26.Luke Marshall saves the day. The second line of defence for Ulster
:41:27. > :41:36.and they needed him. Simpson with Icardi. -- the caddie.
:41:37. > :41:45.Taken safely bet lost by Liam Williams.
:41:46. > :41:49.What is interesting and charged us, what this. As Paddy Jackson goes if
:41:50. > :41:54.you know he is going to kick you have always got a chance because the
:41:55. > :42:01.right leg is always near the guy who is charging down. If I knew he was
:42:02. > :42:06.going to kick it that way but the gas on and get to him. If he is
:42:07. > :42:07.kicking the overweight he has the left shoulder and the left hip to
:42:08. > :42:20.get away from the kick. It is a common start. George North
:42:21. > :42:31.does it a lot. If you kick across your body... You could see the
:42:32. > :42:38.pressure they put on. Jonathan Davies is a left footer.
:42:39. > :42:48.The Dragons have beaten Treviso. The ball shot out the side of the
:42:49. > :43:30.scrum. Ulster started their season with
:43:31. > :43:34.five wins on the bounce but they lost the next three. Scarlets did it
:43:35. > :43:39.the other way around. They lost their first three but then had a
:43:40. > :43:50.winning run of seven. McCluskey back to Jackson.
:43:51. > :44:11.Goes for the space that is covered by Aled Davies. He's got plenty of
:44:12. > :44:15.green grass on the far side. The ball spins and Dan Jones sees what
:44:16. > :44:26.is up. The game is opening up in the final
:44:27. > :44:37.ten minutes despite the constant heavy drizzle. The referee is still
:44:38. > :44:46.loath to give penalties in the tackle area.
:44:47. > :44:53.Elias carries well. Timing the run well. James Davies
:44:54. > :45:10.steps off that right foot. Keep it simple, keep it in hand.
:45:11. > :45:14.Elias again. The crowd urging the Scarlets on. Liam Williams writes
:45:15. > :45:43.the charge of Trimble. Eventually they have lost it. Good
:45:44. > :45:49.play. All that builder and they come away
:45:50. > :45:50.with nothing. It is better for the Scarlets, more dynamism and got over
:45:51. > :46:03.the gain line. Anniversaries in the game was
:46:04. > :46:10.breaking up, they were both down to 14 men. Back-up to 15. -- another
:46:11. > :46:16.reason. The familiar features of Tommy Bowe, the leading try scorer
:46:17. > :46:21.in the league's yesterday. Steff Hughes has come on for Liam
:46:22. > :46:27.Williams. Steff Hughes, straight on that far wing.
:46:28. > :46:50.Liam Williams is not happy being pulled. -- off.
:46:51. > :47:10.Time is against Ulster. They are back in their own 22.
:47:11. > :47:21.Simpson flat on the floor. Jackson gets the ball away and the Scarlets
:47:22. > :47:33.will see that out of play. It will take up a bit more time for them.
:47:34. > :47:43.The Scarlets need to kill the game now.
:47:44. > :48:12.Steff Evans following Davis's kick. It is James Davies. Trimble, very
:48:13. > :48:16.brave and that the high ball. They will have to use possession wisely
:48:17. > :48:26.now, Ulster, with only five minutes remaining. Shanahan seeing if he can
:48:27. > :48:35.get in the stake from Scarlets. They have held them up again. The
:48:36. > :48:44.right corner now. Over Marshall's had full stop Elias has carried
:48:45. > :48:51.strongly in the five minutes he has been on the field.
:48:52. > :49:02.Still on a knife edge. They have been two draws between the two teams
:49:03. > :49:08.in Llanelli. McNichol was nowhere near that one. Picked up and taken
:49:09. > :49:23.over the touchline by Steff Evans. The Scarlets have up their game in
:49:24. > :49:29.the second half, in the final quarter in particular. Different
:49:30. > :49:33.change of tactics. They have won the aerial battle. They have changed
:49:34. > :49:37.their game in the second half. The main talking points was that yellow
:49:38. > :49:42.card, the decision was brave to go for the touchline and they got the
:49:43. > :49:47.penalty try. That seemed to spark them to live. They have got to try
:49:48. > :49:55.and hang on in because Ulster are going to throw everything at them.
:49:56. > :49:56.Scarlets trying to keep Ulster's ball-carriers on their feet but they
:49:57. > :50:08.have gone to ground. It has been a busy evening of
:50:09. > :50:19.dealing with high balls from the back three.
:50:20. > :50:26.The scrum halves have put in so many kicks this evening, totally
:50:27. > :50:31.understandable under the conditions. They don't want to do that,
:50:32. > :50:40.Scarlets. They need to keep it tight and they have given possession away.
:50:41. > :50:44.Marshall tries to pin them back. The Scarlets now will be living on their
:50:45. > :50:50.nerves. I can't believe he has looked
:50:51. > :50:52.uncertain under the high ball. You would have peppered the full-back
:50:53. > :50:59.under the conditions. That loose pass cost the Scarlets.
:51:00. > :51:10.They have got to do the line-out and clear it.
:51:11. > :51:18.The loss against the Ospreys, the only one in nine for the Scarlets.
:51:19. > :51:29.Just one win, two wins, Sally, for Ulster. Aled Davies. He puts it
:51:30. > :51:34.safely out of play. That was a good kick.
:51:35. > :51:36.He has made a difference since coming on, Aled Davies. You could
:51:37. > :51:53.see Gareth Davies was injured. Ulster on 32 points, Scarlets on 36
:51:54. > :52:03.before this evening. But Ulster have played one game less. Price wins the
:52:04. > :52:05.Ulster feral but they have lost it again.
:52:06. > :52:23.It is like a bad of soap. Hang on. Who knocked on their? Now
:52:24. > :52:30.then, a scrum for Ulster. I would like to see the incident actually. I
:52:31. > :52:36.thought is less back from the line-out.
:52:37. > :52:45.I thought so too. There is the tap back. Let's have a look. It is
:52:46. > :52:49.difficult to see from that angle because the assistant referee has
:52:50. > :52:56.got to see from the other side. He has judged it to knock it on. This
:52:57. > :53:05.is it, do or die to see if the Scarlets can hang on. Can they have
:53:06. > :53:10.win number nine? A penalty would draw Ulster level and a tribe would
:53:11. > :53:22.sneak it for them. They have not had any point in the second half,
:53:23. > :53:30.Ulster. They have dropped the ball. The Scarlets looked to have done
:53:31. > :53:37.just enough as Ludik keeps it alive. Trimble, the captain, trying to
:53:38. > :53:42.conjure something. Reidy is back on the field after ten minutes. He
:53:43. > :53:58.should not have been in the sin bin, but neither should Jake Ball.
:53:59. > :54:07.Masoe looks for the quick pass but it is over the far side. --
:54:08. > :54:12.Marshall. The Scarlets have hung on. It might have been a controversial
:54:13. > :54:17.decision but the home crowd are delighted. A hard fought effectively
:54:18. > :54:27.for the Scarlets. Victor Li number nine in a close game. They did just
:54:28. > :54:33.enough to sneak home by 16-13. I thought Ulster word in control of
:54:34. > :54:40.the game and that's one decision cost Ulster the game, I felt. I felt
:54:41. > :54:44.it was a brave call. I am not sure it was the right call by the
:54:45. > :54:49.referee. But they've got the result and it is a hard fought game. The
:54:50. > :54:53.Scarlets will take that result. It keeps them open air but Ulster will
:54:54. > :54:58.be disappointed because they dominated most of the game, their
:54:59. > :55:02.kicking game was better. The addition of Aled Davies and their
:55:03. > :55:07.kicking game was better in the second half.
:55:08. > :55:13.They will be delighted. All of Ulster's points came in the first
:55:14. > :55:17.half. The new laws regarding high tackles worked for the Scarlets in
:55:18. > :55:25.the end and went Aled Davies try to speak over, Sean Reidy was not just
:55:26. > :55:30.penalised and yellow carded. The penalty try was the difference in
:55:31. > :55:34.the end. Dan Jones converted that add three penalties from him and
:55:35. > :55:40.that was just enough for the Scarlets because they kept a clean
:55:41. > :55:45.sheet in the second half and wait as Ulster were in control of the first
:55:46. > :55:47.half, Scarlets had enough control to see it home in the end and that by a
:55:48. > :55:58.margin of 16-13. What a pity victor that was for the
:55:59. > :56:03.Scarlets. Just the two tries, one in each half. Stop them going over for
:56:04. > :56:10.all stay in the first-half and this by Aled Davies. He was not awarded
:56:11. > :56:14.the try. Sean Reidy was yellow carded for the high tackle. A
:56:15. > :56:19.controversial decision and we saw another yellow card within moments,
:56:20. > :56:24.Jake Ball seeing yellow as well. Did not matter, Scarlets clung on for
:56:25. > :56:34.the victory. Man of the match is with Phil Steele. You are the man of
:56:35. > :56:42.the match. Well done. How hard was that.
:56:43. > :56:48.It was nonstop. It was very pretty. It was like schoolboy rugby. And
:56:49. > :56:54.chase the ball. It was hard to hold onto. We did awesome to come back.
:56:55. > :56:59.If you get behind it is hard to claw your way back. I have to ask you
:57:00. > :57:07.about the two yellow cards, do you have some sympathy with the boys who
:57:08. > :57:16.got the yellow? Yes. It isn't for me to say, it is one we knew they had
:57:17. > :57:21.changed the rule. They were pretty harsh. Still in the top four, well
:57:22. > :57:24.done. The results we saw the Dragons won.
:57:25. > :57:44.Babies Dragons. We haven't got a great deal of time
:57:45. > :57:49.left. I guess the talking points were that yellow card. How fortunate
:57:50. > :57:53.with the Scarlets to get the Windows Mac they got the field position and
:57:54. > :58:03.the try. Unfortunately, it isn't what we want is even stop both
:58:04. > :58:13.yellow cards were harsh. We will talk about "A much more detail but a
:58:14. > :58:20.win is a win. -- the yellow cards. They will be happy with that. A
:58:21. > :58:24.great victory for the Scarlets, a revenge for the defeat in September.
:58:25. > :58:30.They are still forth and be in contention for those end of season
:58:31. > :58:35.play-offs. We will see you on Sunday at 5:30pm for Scrum V.