 Nigel Davies says there is still a lot for the Scarlets to play for in Europe |
Scarlets coach Nigel Davies admitted his players were second best to Leinster in their 32-7 Heineken Cup defeat at Parc y Scarlets. Cup holders Leinster claimed a bonus point win with four tries. "We were very sloppy, we were inaccurate and we came under pressure we hadn't experienced before," he said. "We were found wanting. It took a lot of our boys until the second half to find their feet by which time it was all over." Davies says the Scarlets are in the first year of a rebuilding phase that mirrors what Leinster went through four years ago. The visitors scored three tries in the 30 minutes - Shane Horgan, Ica Nacewa and Shaun Berne going over - before Sean O'Brien completed the rout eight minutes from the end.  | 606: DEBATE |
Davies added: "We coughed up too many chances. They are obviously a quality team and the intensity they were able to bring we couldn't live with in that 20-minute spell. "Leinster are a side that have gone through a rebuilding over the last four years and we are at year one. "I'd expect a lot more from us, but I'm proud how the younger players came back in that second half. "We are down but there is still a lot to play for. It's tough. I think we have to be honest with ourselves - we came off second best today. "We have asked the players to go away and be honest with themselves and we will do the same as coaches. "And we have got a challenge next week and we have to face up to it." Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones hopes his team can turn the tables when the two sides meet again next weekend. He said: "We have still got a lot to play for after winning our first two games. | I was pleased with the first half and the result, but we gave them too much of a look-in in the second half Leinster boss Michael Cheika |
"We came second tonight, but we will learn from this and get better. It will be a challenge for us to go out to Dublin next week and we will have to be mentally tough. "It is a short turn around and will test our character but we will go out there with some lessons learned "They kept the ball well and were very clinical." But Leinster boss Michael Cheika was relieved his players did not pay the price for a lethargic second-half performance. He said: "I was pleased with the first half and the result, but we gave them too much of a look-in in the second half. "When you play like we did in the first half you have just got to keep going. It worked out in the end. "We want to make sure we eradicate that second-half performance and that mindset before Dublin next week."
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