Wayne Pivac keen to repeat Champions Cup run

Editor

Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac is hoping the Welsh region can replicate their 2017/18 European Champions Cup form in this season’s campaign.

After suffering defeats in their first two matches, the Scarlets bounced back to finish at the top of their pool and went on to beat La Rochelle in their quarter-final at Parc y Scarlets.

Despite suffering a 38-16 defeat in the semi-finals to eventual tournament winners Leinster, Pivac was delighted with his side’s performances.

“It was a great run to get through after two losses in the first two rounds,” he told the EPCR website.

“The home quarter-final against La Rochelle was very memorable and then, of course, we got through to the semi-final.

“Certainly, we’d like to replicate that. It was such a great journey. Everyone enjoyed it so much. There was some good rugby played along the way.

“It was disappointing to go out the way we did, but certainly [we were] very pleased to get that far in the competition. So, if we could replicate that and have a better performance, that’s certainly what we’d like to do.”

Pivac admitted that his side will have to be at their best during this season’s campaign as they face stiff opposition from their pool rivals Racing 92, who finished as tournament runners-up last season, two-time champions Leicester Tigers and 1999 winners Ulster.

“Racing 92 got through to the final last year and they’ve got plenty of class,” he added.

“They are one of the giants of the game and we’ve got them first up at home.

“That’s going to be a great test and then we’re off to Welford Road to play Leicester Tigers.

“They are having a bit of a testing time at the moment and we’re not travelling that well ourselves, so for us, it’s a game we really look forward to and if we can pick up some points on the road, that’s going to help our cause to get out of the group.

“Ulster, we know only too well and we’ve already played them once this year. Look, it’s going to be challenging, but [it’s] certainly a pool that if we play well enough, we can get out of it.

“The Heineken Champions Cup is the ultimate as a player, outside of Test rugby, for us in the northern hemisphere.

“So, to do well in this competition, the fans get right behind it. Certainly, down our way in West Wales, to get those games at home, they look forward to them.”