Scarlets 14 v 17 Munster

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Parc Y Scarlets 10/12/11

In the pre match preamble I asked two questions:
1 will the injury to Howlett make any difference at all?
2 can the Scarlets pack withstand the onslaught they are bound to face and get any sort of decent ball for the Scarlets to get their running game going

They were the wrong questions. In the event Munster chucked it about with abandon (for two or three phases anyway) and Zebo looked quite at home.

The Scarlets had plenty of ball but for the main part were clueless with it.

What are your thoughts?

rugbydreamer wrote:Ha, that couldn't possibly have been because he was sat in amongst the away support section, no?

Well he had to be there were only a.spattering of home support

Admins! Mods! he's broken a cardinal rule about anonymity, ban him!

oops, noted, edited.

rugbydreamer wrote:Maybe, from where I was stood, I could see the large pockets of you guys in the South and West stands. Not sure how many there were in the North. I'd be surprised if there had been that much more than 3K though. And your blydi flags always make it look like there's more of you then there really is!


(and less of the Klingon nonsense please )

Dreamer I was in the North Stand terrance and while its difficult to tell with everybody wearing red it appeared like an even battle.

Great stadium though and it wasnt as far out as I was led to believe.

And finally the "Sospans" and the posts were class

ha yeah I love them!

Had a fab time in the Barn afterwards, loads of Munster fans stayed there for ages too to watch the O's v Sarries game. Stringer got such a big cheer when he came on for them, twas fab.

Glad you enjoyed muff. Where were you stood? I was between the 22 and the try line in the corner Ronan scored in. It gave me an excellent view of Gareth Davies' defensive howler.

I'd say 3k Munster is about right - it's what me and the people I went with said. they were in the west corner of the South stand and the West stand mainly - and I could hear a lot of Calon lan and Sospan Bach beign sung - particularly at the start of the match before most of the crowd turned on the ref - there was a good match of Munster Munster competing with Scarlets Scarlets to try and drown each other out where I was sat (between middle and west side of South stand).

Why are you wumming so much red stag?

Was great to have a bit of away support at the Parc for a change. Really does make a difference.

It does, doesn't it Chunky? there was loads of great banter on the terracing and in the barn afterwards. I had a brilliant time (even if my stress levels before the match wasn't healthy at all )

Roll on Boxing day!

BlueMuff wrote: ...
Great stadium though and it wasnt as far out as I was led to believe.

And finally the "Sospans" and the posts were class

The walk back to the station after our bus didn't show up felt quite long though . And we made it back to Cardiff in time to only miss half of Status Quo's opening song

I agree the "sospans" were great.

Glas a du wrote:Roll on Boxing day!

I can't wait for this. Reckon it's our best chance in years. Who's the ref?

See, this is what this tournament offers, an expeanded 6N with more places to go. Not knocking the 6N btw, it is a great Championship and offers great cities to take in a game and then have the craic, but the ability to watch top rugby players (if not quite top rugby in this instance!) playing in smaller intimate stadia while having the banter with your opposition. While not especially unique, it certainly is special.

And Munster won.

Who's the ref?

Now, now, that's just being inflammatory!

Kiwireddevil wrote:

BlueMuff wrote: ...
Great stadium though and it wasnt as far out as I was led to believe.

And finally the "Sospans" and the posts were class

The walk back to the station after our bus didn't show up felt quite long though . And we made it back to Cardiff in time to only miss half of Status Quo's opening song

I agree the "sospans" were great.

I was wondering if the shuttle bus to the train station turned up as I was going to catch it but got a lift instead. I walked past were it was supposed to leave from (just outside the gates by the Barn) and didn't see it - but I'd phoned up the ground a few days before and checked the website and both said there definately would be a shuttle bus for £2 leaving 15 mins after the final whistle and then another 20-30 mins after that. I thought it was strange as I've never seen a bus there before (at least not one of the local buses - just the hire coaches) so maybe it's a hire coach with no sign on it - Who knows...

I double checked on the bus over for the times on the way back, and nope it appears none of them turned up. Poor form if that's true. Even trying to get a taxi back to the station was a nightmare!

Told you we should have stayed in the Barn and hit the Town. The boys were well up for Station Road and Barnums.

Glas we did stay in the Barn till last orders, Not sure how we could have stayed there longer!

Yes you're right, I was very upset at the time now I recall, as they wouldn't leave me take my terribly gassy pint with me even though it was in a plastic glass. The Beefeater then. Mind you if I'd have gone there I probably wouldn't have come out again and gone home from there a few pints and a steak and chips later!

The traffic was awful wasn't it? Can't believe the difference a couple of thousand extra fans made.

Glas - I didn't think anyone would be up for Station Road or Barnums! Out of interest rugby what time is last orders in the Barn?

7.30 ish I think.

There wasn't really a specific time Priest, I think they just waited for the O's v Sarries match to finish, and when there was no sign of any of us making a move, think they just made a decision themselves!

Was nice that they let us all stay in there for a fair while though, reckon we were tehre till about quarter to 8 or something.

Thats good of them - makes such a difference when there isn't a regimented time for the bar to close.

Might stay there for a few drinks for one game in Jan and then move on to Swansea

Saturday afternoon matches are ace. Get your jobs done in the morning. Early lunch, 1 pint pre match, few in the Barn/Beefeater after and you're set up for the night. You can have a cracking time and be home by 11 without impinging too much on your Sunday either.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Thats good of them - makes such a difference when there isn't a regimented time for the bar to close.

Might stay there for a few drinks for one game in Jan and then move on to Swansea

Keep us posted, we could make a meet of it.

Kool - will do Glas I'll bring my best Dafydd Iwan impressions and songs along to!

That'll go down a treat in the Aspers Kareoke.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Why are you wumming so much red stag?

Killing time in an internet cafe in Cardiff and probably still drunk from the weekend Also the references to Kilingon etc are running jokes with Dreamer.

In all seriousness really enjoyed Parc y Scarlets apart from location and poor state of transportation facilities. I was at Blues v Edinburgh on Friday and it was the worst attended HEC match I've ever been to.

I can imagine - I played some Dafydd Iwan for my missus, whose from Cardiff, and she thought it was Spanish folk music! shocking...

red_stag wrote: I was at Blues v Edinburgh on Friday and it was the worst attended HEC match I've ever been to.

You only recently started supporting Munster then?









( )

I was shocked by the Blues attendance - I was going to go down if I didn't make the Scarlets game - so glad I didn't - the Blues really need something, not sure what, as the atmosphere is awful.

I didn't think the location of the PyS is that bad - not as bad as the Majeski or Liberty stadium and slightly closer to the train station than CCS - but then again I grew up in that area and my parents still live there so it's nice and convient for me.

Chunky Norwich wrote:

red_stag wrote: I was at Blues v Edinburgh on Friday and it was the worst attended HEC match I've ever been to.

You only recently started supporting Munster then?

( )

I actually took a video of all the empty seats it was devoid of atmosphere. There was half a dozen of us in the group but none were Blues fans.

Scarlets really fronted up. Sort out the trains and buses and it'll be a seriously good match day experience.

No PyS' location isn't so bad, tis just that they were very badly organised for transport back to the station from the stadium, it was perfectly okay getting there. But looking for a taxi on the way back was awful!

rugbydreamer wrote:No PyS' location isn't so bad, tis just that they were very badly organised for transport back to the station from the stadium, it was perfectly okay getting there. But looking for a taxi on the way back was awful!

Yes almost right except remember all the bother getting to there aswell.

I think the transport was just as bad getting there as getting back. Scarlets have got a great experience to offer people once they get to the stadium. However its a difficult commute and they didn't prepare for the numbers.

what bother?

We left the station and got straight onto the parc and ride bus? (agree they didn't prepare for the numbers properly)

rugbydreamer wrote:what bother?

We left the station and got straight onto the parc and ride bus?

Firstly Ive just realised Im getting our journeys to Bath and Llaelli mixed up
Secondly . . . .

red_stag wrote:

rugbydreamer wrote:what bother?

We left the station and got straight onto the parc and ride bus?

Firstly Ive just realised Im getting our journeys to Bath and Llaelli mixed up
Secondly . . . .

rugbydreamer wrote:what bother?

We left the station and got straight onto the parc and ride bus? (agree they didn't prepare for the numbers properly)

We just stayed in the Beefeater :-)

Ah but Bluemuff we also had to go to:

- Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh
- Bath v Leinster
- Exeter Chiefs v Newport Gwent Dragons

well played by you guys then BlueMuff!

I just hope that everyone who visited (this is home and away fans) had such a good time that they want to come back again.

Thats another reason I'm annoyed that we lost rugbydreamer - as imagine all those fans seeing us beat a European powerhouse in our backyard and all the positive vibes and the amazing atmosphere there would have been - and I imagine the barn would have been bouncing afterwards.

Then I reckon a load of these fans would have come back for the Ospreys derby and maybe would folllow us up to the Dragons game as well - that would then be a good way to welcome in the new year - instead I imagine a lot of fans will be annoyed at seeing a poor quality game, another loss and an inconsistent ref and might not come back which is a shame.

Especially as Red Stag says there's a really good atmosphere and experience developing at the stadium

yeah we always seem to lose when we get a big crowd in Priest, tis most annoying. Hope that doesn't happen for the O's match, that looks like it's going to be a complete sell out.

BlueMuff wrote:

rugbydreamer wrote:what bother?

We left the station and got straight onto the parc and ride bus? (agree they didn't prepare for the numbers properly)

We just stayed in the Beefeater :-)

That's quality Muff. If you are driving its an easy place to get to.

Where is PYS in realtion to the train station then ? I've been through the town a few times on the train but never managed to spot it.

You can see Dave Parade (just) from Newport station, the millenium from Cardiff, go past the ;Liberty from Swansea - was hoping for all 4

It's about a 10 min drive from the station Munkian, so you deffo won't see it from the train!

Ah, fair play ! #POC

eh?

I'm glad you asked that first Glas.

Bynea station is closer I suppose.

I hope munkian isn't insinuating that you look like Paul O'Connell!