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Dwayne Peel on how he would feel if he was 'in Clermont's shoes'

By PA
(Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel praised his side’s fighting spirit after seeing them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Clermont to reach their first European Challenge Cup semi-final. Despite losing centre Irae Simone to a red card in the 24th minute, Clermont looked set to claim a last-four spot for themselves as they recovered from 15-3 down to lead 30-22.

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However, Scarlets refused to give in and snatched a 32-30 win when Ryan Conbeer scored a try with five minutes to go which was superbly converted by Sam Costelow from the touchline. Peel, whose men will host either Glasgow Warriors or Lions in the semi-finals, said: “It’s a massive win as we snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

“On 65 minutes, I thought we were really up against it as we were struggling to cope with their power game. Sam’s kick was fantastic but we showed terrific fight and endeavour to get the job done. But if I was in Clermont’s shoes, I would be very disappointed.

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“It’s a massive competition but it shows how important it was to finish top of the group and gets these home games. It won’t be easy in the semi-finals as Glasgow are in good and Lions are picking up with some good results lately.”

Scarlets were quick out of the blocks to build a 15-3 lead but the dismissal of Simone for a head-high challenge on Leigh Halfpenny seemed to galvanize the French side, who were much the better team until 10 minutes from the end when the home side conjured up a late rally to turn things around.

Scarlets centre Johnny Williams, who continued his recent rich vein of form with an impressive performance and an interception try, said: “It was a very tight game but it was a serious result for us. It was nerve-racking at the end but I always thought it was coming our way and I’m very proud of the performance.

“However I was praying on the halfway line when Sam was kicking so he must have had nerves of steel. We switched off a bit when they had the red card but it soon evened out when we lost two players to the bin pretty quickly. We want to go all the way in the competition and that is certainly the goal.”

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C
CO 31 minutes ago
Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

Will Jordan is as good as any fullback in the world and at six foot two is backed up by younger, larger talent at fullback like Sullivan and Spencer. Ruben Love is a slightly larger but less eccentric version of McKenzie at this stage in his development.


McKenzie, he's like a wildly energetic dog that doesn't stop being a pup until the age of six.


McKenzie is no longer the young pup, he's entering his best years as a ten, he's been a test player for nine years and that's really starting to produce under Razor.


NZ sometimes pigeon holes players early and can be blind to the McKenzie late bloomers, McKenzie is a loyal, passionate Allblack and it's only because of a double world player of the year that he's not starting at ten each time for the Allblacks.


For those that get to meet McKenzie he's a relaxed, friendly, courteous and composed person and he is looking likely to peak as a ten at RWC.


However, McKenzie isn't really the guy we need to replace and Love is the nearest thing NZ has as a younger model. Instead NZ needs to be looking for a guy with the size and height of Beauden, Pollard, Farrell, Larkham, Sexton.


Carter was a freak at ten and McKenzies also really special but the games now dominated by first fives that are noticeably over six foot. A smaller guy needs to be freakishly talented.


Love is a handy player that plays well at both fullback and ten, he's got a really good mindset and a superb footballer like McKenzie but I'm a crowded fullback field that still has Jordie Barret around to fill in, Love needs to spend a lot more time at ten, a position that NZ is struggling with for world class depth.


As for Naitoa, he needs a run at six, he's a lock that's really better suited to six.


The French are a handful and the Allblacks can really build a strong year by winning the third test, once the games under control then Love should be swapped with McKenzie to have his chance at ten.

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