Watch: Kiwi pair strike gold with no-look pass to help Scarlets to first European victory
A pair of tries from Wales prop Rob Evans helped Scarlets notch their first Champions Cup victory with a 33-10 triumph over Leicester.
Wales hooker Ken Owens also scored despite playing out of position at number eight. Wales wing Steff Evans also got over the line but it was Kiwi-born Johnny McNicholl who will steal headlines after being on the receiving end of a magical Kieron Fonotia no-look pass to score one of Scarlets’ five tries.
"It's showboating stuff from the Scarlets!"
Kieron Fonotia with the no look pass ❌👀
Johnny McNicholl touches down to secure the bonus point in an emphatic performance from the Welsh side 💪 pic.twitter.com/tQXaz6kGpw
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 12, 2019
The pair of former Crusaders linked in the 50th minute to finish off a broken play with some flair. After switching play and keeping the ball alive, New Zealand-born Samoan international Fonotia slipped through a gap in the Tigers defence and found McNicholl in the right place at the right time to extend Scarlets’ lead.
The no-look pass from Fonotia led to the commentator exclaiming “It’s showboating stuff from the Scarlets!”.
Now that’s more like the Scarlets of old. A cracking long-range try started and finished by Johnny McNicholl with a no-look scoring pass from the excellent Fonotia. Beating Leicester 26-0 with half an hour still to go.
— Simon Thomas Rugby (@simonrug) January 12, 2019
Fonotia showboating with a no look look pass, superb work through the backs, started and finished by McNicholl. #SCAvLEI
— Ruck ’n’ Roll (@RnRRugby) January 12, 2019
Leicester scored late tries through Will Evans and Michael Fitzgerald, which proved to be purely for consolation as the club cemented their place at the bottom of the Champions Cup pool.
Scarlets will next play pool leaders Racing 92, while Leicester will play Ulster in the final round of Champions Cup pool play.
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