Dwayne Peel: We need to raise standards
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Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel has urged his side “to raise standards” for Saturday’s all-British EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final against Glasgow Warriors at Parc y Scarlets.
The former Wales scrum-half admitted he was “disappointed” with his team’s 31-14 loss to Welsh rivals Dragons RFC in the BKT United Rugby Championship in Cardiff last weekend and predicted “hurt” if there is a repeat this weekend.
Peel said: “It was a poor performance. That opening period was littered with inaccuracies and I was disappointed with the energy shown by us. We had opportunities in the second half, but our attack in their 22 was poor as well. We need to be better.”
He refused to use the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final as an excuse for Scarlets’ poor showing at the Principality Stadium.
“I don’t want to use that as an excuse because we need to be tougher than that mentally,” he added. “We have had consistency and steeliness over the last couple of months, but we didn’t have it on Saturday.
“We have to look at ourselves – that goes for staff and players. If we are not better against Glasgow, we are going to get hurt.
“We will need to look after the ball better; we need to be more clinical when we create opportunities. Our set-piece didn’t function either. We were sloppy in a lot of areas. The boys know that and are disappointed by that.
“In all aspects we need to raise standards. We have to make sure we come in with a positive mindset and go up a few levels ready for a huge game.”
