NIGEL Davies had predicted that this would be ideal preparation for the physicality that awaits in northern Italy next Saturday.

And Davies got his wish in a bruising pre-season friendly against a Chiefs side clearly determined to make an impact in their debut season in English rugby's top flight.

The Scarlets had looked comfortable for the opening 50 minutes of this testimonial to long-serving lock Vernon Cooper, now in his 14th season down west.

They led 17-3 at the interval and were displaying the spark and zip that had cut apart Worcester a week earlier.

But as the replacements flooded on they got a sobering wake-up call in the second period and were grateful for victory at the close.

In truth, it should have been far easier than it was in the end, but at least Davies will have learnt far more about his side from this 80 minutes than the previous.

Classy

Among those to stand out were classy centre Regan King, hooker Emyr Phillips, prop Rhys Thomas, fly-half Rhys Priestland and wing Andy Fenby.

But there are plenty of creases to iron out, including the line-out, breakdown and some sloppy handling, before the squad head out to Treviso.

Another positive was that the Scarlets were able to give a run-out to new signing Jonny Fa'amatuainu, who was able to feature after the paperwork approving his work visa came through yesterday afternoon.

The Samoan, on a season's loan from Bath, was given the final 20 minutes in what was the Scarlets' third pre-season outing ahead of their Magners opener.

After the Chiefs had taken an early lead through fly-half Gareth Steenson, the Scarlets responded with a well-worked line-out catch and drive which would have delighted new forwards coach Robin McBryde.

Prop Rhys Thomas was the man who burrowed over from close range, with Priestland landing a superb touchline conversion.

The Scarlets began in a similar vein to their 43-14 romp against Worcester, looking to keep the ball alive at all opportunities.

However, some poor handling and turnovers in crucial areas halted a number of promising early forays.

With the Scarlets turning down all kickable penalty shots, they claimed their second try on 18 minutes, with the front-row union continuing to grab the limelight.

This time it was experienced Wales loose-head Iestyn Thomas who found the whitewash, hitting a good angle to charge over from five yards out.

The visitors, though, were causing the Scarlets plenty of problems, particularly at the contact area, while No. 8 James Phillips, a close-season signing from Bristol, was proving a real handful with some powerful carries.

Inspiration

But while the visitors were offering plenty of perspiration, the inspiration was coming from the Scarlets and it was they who kept the scoreboard ticking over with a third try through the flying Fenby just before the interval.

Priestland was the creator, slicing open the Exeter midfield with a dummy before putting in a sublime kick off the outside of his foot for the right winger to dab down in the corner.

The fly-half missed the conversion, but his side appeared comfortable at the turnaround.

Davies made a number of replacements at the interval, Wales tourists Ken Owens and Jonathan Davies among them, and in a carbon copy of the first half, the visitors were first to score with a second Steenson success.

And to keep with the pattern, the Scarlets responded with a try, their fourth, through yet another prop, replacement Phil John.

Fenby, this time, was the man who set it up, bursting through three or four attempted tackles before John dived over from a ruck on the tryline.

John's joy was shortlived, however, when he saw yellow for infringing at a line-out catch and drive and the visitors immediately made the most of their numerical advantage as replacement flanker Tom Johnson was driven over.

Steenson's conversion reduced the arrears to 24-13 as the visitors continued to enjoy the better of possession and territory in the second period.

And they were rewarded when a clever backs move put full-back Luke Arscott in at the posts for a converted try.

The Scarlets should have claimed a fifth try in the final quarter but again the killer touch evaded them, one of a number of areas Davies will no doubt be working on in training this week.

More questions than answers, perhaps, but at least it was a win. Now the real stuff begins.