Scarlets flanker Josh Turnbull: We need to get on track
LEAGUE leaders the Scarlets travel to Italy this weekend determined not to see their early-season form punctured in the wake of last weekend's derby defeat by the Ospreys.
Simon Easterby's side take on Treviso at the Stadio Monigo tomorrow evening (6.05) hoping to finish the fifth round of matches still top of the RaboDirect Pro12.
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Josh Turnbull
Easterby has insisted nobody is pressing the panic button after the 23-16 home loss, the region's first league defeat at Parc y Scarlets in 12 months.
And flanker Josh Turnbull believes the setback has made the players even more determined to prove the doubters wrong.
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"We need to get it back on track this weekend," said Turnbull.
"We hate losing, we want to put things right and we want to stay top as long as possible.
"Our captain Rob McCusker alluded to it after our opening victory of the season against Leinster. It was important we did not rest on our laurels.
"We have to keep raising our game week in week out, whoever we are playing. We cannot afford to let our standards slip."
Easterby is again set to make changes to his starting XV, although he is closing on his first-choice side for the Heineken Cup opener against Clermont Auvergne on October 13.
"We are trying to give players a little bit of time to gain some form and you can't pick on form if not everyone has had opportunities," he said.
"I haven't been able to give everyone opportunities, I am aware of that, and there are certain players who haven't had much game time with us and have had to play semi-pro rugby. But there comes a point when you have got to be a bit more consistent in selection, especially going into Europe.
"This weekend there will be a few changes and then we will look to settle on a team for the Dragons and the two European games."
Jordan Williams, man of the match in Connacht, is set to be part of the match-day squad.
"Jordan has impressed us all," added Easterby. "It was always our intention to involve him this year. I went to watch him play against Bedwas on Saturday and he had some lovely touches.
"He is still developing, but he showed in Connacht in pretty tricky conditions and the situation that we found ourselves in at half-time that he can do things that not many players can do.
"We have been really pleased with him, his attitude has been excellent. He is still young so we have to manage him, but I believe if you are good enough you are old enough."
Meanwhile, new signing Tomas Vallejos has been named among the replacements for Argentina in tomorrow's Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand in Buenos Aires, meaning the region may have to wait another week for the second row's arrival in Llanelli.
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