European Challenge Cup: Scarlets 19-7 Brive – ‘Magic’ Fifita try sends hosts into last eight

Vaea Fifita’s stunning solo try saw Scarlets edge out Brive into the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Aaron Shingler then burrowed over in the final minute to complete a nervy win for the hosts at Parc y Scarlets.

Scarlets will host Clermont Auvergne in Llanelli after the French team’s 33-26 win at Bristol on Friday.

Europe has been a tonic for Scarlets this season and they have now won 10 of their 12 games in all competitions since the tournament kicked off.

The importance of this competition was shown by their selection with former captains Ken Owens and Shingler returning.

But head coach Dwayne Peel admitted they had Fifita’s “moment of magic” to thank.

However, few predicted such stern resistance from Brive, who had been thrashed on their previous away games in Connacht (61-5) and Cardiff (41-0).

But through a combination of Scarlets errors and dogged defending, they were in this tie to the end.

With relegation from the Top 14 looming, they fielded close to an entire second-choice side at Parc y Scarlets and had two of their number in the sin bin inside 20 minutes.

Johnny Williams was the agent provocateur for both yellow cards.

His quick hands with Joe Roberts released Ryan Conbeer and the wing was obstructed by last defender Nic Krone after chipping the full-back.

Nine minutes later and Williams launched a counter-attack that ended with Steff Evans denied gathering a loose ball five metres from Brive’s try line after being pulled back by flanker Said Hireche.

Either could have been penalty tries, but instead Scarlets had to settle for a 9-0 lead at half-time despite their sheer dominance.

It should have been more, but the dreadfully wet conditions undermined Scarlets ambition.

And the hosts’ worst fears were realised just seven minutes into the second half when they were caught with a sucker-punch try.

Rhys Patchell, a replacement for Sam Costellow, forced a pass in a bid to carve an opening, but instead handed Brive a counter attack from inside their own 22m line.

Seta Tuicuvu kicked ahead and Irish fly-half Olding won the foot race, sliding over under Tom Rogers’ challenge to silence the Parc y Scarlets crowd.

Olding converted his own try to cut the lead to 9-7, but having tried to pass their way through, Fifita took matters into his own hands.

The Tongan lock picked up the ball on the halfway line and galloped clear, stepping outside a wing and out-pacing the remaining defence to reach the corner.

It was a remarkable turn of pace from a player who bellied the number on his back, but was enough to for the home crowd to find their voice again.

But any thoughts Brive would crumble soon evaporated.

Patchell missed the conversion from the touchline, leaving the visitors within a converted try of levelling the game.

After attacking from a scrum in the shadow of the home posts, Brive were thwarted when home captain Josh MacLeod came up with a crucial turnover at just the right moment.

Player of the match Fifita then snuffed out another Brive attack and after Patchell’s perfectly weighted kick to the corner earned a line-out, Shingler finished and Scarlets heaved a sigh of relief.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said:

“At this stage of Europe it’s all about magic moments and we had one of those tonight. I think he [Fifita] was the only player on the pitch who could have scored a try like that.

“Credit to Brive, they were physical and defended us well. The weather didn’t help and there were a couple of opportunities when we weren’t accurate enough.

“But we’re delighted with the win because we showed some good grit in the end and managed to get the job done and that’s what cup rugby is all about.

“Now we have another big European night to look forward to.”

Scarlets: Tom Rogers; Steff Evans, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Ken Owens, Javan Sebastian, Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, Aaron Shingler, Josh Macleod (capt), Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Wyn Jones, Sam Wainwright, Morgan Jones, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Patchell, Ioan Nicholas.

Brive: Nic Krone; Arthur Bonneval, Nico Lee, Sam Arnold, Kevin Fabien; Stuart Olding, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Daniel Brennan, Lucas Da Silva, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Mesu Kunavula, Lucas Paulos Adler, Rodrigo Bruni, Said Hireche (capt), Retief Marais.

Replacements: Motu Matu’u, Nathan Fraissenon, Wesley Tapueluelu, Renger van Eerten, Sacha Gue, Paul Abadie, Tom Raffy, Seta Tuicuvu,

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)

Assistant referees: Harry Walbaum & Wayne Falla (England)

TMO: Steve Leyshon (England)