Cuthbert tips Scarlets to hit ground running in Champions Cup

Alex Cuthbert has backed the Scarlets to hit the ground running with a win against Bristol Bears as they return to Investec Champions Cup rugby for the first time in four years.

Having reached the semi-finals of the competition back in 2018, the Scarlets have struggled more recently, competing in the Challenge Cup for each of the past three seasons.

But after an impressive domestic campaign last term, they are back in the top competition and open their account at home to free-scoring Bears.

And while Pat Lam’s team currently sit fifth in the Gallagher PREM, averaging more than 30 points a game, Cuthbert believes that they can be vulnerable defensively, as they travel to a Scarlets team which gained some confidence from an impressive 23-0 win over Glasgow Warriors last weekend.

“The Scarlets had an unbelievable result at the weekend, 23-0 against Glasgow,” said Cuthbert, who will be at Parc y Scarlets with the Premier Sports team for live coverage of Scarlets v Bristol Bears on Saturday (Premier Sports 2 from 7.40pm) for the return of Investec Champions Cup rugby in west Wales.

“The likes of Max Douglas coming back, Jake Ball, Sam Lousi, they have a good 15-23 players.

“But with the squad depth in Wales, it’s tough. You cannot play those boys every single week, that is the non-luxury they have compared to some of the other teams with squad depth.

“It’s an uphill battle but if they defend like they did on the weekend and win that aerial battle in the middle third against Glasgow, they will give themselves a chance against Bristol.

“Bristol will look to play but they make a lot of errors and there could be a lot of chances in defence and in transition. I think they have got a chance if they can stay in it against Bristol’s attack.

“If you can win your home games, with the way the format is, you’ve got a chance.”

The remaining Welsh regions will compete in the Challenge Cup this year, a competition Cuthbert won with Cardiff back in 2018.

That season, they beat Gloucester in the final in Bilbao, with the competition’s finals returning to the Basque city next year.

And with Cardiff having enjoyed a fine start to the United Rugby Championship season, currently sitting second despite Corniel van Zyl taking over from Matt Sherratt just before the campaign begun, Cuthbert believes they have a real chance to make a run this year.

He added: “I think Cardiff have been the surprise package this season. They have got it culturally right at the moment. Matt Sherratt had a three-year plan and this would have been the culmination of that plan with the people’s he’s added. It’s still his team, but Corniel van Zyl has taken over.

“In Europe, we’ve got some good history, we won it in 2018. If they can build momentum, it will keep coming. They understand their game so well and they do the little things really well. Defensively they are really solid under Gethin Jenkins, their attacking shape causes people problems and they have a bit of a set-piece now. So it gives them some really good launches.

“You’d expect them to have a real crack at the Challenge Cup. It’s a tough start with Stade away, it’s a great atmosphere out there and they are going really well in the Top 14. They have travelled away and got some good results so that will be an exciting fixture.”

Cuthbert is particularly excited by Cardiff’s young backline, with full internationals like Ben Thomas and Mason Grady being joined by up-and-coming youngsters like Wales U20s winger Tom Bowen.

A far cry from the giant Cuthbert, Bowen is thriving despite his diminutive stature.

Cuthbert added: “Tom Bowen is box office, he’s a ball of excitement. If he gets the ball in space, he’s very quick. He’s smaller than (Cheslin) Kolbe and (Kurt-Lee) Arendse, but you see South Africa, one of the biggest sides in world rugby and have two of the smallest wingers, so you can do it. He’s an exciting player and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes.”

Big Games. Bigger Moments. Premier Sports is the home of Investec Champions Cup rugby across the UK and Ireland with every match live including 21 EPCR Challenge Cup games and all the knock-out stages and Finals. Visit premiersports.com to join in from just £11.99 a month @PremSports.tv