The holders not only secured their first away win of the season but also came away with a bonus point which may prove invaluable in what promises to be the tightest of groups, although their achievement and level of performance were overshadowed by speculation over the future of the head coach, Shaun Edwards. He has been linked with the job of Wales's defence coach and a renewal of his partnership with the club's former director of rugby, Warren Gatland, who takes charge of the men in red next month.
Wasps have threatened legal action if an approach is made but a compromise is being worked on. Edwards would consider the post on a part-time basis only, allowing him to continue with Wasps, with whom he is contracted for two more years. He would also turn down any approach if their England players raised an objection because of conflict of interest. "Warren knows Shaun as well as anyone," said the Wasps director of rugby, Ian McGeechan. "Wasps do not want to lose Shaun and we have to talk things through."
Edwards maintains he would be able to combine the roles. "I have my faults but a lack of energy is not one of them," he said. "I will be remaining at Wasps unless they sack me. I am fully committed to the club but there have been examples of coaches holding club and international posts at the same time."
His potential value to Wales soared on a night when the Scarlets suffered their heaviest home pool defeat in the competition. They were unable to shake off a blitz defence and coughed up possession regularly, negating the dominance they had established in the lineout. In contrast Wasps had a creative hub at 10, 12 and 13. Danny Cipriani, Riki Flutey and Fraser Waters scored four of their five tries and Waters set up George Skivington for the fifth. Their distribution, angles of running and presence of mind confounded the belief that English rugby is blinkered.
Flutey was particularly impressive and the 27-year-old Maori qualifies to play for England on the grounds of residency next summer. "If that chance came, I would have to think hard about it," he said.
With the 20-year-old Cipriani establishing himself at outside-half, Flutey is a genuine inside centre, and Waters is playing the best rugby of his career. Such was the trio's dominance that the wings were not needed but Wasps will have to sort out their lineout. The Scarlets, semi-finalists last season, already look doomed, having failed to pick up a point in two matches. They did not lack fire at the end of a week in which Stradey Park hosted the funeral of Ray Gravell but their protracted effort to move grounds has left them short of funds and they have had to borrow £5m from the region's directors and local authority.
After a fiery opening which followed McGeechan laying a wreath in tribute to Gravell, they succumbed to the Wasps midfield, 12 points behind at the end of the first quarter. Wasps had gone into the match on the back of their best run of the season, three without defeat, but that did not stop Edwards laying into his players in midweek for starting too slowly. It is that sort of motivation Wales are seeking.
Llanelli Scarlets Stoddart; M Jones, King, Evans, Watkins (Daniel, 80); S Jones (Priestland, 78), Peel (Davies, 78); I Thomas, Rees (Hayter, 14), Manu, Cooper (Eustace, 72), MacLeod, Easterby (capt), G Thomas, Popham (N Thomas, 72). Tries Easterby, M Jones. Cons S Jones 2. Pen S Jones.
Wasps Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Waters, Flutey (Walder, 74), Voyce; Cipriani (Lewsey, 72), Reddan (Amor, 72); Payne (Holford, 76), Ibanez (Ward, 47), Adams, Shaw (Birkett, 60), Skivington, Hart, Rees, Dallaglio (capt; Haskell, 58).
Tries Waters 2, Skivington, Cipriani, Flutey. Cons Cipriani 4. Referee A Rolland (Ireland). Attendance 9,557.
