Easterby ready to refocus with Llanelli

It's not often the Heineken European Cup could be described as offering a cathartic process given the ferociously competitive nature of the tournament but for Llanelli captain and Ireland flanker Simon Easterby it represents an outlet to channel his disappointment following the Rugby World Cup in France.

Ireland's failure to make the quarter-finals was a massive blow to the 32-year-old flanker but there'll be a certain empathy at Stradey Park as Wales suffered a similar fate. Team-mates Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel and Alix Popham will have noted the reaction of a disgruntled Welsh public.

Easterby won't allow anyone to wallow in post-World Cup blues and instead stresses the European competition offers an opportunity to look forward rather than back.

He pointed out: "We cannot do anything about the disappointment of the World Cup.

"But we've had time to reflect on that and it does excite the players to be coming back to the Scarlets. It would have been easy to come back and bury our heads in the sand but it is important to get back on the horse. We are a close-knit squad and enjoy the style of rugby we play.

"Individually we are all in a good place now as we are back to what we know best. It's enjoyable here at the Scarlets and we want to get back into the Heineken Cup."

It's an understandable sentiment given their performance in reaching the semi-finals last season - they lost to Leicester - which included a quarter-final win over this year's pool opponents, Munster.

Capped 62 times by Ireland, he started all four pool matches in France, and won't be making any rash decisions about his future in the Test arena. "I know myself I am not going to play in another World Cup. To go out on the biggest stage like that was a huge disappointment. If you play your best and are beaten by a better side then you accept that. But, if you don't play well, it is harder to take.

"We know we didn't produce the rugby we can. We feel we did not live up to our expectations, never mind those of the media and the fans.

"I don't know if I will continue. I will probably look at it in a couple of months' time and make that decision. I intend to focus on playing well for the Scarlets and on the team doing well."

Immediate consolation may come in the red jersey of Llanelli. The Scarlets have been in pretty irresistible form in the Magners Celtic League of late including, thumping Leinster at the RDS and administering a painful lesson to Ulster.

They're in a tough pool in the European Cup with the defending champions Wasps, their predecessors Munster and French side Clermont Auvergne, who have recruited heavily. Given recent experiences it might just provide the fillip to rekindle Easterby's enthusiasm for club and country.