Plumtree's discipline hurting Scarlets, says Davies

Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies says Taine Plumtree must take accountability for his discipline after admitting the back row's growing yellow-card record is "hurting" the side.

Plumtree was shown his seventh yellow card of the season in Saturday's 28-24 defeat by Cardiff, which proved to be a costly sin-bin spell that turned the game on its head.

With the Scarlets flanker off the field for a cynical ruck offence, Cardiff scored three tries in 10 minutes to complete a remarkable comeback victory from 24-7 down.

Davies did not hide his frustration, insisting Plumtree's discipline, and the team's collective indiscipline, is proving too expensive.

"It's hurting us at the moment," said Davies.

"The last two games, we've had two yellow cards at the same periods in those games.

"Leinster away, we had good momentum in that game and that sort of took our momentum away there.

"And it had a significant effect on the result on Saturday with two yellow cards coming in."

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Plumtree's latest sin-bin means he has now collected seven yellow cards this season for club and country – four for Scarlets and three for Wales.

It is a remarkable statistic for a player who, for much of Saturday's derby, looked set to be the match winner.

The 26-year-old had been outstanding, scoring a try, producing a brilliant acrobatic assist for another and helping dismantle Cardiff's line-out.

At his best, he looks every inch the powerful, athletic blindside flanker Wales have been searching for.