European Challenge Cup: Clermont Auvergne 38-17 Scarlets - Wales centre Williams sent off in defeat

Scarlets wing Steff Evans has played 13 internationals for Wales

Wales centre Johnny Williams was sent off as Scarlets are set to bow out of the Challenge Cup in a comprehensive six-try defeat in Clermont.

Dwayne Peel's side suffered European elimination with a group game to go.

Clermont wing Alivereti Raka scored twice, supplemented by 18 points from France fly-half Anthony Belleau and further tries from Giorgi Beria and Joris Jurand.

Scarlets responded with late tries from Steff Evans and Kieran Hardy.

Williams is in danger of missing the Six Nations start after being shown a 26th-minute red card following a head collision while attempting to tackle Julien Heriteau.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland names his squad on Tuesday, 16 January. There is only one more Scarlets match before Wales' opening game against Scotland on Saturday, 3 February with Williams due to face a disciplinary hearing next week.

Wales fly-half Sam Costelow was forced off early in the second half after suffering a head injury while flanker and captain and Six Nations hopeful Josh Macleod also limped off.

Clermont's win set up hopes of a last 16 place for the French side while Scarlets continued their miserable European campaign as they lie bottom of Pool 3 without a point.

This was a third successive defeat following a 34-16 defeat at Castres and being humbled 23-7 at home by Georgian side Black Lion.

Peel's side have lost 10 out of 12 games in all competitions this season with the only victory coming in a United Rugby Championship (URC) league double against Cardiff. Scarlets finish their Challenge Cup campaign at home against Edinburgh on Friday, 19 January.

Fresh face

In a bid to freshen things up, Peel gave scrum-half Archie Hughes his first Scarlets start with Gareth Davies rested and fellow Wales international Hardy named as a replacement.

Hughes was one of three personnel changes from the side defeated by Dragons with flanker Dan Davis returning from injury and lock Jac Price starting.

Scarlets exerted early pressure with wing Tom Rogers stopped just short of the line. Clermont rallied and the visitors were grateful for a turnover on his line from Davis before another attack was repelled following a searing break from home hooker Etienne Fourcade.

Williams was then shown his red card and Clermont immediately took advantage of the extra man when the ball was moved left to wing Raka, who powered over with Belleau converting.

Costelow, playing his 50th game for Scarlets, opened the visitors' account with a penalty but Clermont responded with a Belleau try following a break from Jurand.

Scarlets were turned over and Raka glided through for his second try after coming in field off his wing as Clermont led 19-3 at half-time.

Costelow was forced off early in the second half following a clash of heads and is set to miss the home match against Edinburgh next Friday because of the six day turnaround demanded by Head Injury Assessment (HIA) protocols.

Prop Beria muscled his way over for the bonus-point try before wing Jurand crossed. Scarlets suffered a further blow when Macleod was helped off the field.

Clermont replacement Pierre Fouyssac was shown a yellow card for a professional foul. Ioan Lloyd moved up to fly-half from full-back after Costelow's departure and showed his class with a searing break before a pinpoint cross kick allowed wing Evans to cross for the Scarlets' solitary try.

A score for Hardy was denied after television replays spotted a forward pass from replacement Ioan Nicholas in the build-up.

More Clermont indiscipline resulted in Peceli Yato being shown a late yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Rogers and Hardy took advantage with a late opportunist score.

Belleau had the final word with a clever individual effort after collecting a deft chip.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: "The red card obviously hurt us, but I'm more disappointed with the 15 minutes after that. The card seemed to shock us, we went into our shells and gave away two soft tries. After that it was going to be a struggle.

"It had been closely contested until then and in the second half we were the stronger team and played some really good stuff. But I guess we'll never know what could have been had it been 15 against 15.

"That is something for us to build on for next week and it's important we show what we can do against Edinburgh."

Clermont Auvergne: Alex Newsome; Joris Jurand, Julien Heriteau, Leon Darricarrere, Alivereti Raka; Anthony Belleau, Baptiste Jauneau; Giorgi Beria, Etienne Fourcade, Rabah Slimani, Rob Simmons, Tomas Lavanini, Killian Tixeront, Pita-Gus Sowakula, Fritz Lee (capt).

Replacements: Folau Fainga'a, Daniel Bibi Biziwu, Cristian Ojovan, Peceli Yato, Lucas Dessaigne, Sebastien Bezy, Jules Plisson, Pierre Fouyssac.

Sin-Bin: Fouyssa 65, Yato 77.

Scarlets: Ioan Lloyd; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Steff Evans; Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Jac Price, Josh Macleod (capt), Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Eduan Swart, Steff Thomas, Harri O'Connor, Morgan Jones, Ben Williams, Kieran Hardy, Ioan Nicholas, Shaun Evans.

Red card: J Williams 26

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Jonny Erskine (Ire) & Alexandru Ionescu (Romania)

TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland).