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Evans: Write off Scarlets at your peril
HE may be gearing up for the biggest game of Scarlets’ season, but this week is familiar territory for Rob Evans. Last year he was part of the Scarlets team that came to the RDS and spoiled Leinster’s party, beating the Blues in their own back yard in the Pro12 semi-finals.
The two teams collide again this Saturday, only this time, the stakes are higher. The venue is upgraded to Landsdowne Road, the competition is the more prestigious Champions Cup. Three-time European Champions Leinster arrive as favourites, while Scarlets are looking to make the final of the competition for the first time.
For Leinster, that Pro12 semi-final defeat left lasting scars. Scarlets lit up the RDS with a thrilling first-half display, bagging three tries before surviving the entire second half with 14 men. As Leinster players have spent the last few weeks rolling out the old cliche that Scarlets ‘won’t fear coming here’, this time, they really mean it.
‘Obviously that was a big day for us,’ recalled Evans. ‘But it’s gone now. I think both sides have improved, especially Leinster, so it’s going to be a whole different challenge for us on Saturday.’
It was an eventful evening for the prop, who broke a finger two minutes into the game and played on for almost an hour. ‘I don’t mind breaking them once you have won,’ he continued.
‘It was quite a funny game really. Obvious we lost Steff [Evans] early on, a few injuries, a few broken fingers. Leinster are a very good side, they can score at any time.’
Evans is one of the jewels in the Scarlets crown and was widely considered to have been unlucky to miss the cut for last season’s Lions tour of New Zealand.
He is a player well suited to his environs, confident with ball in hand and possessing a strong passing ability in a team that has enlivened the Champions Cup and Pro14 this season with their open, free-flowing attacking game.
Of course, that is not enough to win trophies, and head coach Wayne Pivac has ensured his team has been able to marry their impressive attack to a mean defensive game.
‘Scrums are a massive part of the games these days,’ Evans continued. ‘It’s something that we pride ourselves on. It’s just the reward when we get something like that or a bit of dominance. It’s a big boost to the team.’
On Saturday, Evans will find himself scrummaging down against Tadhg Furlong. The 26-year-old admitted he has been looking forward to doing battle with the Lions tighthead, with Furlong missing Ireland’s Six Nations clash against the Welsh through injury earlier this year.
‘He’s probably known as one of the best in the world now. It’s nothing I’m really scared about or anything, I’m looking forward to giving it a good go. I was a bit gutted we didn’t bash out in the Six Nations really.’
Scarlets, of course, have a star of their own named Tadhg, with their key man commanding much attention in the build-up to this semi-final clash.
Tadhg Beirne came up through the Leinster system before deciding to take his chances with Scarlets, and he has grown into an effective performer. His 16 turnovers in this season’s Champions Cup is five more than any other player has managed.
‘Tadhg has been brilliant for us over the last two years,’ Evans said of Beirne, who will ply his trade with Munster next season. ‘He’s going to be a massive loss. Obviously he wants to go home and try and put on a green jersey as he says, and I hope he does. He is such a great bloke and he deserves it off the back of how he’s played over the last few years.’
Earlier in the week, Leinster’s Dan Leavy admitted that last year’s Scarlets game was one the Blues possibly overlooked. The hard lessons learned that day will ensure they don’t make the same mistake this weekend, although Evans is happy to travel to Dublin carrying the underdog tag.
‘Maybe we are underestimated but we don’t really care. We are happy with ourselves, we have a good spirit amongst the boys and people in this community have belief in us as well. If people want to underestimate us, happy days.
‘We’ll see the outcome afterwards, if they’re right, they’re right but hopefully we can make sure we are on the money and get the result.’