STUNNING SCARLETS SAVE BEST FOR LAST
S IMPLY sensational — the Scarlets saved the best for last to conquer Dublin for a successive weekend and claim the Guinness PRO12 title for only a second time With a game-plan carved out of the free-running ethos of so many great sides of the past, Wayne Pivac’s side once again defied the odds to send their travelling support into dreamland in the Irish capital.
Not even the most one-eyed of the West Wales faithful could ever have expected such a comprehensive victory. Munster, a side who have appeared an irrepressible force at times this season, were a distant second and that doesn’t happen often in knockout rugby.
The Scarlets were smarter and sharper in thought and deed, a side who have ridden a wave of confidence and momentum in recent weeks.
Keeping faith with the brand of flowing rugby that had blazed a trail through the PRO12, they ran in four first-half tries to all but end this final as a contest.
And it was fitting that they had the final word with flanker James Davies - such a huge influence this season - racing over to complete the triumph.
Davies again had a fine match, but it was his back-row buddy Aaron Shingler, who celebrated his Wales call with a man-of-the-match display bursting with hunger and aggression.
Behind the scrum, Jonathan Davies had another monumental game in midfield, Steff Evans dazzled out wide, while Rhys Patchell pulled the strings impressively.
But this was a victory for the collective rather than individuals and Wayne Pivac and his coaching team deserve huge credit for the way they have moulded this side and the style of rugby it has produced.
As well as their endeavour in attack there was also a voracious desire in defence.
The Scarlets didn’t allow Munster any way back into the game, chopping down the men in blue at every opportunity and forcing them into a second half based on hopeful kicking rather than any sustained purpose.
In an almost replica of their semifinal win over Leinster eight days earlier, the Scarlets bewitched Munster with their mesmerising attacking game in the first half, then soaked up everything the Irish province had to throw at them in the second period.
Even torrential rain during the day failed to dampen the Scarlets’ ambition.
Both sides were unchanged from their semi-final triumphs, with the West Walians able to field Steff Evans on the wing after the Five Roads flyer had his red card against Leinster rescinded by a disciplinary panel in midweek.
The Welsh side were cheered onto the Aviva Stadium turf by a vocal support who had travelled across the Irish Sea by plane and ferry, many sacrificing a night’s sleep to make it