Scarlets in Wales?

Blues one from eight (12.5 percent) and Newport Gwent Dragons didn’t triumph once against the Irish.

When the acid test of facing the provinces has been put before them, the Scarlets have tended to respond positively, trusting in their skills and rising to the challenge.

It has been a significant effort. STRENGTH IN DEPTH COUNTS The Scarlets haven’t suddenly discovered a bottomless seam of talent but they have been able to overcome the various injury problems that have struck them during the season.

No Ken Owens for the semi-final against Leinster? Send for Ryan Elias. No Jake Ball? Draft in Lewis Rawlins. No Rhys Patchell for much of the season? Dan Jones can plug the gap.

No James Davies for two spells? Hand Will Boyde the jersey.

The Ospreys, in particular, have had ruinous misfortune with injuries – missing three tight-heads meant their scrum was sending out distress signals in too many games – with Cardiff Blues not far behind.

But it is professional sport and the challenge is to find a way. It isn’t easy at a time when the Welsh sides continue to be up against it financially.

But the Scarlets have coped in a way that the others haven’t. GLEAMING WINDOWS The Scarlets lost just one match during the 2016-17 international windows.

When the points are added up at the end of the season, stuff like that matters.