Scarlets still have so much to play for
“A win over the Dragons at Judgement Day VI this weekend will guarantee them a home quarterfinal in PRO 14”
It was one step too far for the Scarlets in Dublin against Leinster, but they’ll be back. They’ve come too far under Wayne Pivac to be too badly affected by their five try, 38-16 defeat in the Champions Cup semi-final.
There will not be a dream trip to Bilbao, but they still have so much to play for. A win over the Dragons at Judgement Day VI this weekend will guarantee them a home quarterfinal, probably against the Cheetahs in the Guinness PRO14 and victory in that game will tee-up a possible return to Ireland for another final.
The fact that could once again be against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium should give them a target to aim at, rather than worry about. Revenge is always sweet!
Not that any team in Europe can take Leinster lightly. It was no real surprise that they exacted their revenge for the semi-final defeat in the PRO12 to the Scarlets last year. And let’s face it, they have been the form team throughout this seasons Champions Cup.
They will head to Bilbao on the back of a perfect eight out of eight record. And just look at who they’ve beaten along the way – reigning English champions Exeter Chiefs twice, the top side in the TOP 14 Montpellier home and away and the current Conference A leaders in the PRO 14, Glasgow Warriors twice.
They added the scalp of two time European champions Saracens in the quarter-finals and now the reigning PRO12 champions, Scarlets, in the semis. They won’t fear anything or anyone when they head to Bilbao to try to reign in Spain.
The secret to their success this season has been meticulous planning and magnificent coaching off the field, complete understanding of the game plan by every squad member on the field and some inspirational performances from their many, many stars. The depth and quality of their squad rivals that at any of the biggest spending clubs in England or France and the majority of them are home-spun.
Given Ireland completed their third Grand Slam earlier in the year it is easy to see why Irish ruby eyes are smiling at present. Their playing model has simply got better and better during the professional era and reaps, and clearly shows, the benefits of keeping your best players at home.
Last weekend’s heavy defeat for the Scarlets in that throw-away match at Edinburgh perfectly illustrated the difference to me between the two semi-finalists. Leinster have at least three teams that can compete in the PRO14, while the Scarlets probably have one-and-a-half.
The new Under 23 scheme being piloted next season by the Regions might have an impact on that, although it is difficult to see how. With the 2019 World Cup looming large on the horizon the demands on the top players over the next season and a half are going to be massive and that is going to mean clubs and regions needing bigger squads.
While the Scarlets fans probably had their heads in their hands in Dublin, the Blues supporters were walking tall in the Welsh capital after reaching their third European final. It may not have been a pretty watch, but you have to admire the work that Danny Wilson, Matt Sherratt, Richard Hodges and Shaun Edwards have done in turning around the Blues side.
They found a way to win a very tough game and book their ticket to Bilbao. While that will be an wonderful trip for the Blues fans, the most exciting thing is that they will start next season in a far more positive place than they did this campaign.
Among the many things Wilson’s regime has given them is ambition, belief, tenacity and, at long last, on field stability. It is a cruel twist of fate that just as the team he has built over three years is ready to take-off, Danny Wilson is heading for pastures new.
He reached his aim of getting the Blues back into the Champions Cup and he could yet end his reign with an unexpected piece of silverware.