We won’t be bullied again in Dublin, says Steff

WALES wing Steff Evans insists the Scarlets won’t be bullied like they were on their last visit to Dublin when they take on Leinster in the Guinness PRO14 final tomorrow.

The Scarlets are looking to become only the second side to win back-toback titles, but must claim the scalp of the newly-crowned European champions, who hammered Wayne Pivac’s side 38-16 in their Champions Cup semi-final meeting at the Aviva Stadium last month.

“The disappointment of that semifinal is motivation for us,” said Evans.

“It was tough to take. Coming out of that game we were probably back to being an average team. We got bullied.

“We were broken after that game, but since then we have been building back to where we were. The tries we scored against Glasgow (in the semi-final) were a bit like the ones we scored in the semi-final (against Leinster) last year.”

Evans added: “After the European semi-final we got together in the team meeting and said we have to get the belief back.

“The memories are stuck in the boys’ heads and for me it is motivation to get out there and right the wrongs of what we did in Europe.

“We did not deserve that, but it is about getting out there and showing what we can do. That was the not the Scarlets people are used to.”

Pivac names his starting line-up at noon and is hopeful that Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny can overcome a hamstring issue.

Leinster, meanwhile, are expected to name influential Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton, who sat out their semi-final win over Munster because of a calf strain.

“Johnny Sexton is probably one of the best players in the world at the moment,” added Evans.

“He plays so flat to the line you don’t know whether he is going to kick or pass and that is what you have to be wary about.

“They have a lot of players who run off him so he can hit them on the inside or outside.

“He has a great kicking game and is very aggressive. Last time we did not get stuck into him — it will be completely different this time.

“We have to be aggressive and get quick ball. Not many teams can live with us when we get quick ball.”