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Irish Examiner
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
No thoughts of tomorrow for Leo Cullen as Leinster focus on Scarlets
Nobody sells tickets faster and better than Leinster so it says something that the province had shifted only 12,000 of them as of Friday for this URC quarter-final encounter with Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium. The Bank Holiday will have had something to do with that. So too will the general impression that Leo Cullen's lads will sweep the Welsh aside and book a more attractive date at the same venue a week later. Some, of course, will have their eyes on a final. But don't say any of that to Cullen. The Leinster head coach was in no mood to countenance the next step prior to this one. Not after that Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton Saints. And not on the back of three seasons and counting without a trophy. No, there is no tomorrow. That was abundantly clear when the head coach was asked the most routine of questions, on the absences of Garry Ringrose and Tommy O'Brien, and whether the pair would be available again soon. 'We are literally looking at this game,' he said, the vexation clear in his voice. 'We have fallen into this trap before, people looking too far ahead, and it is actually doing our heads in because everyone is just talking about the next thing and nobody wants to talk about the here and now. 'It has got to the point where it's undermining of the teams we play against (sic) because I would rather focus on the Scarlets and who we are playing this week. Listen, we were talking about the semi-final if you remember and there was talk about Cardiff and EPCR and there was no talk about Northampton. Can we talk about the actual game?' We did, and we can, but first things first. Ringrose is out with a calf injury that he has been carrying for an unspecified period of time. O'Brien, Leinster's breakout star this season, has been hobbled by a foot problem. Both were running at the back end of the week. Neither was listed on the weekly injury bulletin last Monday, hence the interest. Already confirmed as absentees were Robbie Henshaw who won't play URC again this season whatever Leinster do, and Tadhg Furlong. The Ireland prop sits out for the second game in a row with a calf injury – not the one that caused him such trouble this term – and the signs are that he will struggle to make the semi-final should Leinster do the needy this weekend. Leinster, as is their wont, can still field a ridiculously strong 15 and 23. They make six changes to the side that eked out a 13-5 win against Glasgow last time out. Scarlets are unchanged from the side that went toe to toe with Sharks in Durban two weekends ago. Dwayne Peel's men had two weeks in South Africa that should have steeled them for the task to come and it's only four weeks since they overcame a much-changed Leinster side at Parc y Scarlets. All that will stand to them. 'Scarlets are a team that is in form. We rate their coaches, we know Dwayne Peel and Jarred [Payne] as well and those guys know the system here and they have a very good inside knowledge about us.' We'll just have to risk Cullen's wrath by suggesting that any chance of a repeat result in Ballsbridge this time is fanciful. The province has hammered three different opponents in the last three URC quarter-finals. It's the last four round that has caught them cold. That this is all business is apparent in the absence from the squad of Cian Healy and Ross Byrne, two veterans who have given so much to their home club and due to depart as soon as this league campaign is over. Jordie Barrett is another whose time is coming to an end. 'I've had some interesting conversations about this over the years about different players finishing up, and when I was myself, you don't want to be a distraction,' said Cullen. 'That can't be the legacy you leave. 'You still have to go back to the process of playing and what wins rugby matches, and because it's a contact sport, there's an emotional side that you need to get right. So, there is a technique part to it, but there's always a bit of an emotional part to that as well.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Wales centre Williams signs new Scarlets contract
Wales centre Johnny Williams has signed a new two-year deal to stay at 28, has been in impressive form this season and has been rewarded with a Wales recall for the summer tour of arrived in Llanelli in 2020 after signing from Newcastle Falcons."Johnny is a key member of the squad, someone who has become a leader for us on and off the field," said Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel."That experience is going to be vital over the coming years as part of the young back division we are developing at the club."His re-signing is more positive news for the club as we continue to build and grow as a group." Williams has not played a Test for Wales since the World Cup warm-up matches in August 2023."It is great to be back in the Wales set-up," said Williams."I have been gutted to have missed a couple of squad selections, so I'm obviously delighted to be back in the mix."Following the departures of Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams, he is now the elder Scarlets statesman in a crop of centres that includes internationals Joe Roberts and Eddie James, with the uncapped Macs Page also selected for Wales' tour of Japan."I have been here five years now and I feel this team is really evolving," said Williams."There is a lot of talent within the squad, especially with the young guys coming through - I am one of the oldest players in the squad now at 28."These are exciting times and I am looking forward to seeing where this team can go."Fellow backs Page, James, Roberts, Tomi Lewis and Sam Costelow have also agreed new deals, alongside Wales forward duo Taine Plumtree and Kemsley Scarlets signings include fly-half/centre Joe Hawkins, lock Jake Ball, scrum-half Dane Blacker and full-back Ioan Jones.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Scarlets to embrace 'greatest challenge' in Dublin
United Rugby Championship quarter-final: Leinster v ScarletsVenue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 31 May Kick-off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, listen on BBC Radio Wales Extra, follow live text on BBC Sport online. Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel says there is no greater task than facing Leinster in Dublin, but has urged his side to embrace the side are underdogs against the Irish team for the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off quarter-final at the Aviva topped the league after the regular season, although one of only two defeats for Leo Cullen's men came against Scarlets in Llanelli in former Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies injured, Scarlets have named an unchanged 23 from the final-day league defeat against Stormers in Cape are missing Ireland centres Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, and British and Irish Lions prop Tadhg still include New Zealand centre Jordie Barrett, with the star-studded side led by Lions number eight Jack Conan, while Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan and South Africa lock RG Snyman are among the replacements. 'No shying away' Scarlets finished eighth in the URC following four late wins, with the prize tackling Leinster on their home turf."It's going to be a great occasion and a case of embracing it," said Peel."It's not about chasing five points, it's knockout rugby and it's all on the day."We want to go further, we want to push a great team in Leinster as far as we can."This is Scarlets' first appearance in the league play-offs since they were finalists in a 35-22 victory against a second-string Leinster last month, Scarlets have not won successive matches against the Irish side since 2015, but know they will be facing a different proposition this weekend."There's no greater task than going to Dublin and we're looking forward to that challenge," said Peel."We won't shy away from it, you've got to have confidence in your own group when you go there. "As much as they have some world-class names in their group, we've got some pretty good players and we're going to go there and give it the best we can." 'Welsh rugby looking for shining light' Peel faced more questions this week on the off-the-field uncertainty surrounding Welsh rugby with Scarlets and Ospreys in dispute with the Welsh Rugby are suggestions the WRU is contemplating cutting a professional team with the two west Wales regions in a more precarious position that Cardiff and Dragons having not signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA).Scarlets are the only Welsh side to have reached the play-offs during a season in which the Wales men's national side extended their losing international streak to a record 17 have former Scarlets and Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde in their backroom staff. McBryde stated in February he feared rugby has lost its soul in Wales and called the situation "very sad" after Warren Gatland had left his role as head coach."It has been a difficult year for Welsh rugby so everybody is looking for some sort of shining light," said McBryde."Hopefully it [Welsh rugby] will get back to where it was before."I am not sure if Scarlets feel they have nothing to lose and can throw the kitchen sink at it against us."If so that could make them an even more dangerous team. "It's fuel for them to come here and prove a point. So Scarlets will turn up and fancy their chances and be a stern test for us." Leinster looking to recover from Northampton hangover Leinster are reeling from their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton at the Aviva Stadium earlier this month."Everybody has looked at themselves across the board since the Northampton defeat," said McBryde."We have had a couple of good sessions where we have had some honest feedback of where we can improve. "We have spoken about it as players and coaches. Was our mindset in the right frame of mind going into that game? Did we think we had a right to be in the final? I don't know."We have fallen short again in the Champions Cup so hopefully we can go a step further in the URC this season.""The URC quarter-finals gives us another opportunity to show we can do that in a knockout phase of a competition because in the last three seasons up to this point of the year we have been pretty good. This is Leinster's 10th successive appearance in the play-offs, but they have not won the league title since 2021, which was the last of four straight successes."It's one game at a time," said McBryde."If we can be good enough on the weekend and beat what is a very cohesive Scarlets team then we will end up reaching the same stage as the last three seasons."It will be give us an opportunity to go a step further, but that's about it. You can't take anything for granted and it's all on the day."We have seen in the past teams come to play against Leinster in the Aviva and raise their game."Scarlets will be a tough nut to crack. We are going to have to take care of our own business and make sure we are learning lessons quickly." How they line up Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (capt).Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ciaran Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes; Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Hollie Davidson (SRU)Assistant referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR), Federico Vedovelli (FIR)TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU).
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
The Welsh rugby team sending a clear message to the WRU after all that's gone on
The Welsh rugby team sending a clear message to the WRU after all that's gone on The Scarlets are taking on Leinster in the URC play-offs this weekend Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel with his players (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel says that his side can strengthen their position with a run in the United Rugby Championship play-offs amid all the uncertainty off the field in Welsh rugby. The west Walians are the only Welsh side in the URC play-offs, with a match against Leinster in Dublin this weekend. However, their run to the play-offs have been overshadowed by off-field events - with the Scarlets one of two teams, along with the Ospreys, not to have signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement. That has seen the Welsh Rugby Union begin the process to implement the two-year option on the existing PRA, putting the futures of the two west Wales teams at risk. However, as the Scarlets - back in the play-offs for the first time since reaching the final in 2018 - head to Ireland, Peel says the players haven't been too concerned about what has been going on in boardrooms. "I think within these four walls obviously, it's not really overshadowed it," said Peel. "I think that, for ourselves, we focus a lot on the rugby. Conversations have been happening here as well above our heads and we're up to date and up to speed with everything that's been going on. "But we've concentrated on the game in hand. For ourselves and the region as a whole, I think it's a great week to be part of." Should Welsh rugby find itself in the position where four teams does go down to three, a number of different factors will likely decide who goes. Quite simply, with the two west Wales clubs on a different financial agreement to Cardiff and Dragons, merely who is able to survive the coming years could determine it. But, were it to come down to looking at the four sides equally, the fact that the Scarlets are the only team in the play-offs could, in theory, count for something. "Yes, I suppose there is an argument for that," admitted Peel. "I think that there's a lot of things that will come into that meritocracy argument, I'm sure. "For us, we're a proud region and rugby means a lot to the people of our community. And I think that if there's anything that we can do to improve our argument - to highlight it - that is performing on the field. "That undoubtedly carries weight. It's about us representing this great club and region, really doing it to the best of our ability, and putting our best foot forward. "That's all we can do as staff and players. For me, that has always been a big part of of our culture. That has always been a big part of why we play the game here. "For me, it was a big part of why I wanted to come back. I've I loved it as a player and I've loved being part of it as a coach as well. "So I think that it's about representing this region to the best of our ability. "If we can go as far as we can in this competition, then that highlights what it means to us as a group, and what it means to our fanbase and stakeholders." Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. On whether on-field success should carry the most weight when it comes to deciding teams' fates, Peel added: "I can only speak from my perspective and I always want to be here as a successful rugby team. "I think that everything that carries off the back of that – the decisions – they are out of my hands. "All I can do, all we can do as a group, is put our best foot forward. "By us being successful, by us winning rugby games, that's the only currency we have as rugby players and rugby coaches." As for how the current situation would affect Peel in terms of building towards next season, the former Wales scrum-half was fairly relaxed as he kept his focus on the Irish province. "I think that those type of things will play out over the next couple of weeks and all we can do is concentrate on the here and now," he said. "The reality is that there are conversations going on above our heads at the minute and I know we're up to speed with everything. We have in our board to do the best best by this region. Article continues below "I think that all we can do as a group of players now is to continue playing as hard as we can and the other things will fall into place off the back of it. "As a group of players, we have an exciting weekend for us and the supporters. The board are obviously working hard on in the background."
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Davies set to miss URC play-off against Leinster
United Rugby Championship quarter-final: Leinster v ScarletsVenue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 31 May Kick-off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, listen on BBC Radio Wales, follow live text on BBC Sport online. Scrum-half Gareth Davies is set to miss Scarlets' United Rugby Championship quarter-final against suffered a rib injury in the victory against Lions in South Africa, and despite being back on the training pitch, is very unlikely to feature in Dublin on Saturday."He's been an outstanding operator for us this year," said Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel."But he's going to struggle to make it this weekend."Peel did not rule out a return for Davies should Scarlets progress to the semi-finals. "He was running this morning. One thing you know about him is that he won't quit. If there's a sniff of him having a chance to play, he'll give it everything," he said. Peel said he was "comfortable with his other nines" and was full of praise for Davies' replacement Archie Hughes."Archie over the last two games [in South Africa] has proved his worth," he said. "We've spoken a lot about Archie over the last couple of years, he's taken his time this season and we've seen some steady growth in his game." Peel is preparing his side for their first appearance in the play-offs in seven years, but has done so against a backdrop of off-field turmoil. Scarlets and Ospreys have not signed up to the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) and have been served notice on their current deal which expires in means they both could receive smaller budgets compared to WRU-owned Cardiff and Dragons - who have signed - as a result of a new two-tier funding WRU has also neither confirmed or denied it intends to cut a region."Within these four walls, it's not really overshadowed it," said Peel."We're up to date with everything that's been going on, but we've concentrated on the game in hand." Asked if he was concerned a smaller budget would affect recruitment, Peel said: "Those type of things will play out over the next couple of weeks, all we can do is concentrate on the here and now."He is confident though that Wales centre Johnny Williams will re-sign for next season. "We're having some positive conversations, hopefully there will be some good news shortly," Peel said. "I have faith in our board to do the best by this region," he added."All we can do as a group of players is to continue playing as hard as we can and the other things will fall into place."
