3 days ago
Leinster v Scarlets preview: Heat is on the Blue front-row and kick fielders
Scarlets finished eighth in the URC league-proper, surviving failing to secure any league points from a brave display against Sharks, going down 12-3 in Durban, in the final round.
At the same time there is the temptation to say they deserved a break as their round 16 win over Leinster, 35-22 at Parc y Scarlets, was genuinely deserved, not least as they kept the Blues scoreless through the last half-hour.
Leinster were second-best on the day as Scarlet made off with a bonus point, winning the try-scoring 4-3, clean breaks 12-8, defenders beaten 34-31 and, thanks to some judicious kicking, had 53 percent of the territory.
Enough, admits Ronan Kelleher who was part of the starting front-row alongside Cian Healy and Thomas Clarkson in Llanelli, to give any team coming to the Aviva to play Leinster believe the feat can be repeated.
'Absolutely," grimaces the hooker, "obviously off the back of it they got into the play-offs and I thought they were really good on the day.
"I thought we obviously were poor in parts as well, but we obviously know how much of a threat that they can cause.
"Having played in it, you obviously get it first hand. We took a lot of learnings from that game, what we did wrong, what we need to get right this next day.
"And I think that is going to be a massive challenge this weekend, but it had also been a massive focus for us last week because obviously we had the down week not playing in that game and this week now going ahead.'
Scarlets started Alec Hepburn on the loose side and he played 78 minutes and there are those who will tell you he pushed Taine Plumtree close for Man of Match; Ryan Elias at hooker and Henry Thomas at tighthead at Parc y Scarlets played 54 minutes apiece.
Irish fans are not used to thinking modern Welsh sides are good scrummagers but there was cause for thought there.
'They're quite good, tricky to manage, to be fair." continues Leinster, Ireland and Lions panellist, Kelleher.
"Someone like Ryan Elias is experienced. He might not start on the weekend, I don't know what the story is with them, but he's quite good. Henry Thomas is a very experienced scrummager as well.
"Alec Hepburn has obviously been around the block (London Welsh 2013-14, Exeter Chiefs 2014-2024, England 6 caps 2018, Scotland 4 caps 2024). I think the word I'd use is tricky, to be honest.
"There has been a bit in the past about how some teams like to load up a lot of weight and you get that load on the neck in the scrum. I think they're a team that probably favours that a bit.
"It's just about how you manage that with the referee and how you get through that game. How you communicate that as well.
"Because it's important that we get clean scrums, because no one wants that in a game where it is collapsing, feet gone or people standing up because there is too much weight and that. It's just about how do you manage that really.'
Besides the Northampton loss was also raining on the Irishman's parade at a time when he should be celebrating his Lions selection, buoyed from the best piece of TV news this season.
'Obviously it was Thursday here. Finished up training, grabbed the gear bag, ran home. I live with Hugo Keenan, so it was the two of us just watching it together. It was tense.
"It was actually funny because it was one of those things. You hadn't really put much thought into it really. Obviously it was in the background of your mind, but you hadn't actually thought about it at all.
"When I left training I was like 'jeez, it's happening in the next half an hour', but obviously it dragged on a bit. It was pretty nervy, the two of us just on the couch watching it.
"Obviously absolutely delighted once my name was called. I was thrilled. Obviously we had to wait another couple of minutes [the forwards are announced en bloc first] until Hugo's name was called, so we could both celebrate together.
"It was great, I was absolutely delighted. My family as well were absolutely thrilled, over the moon. It was unreal.'
"As soon as my name was announced, my phone started buzzing. I had to throw it away until Hugo's thing. It was pretty surreal to be honest, but it was unbelievable.'
The countdown to Australia has begun.
'We met up as a group there over in London and that was good. It's good to meet everyone. Obviously with those things, there is always obviously a small bit of anxiety going in to meet everyone, but everyone was dead sound.
"It was brilliant meeting everyone. It's just a funny concept obviously because you're enemies for the three or four years in the build-up and then obviously you come together, and you have to get close quick.
"It was great, it's very much been focused on the here and now. Obviously we had the disappointment with the finish in Europe and now obviously all our eyes are on this competition and trying to win this one.'
