By Rob Cole
It won’t be long before we find out if the Scarlets’ success last year in bringing home some silverware was a flash in the pan or if the Wayne Pivac plan is going to have some real legs.
Only one team in the previous 16 years has been able to make it back-to-back titles, Leinster in 2013 and 2014, and the Scarlets have to get past the 2015 champions, Glasgow Warriors, to stand a chance of holding onto their title.
They couldn’t have picked a tougher semi-final task than heading to Scotstoun on Friday night to see if they can head back to the Aviva Stadium to meet either the Champions Cup winners Leinster, or the team they conquered in such style in the Irish capital last year, Munster.
The title race has come down to the four best teams in the tournament and the challenge for the Scarlets is to rediscover the form they showed in the knock-out stages last year, when they beat both Leinster and Munster in Dublin to take the title.
Good teams win titles, great teams keep on filling up their trophy cabinet. Only the Ospreys, with their four Celtic Rugby titles, have enjoyed anything other than fleeting success. You can add an Anglo-Welsh trophy to their list since 2003, while Cardiff Blues can boast two European Challenge Cup crowns in 2010 and 2018 to go with their Anglo-Welsh final win.
Pivac’s men at least built on last season’s outstanding success by reaching the semi-finals of the Champions Cup this season, but they were blown away by Leinster at the Aviva. That’s why tonight’s game is so important to them – it can give them a shot at redemption if Leinster come through their test against Munster at the RDS.
On paper, the main task might appear to be in keeping the Glasogw playmakers Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell in check. But the real key to Glasgow’s continued success has been the power and mobility of their pack.
To win the Scarlets must win the tight five battle and get their free-flowing, off-loading game going on the artificial surface at Scotstoun. It is made for them.
The return to full fitness of Johnny McNichol is a huge boost for Pivac and has allowed him to cover up the missing Leigh Halfpenny. Tom Prydie’s return is another major boost, while having Rhys Patchell at outside half means the Scarlets will start with all their key men in key positions.
There is a mouthwatering side story to the game tonight, with two Kiwi coaches very much in the running to take over from Warren Gatland going head-to-head. Glasgow’s Dave Rennie is looking for a title in his first season at the club, while Pivac is hoping to keep build his dynasty.
For the record, the Scarlets have won the last three meetings, including their last outing at Scotstoun, but don’t blink, because you will probably miss something vital. It promises to be that sort of game.
Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac said: “They’ve got a very good record at home. They play on a different surface, which they’re used to, so they have a bit of an advantage there, but it’s 80 minutes of knockout rugby. We think we’re in a reasonably good position in terms of our form going in to it.
“We’re really looking forward to it. We have a lot of respect for Glasgow, they have a good coaching group, some great players and they’ve got a very strong home record. It makes for a good match-up. Both teams like to play, use the width of the field, and with that type of play it could be a great game.
“Boys enjoy knockout rugby and they enjoy being in these situations. We’re going in there with the mindset that we need to secure a top performance to be able to get on the right side of the ledger.”
Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie said: “At the start of the season our goal was to be playing finals footy at home in front of our family and friends and we’re excited to be running out in front of a 10,000-strong Scotstoun tomorrow night.
“We’ve prepared well and it’s great to be able to bring back Jonny (Gray), Sam (Johnson) Pete (Horne)and Tommy (Seymour) who were late withdrawals ahead of our last game.
“Scarlets are a quality side, they’re reigning champions for a reason and we’re looking forward to the challenge on what is will be a special night for our players and supporters.”
Glasgow Warriors: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson, DTH van der Merwe; Finn Russell, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson; Tim Swinson, Jonny Gray; Matt Fagerson, Callum Gibbins, Ryan Wilson (capt)
Reps: George Turner, Alex Allan, Siua Halanukonuka, Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Henry Pyrgos, Peter Horne, Ruaridh Jackson
Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl, Tom Prydie, Scott Williams, Hadleigh Parkes, Steffan Evans; Rhys Patchell, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens (capt), Samson Lee; Tadhg Beirne, Steven Cummins; Aaron Shingler, James Davies, John Barclay
Reps: Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones, Werner Kruger, Lewis Rawlins, Will Boyde, Jonathan Evans, Daniel Jones, Steffan Hughes
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)