Munster v Scarlets: Guinness PRO12 final talking points
By Louise Warr
Last Updated: 27/05/17 6:06pm
We cast our eyes over the big talking points ahead of Saturday's Guinness PRO12 final between Munster and the Scarlets, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 5.30pm.
In-form Scarlets
The Scarlets head to Dublin with six straight wins under their belt, their last defeat coming against Leinster at the RDS at the beginning on March.
Last weekend's hard-fought victory over Leinster saw them make history as they became the first side to win an away PRO12 semi-final, and they had to do so with a man down for over half the match.
They have put in some impressive performances against formidable opposition this season, none more so than in the Champions Cup where they secured a victory over a star-studded Toulon outfit, and held back-to-back champions Saracens to a draw.
Munster have been in impressive form themselves this season, tasting defeat on just three occasions in this year's PRO12 season. Their one home defeat came against Saturday's opponents as the Scarlets ran out 30-12 winners at Thomond Park back in February.
Big game experience
While this will be the Scarlets' first appearance in the PRO12 showpiece event, Munsters are no strangers to the big stage.
Domestic winners in 2010/2011 and 2014/2015, Munster have also been regular diners at Europe's top table featuring in the last three semi-finals alongside a competition win in 2007/2008.
Rassie Erasmus' men are also in familiar surroundings at the Aviva Stadium, having played there just five weeks ago in their Champions Cup semi-final clash with Saracens, a day where the stands were awash with Munster red.
Evans cleared
One of the big talking points following the Scarlets' semi-final win was Steff Evans' red card.
The winger was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Leinster centre Garry Ringrose in Dublin last Friday night, but a disciplinary panel has since ruled by a majority decision that the red card issued to Evans should be rescinded, providing the Welsh region with a huge boost ahead of the final.
Before being sent from the field in the 37th minute, Evans was a stand-out performer for his side, scoring the first of Scarlets' three first-half tries, and put in a try and possibly game-saving tackle on Jack McGrath.
While the Scarlets survived the loss of their key man, they looked a far more formidable opponent with Evans on the field, and with the wing now wanting to make up for his short-lived appearance last time out, expect him to be a vital component in the Llanelli-based side's armoury.
Head-to-head battles
There will be plenty of good showdowns in Dublin, with Simon Zebo and Johnny McNicholl lining up opposite each other, and Gareth Davies going toe to toe with British and Irish Lion Conor Murray.
There's also the enticing tussle between CJ Stander and John Barclay at No 8. But the pair who will be under the most pressure to perform are the outside centres.
Both sides have a player in the top three for the most tries in the PRO12 this season (Steff Evans for Scarlets and Ronan O'Mahony Munster) which shows how much of a threat they are with the ball.
Jonathan Davies and Francis Saili hold the key to each team's potency out wide, as well as the midfield defence, and if one can completely starve the other of space and time in possession it will go a long way to deciding the outcome of the final.
Team news
British and Irish Lions hooker Ken Owens will again be absent when the Scarlets go for Guinness PRO12 title glory on Saturday.
Owens, who was with the Lions during their training camp in Ireland this week, missed last Friday's semi-final victory over Leinster and is continuing his recovery from an ankle injury.
Owens now sits out the final at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, with Scotland international flanker John Barclay leading the Scarlets' victory bid.
Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac has named an unchanged team - Owens' Lions colleagues Liam Williams, who joins Saracens this summer, and Jonathan Davies both start - as the west Wales region chase a first PRO12 crown.
Munster rugby director Rassie Erasmus, meanwhile, retains the matchday 23 that accounted for semi-final opponents the Ospreys six days ago, which means starts for Lions squad members Conor Murray, CJ Stander and Peter O'Mahony.
Lock Donnacha Ryan makes his final appearance for Munster before moving to France, with centre Francis Saili and replacement Jean Deysel also set for farewall outings.
Munster: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Conor Murray, 1 Dave Kilcoyne, 2 Niall Scannell, 3 John Ryan, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Billy Holland, 6 Peter O'Mahony (c), 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 8 CJ Stander.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Brian Scott, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jack O'Donoghue, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Jaco Taute.
Scarlets: 15 Johnny Mcnicholl, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Gareth Davies, 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Lewis Rawlins, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 James Davies, 8 John Barclay (c).
Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Wyn Jones, Werner Kruger, David Bulbring, Will Boyde, Jonathan Evans, Hadleigh Parkes, DTH van der Merwe.