Tuesday 23 May 2017 11:04, UK
Stuart Barnes on Billy Vunipola's injury, the Scarlets' win in Dublin and his prediction ahead of next weekend's Aviva Premiership final.
1. The mobile bleeped Sunday night. What now? Weekend's work done, I was reading a book; normally I ignore text messages on a Sunday evening but for some reason... and there it was. The withdrawal of Billy Vunipola from the Lions tour.
My first thought was, "what a man". He must have known the risk he was taking, playing games with a dodgy shoulder at this stage of the season. But there was never a moment when he was at anything less than full tilt for his club and his team-mates. He winced once or twice in the Exeter game but got to his feet and ploughed on yet again.
I wrote a column for Sunday, saying Saracens' loss would be the Lions gain, an extra week's recovery and all that... but now we know there will be no Billy. His power in the tight might just have forced Kieran Read (assuming he is fit) from the wide channels, where he is so devastating, back into the thick of things.
Tactically, this is a major blow. Personally, it is a hammer blow. But Taulupe Faletau will switch into Test mode at No 8 and he finished the season in fine form. And while Billy's absence is a huge loss for the Lions, the All Blacks will have their share of injuries comes the series too. It is the nature of the game. My last thought on the news... it is still, "what a man".
2. It has not been a great last few days for the Lions and their management. Ken Owens, in many people's eyes the favourite for the Test team, withdrew from the PRO12 semi-final in Dublin and we hear he is not likely to be involved in this Saturday's final.
The Scarlets management reckon he will be fit for the tour but well, they would say that...
And then Jack McGrath went off the field early, with Tadhg Furlong following later. Cramp in the case of the latter, an arm injury for the loosehead. An arm injury is hardly ideal for a prop forward. More worries.
3. All smiles for the Scarlets though. What an outstanding performance on Friday night. In the first half, their attack was superb, lovely offloads, support lines and running angles.
They had to batten down the proverbial hatches in the second period after Steff Evans' red card but their defence, allied with an obvious spirit, did the job.
It must be said, this was not Leinster's finest hour and 20. Poor handling and tactical inadequacy, and no chance for Johnny Sexton to get this horror night out of the system before New Zealand.
4. One day later in England, and Exeter were taking full advantage of a Saracens side not quite at their cutting-edge best. The physical and psychological toll of the European Champions Cup final caught up with them.
It took a typically gutsy effort to see them lead with one minute left. And then Henry Slade produced one of the great kicks to touch of our times.
The Exeter drive did the rest. They head to Twickenham as my idea of favourites, having learned their lesson in defeat last season.
5. The Wasps semi-final against Leicester was a game of genuine contrasts. The Wasps attack against the Tigers grinding game (with a pass of pure perfection from Freddie Burns thrown into the mix).
Leicester lost, but looked much more like their old cussed selves with a strong showing from Lions tighthead Dan Cole.
Wasps held their nerve and nicked it near the death. On the balance of their regular season form, you couldn't say they didn't deserve it.
6. Leapfrogging back to Ireland, Munster made it to the PRO12 final quite comfortably. Ospreys showed some spine with the return of Alun Wyn Jones but never had the wit of the Scarlets to trouble the immense Munster defence.
The power of the Munster scrum was the other prominent feature of a game that lacked either the drama or class of Friday's game.
7. I fancied Scarlets (they were a massive priced 9/2 to beat Leinster) on Friday and I think I'll stick with them for Saturday.
The Scarlets have beaten Munster in Limerick, so Dublin will hold few fears. At full strength for 80 minutes, they will be a tough team to beat.
Munster will want to slow the game down and play it around the fringes and via the box-kicking boot of Conor Murray and the clever little chips of their midfield combination.
However, man of the match Francis Saili could prove the defensive weakness the Welsh team will exploit. The Kiwi loves to rush and often loses the connection with the rest of his midfield.
The Scarlets, with in-form Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies, can find holes other PRO12 teams have not.
The stronger midfield for this match would be Scannell and Jaco Taute. Defence, not attack, is Munster's best hope of victory.
8. At Twickenham, I will pin my colours on Exeter. The sheer strength of their game in the tight can force Wasps to play with limited possession.
While Wasps are capable of the brilliant, Exeter seem to have an unstoppable momentum.
9. Away from the glamour of the finals; let us talk red cards. Steff Evans, to be precise.
By the letter of the law, Marius Mitrea was right to send the Scarlets wing from the field of play. But the law really is an ass.
The referee knew it too. He was desperate not to send the winger off, he knew there was no intent to injure Gary Ringrose. But the replay showed the centre landed on his head. Red card, according to the laws. Had the referee not sent him off, he would have been reprimanded behind closed doors.
He got it right but, think about this, had the Ireland centre's shoulder hit the ground a split second before the head the decision would have been yellow card. Evans didn't think, "I'll dump him on his head".
He didn't deserve red but while outcome has it over intent, we will have to live with these anomalies.
10. Another impressive win for the Crusaders against the Chiefs in Fiji. Unbeaten to date in Super Rugby, mark down June 10 as the first Test of the Lions series, albeit an unofficial one.
The Crusaders in Christchurch. There are only two games in the South Island but this one will be fantastic (while the Highlanders clash won't be bad either).
...and that is it for the domestic season.
Next time I write this column, I will be in New Zealand. Speak to you from somewhere beneath those long white clouds next week.
Thanks for your support all season, it's appreciated.
