Monday 29 May 2017 09:59, UK
Stuart Barnes on the Scarlets winning the PRO12, Exeter's unbelievable journey - and the Lions tour is finally here!
1. Let's look back in wonder... we'll start in Dublin. If England was the scene for - at times - almost unbearable drama, Ireland was the setting for what some might describe as an 'unbelievable' performance. Not me - we keep calling the Scarlets' performances of the last three weeks unbelievable. Well, how can they be unbelievable when they keep doing it again and again?
They have been building their game, game by game, until they reached some sort of end-of-season crescendo against Munster on Saturday. It was brilliant but it was eminently believable. Quite why the bookmakers didn't see it coming, I'm not sure. They have been 5-1 and 3-1 against in their last two games against Irish opposition. Good to see even the bookmakers get it wrong at times...
2. And now we flit across the Irish Sea to Twickenham. I watched the Premiership final in the Sky TV truck. Scenes of tension, terrific defence and some superb attacking. Rob Baxter struggled to hold back the tears, and even I felt the tear ducts welling. Exeter has been one of the great stories in the English professional age. To win the title after seven years in the top flight is quite some story (the fingers are hunting out the U N B keys). As someone who kicked and missed a few in Twickenham finals, I have special sympathy for goal kickers. Gareth Steenson had an array of those horrible kicks that everyone except an old kicker thinks is easy; not in a final. But the Chiefs captain nailed them all.
3. For the Pro 12 losers... there's no point pretending. The Scarlets were superb but Munster were miserable. Their defence crumbled with the erroneous selection of Francis Saili. Rassie Erasmus was being bold, seeking more potency in offence, but Jaco Taute's defence has been the cornerstone of the Munster game this season. The Scarlets poured through the porous outside centre area in the middle of the first half. The game was gone, as Jonathan Davies and Steff Evans trotted off down the touchline for a cracking second try.
4. If any Lion shone this weekend, it was Davies. He is playing as well as I have seen him perform since 2013, and that is going some. Lovely running lines, accurate distribution and good defence (on the odd occasion); I also enjoyed him using that left boot of his a little less. The Scarlets have him playing. Can Rob Howley spark him too?
5. Other Lions... Liam Williams is playing OK, but was rightly upset with the missed tackle when Andrew Conway scored. Of the three wingers on display, Elliot Daly - off form of late - oozed class and Jack Nowell was all industry. Not a bad day for the Lions out on the flanks.
6. Not so good in the back row. CJ Stander looks lethargic since his ankle injury, while the speed of the game seemed to take Peter O'Mahony out of the action. If there is one thing that can be guaranteed in New Zealand, it is a quick game. The best six on the field in Dublin was Aaron Shingler.
7. Late night pint and a French Onion soup in our Dublin hotel, and I find Alex Payne and I share an opinion; that while all sorts of factors should go into selecting a squad of 41, those who will arrive late as replacements should be judged on their current form. Were this to be the case, a few Scarlets could yet travel. 'Living in the moment' was how Shingler described it.
8. A word of consolation for Wasps. Huge effort, big heart and desperately close. I reckon they will learn from their loss as Exeter seem to have managed. Quite how Joe Launchbury isn't on the plane to New Zealand is a mystery, while Nathan Hughes put together an enormous effort. Close this time around, don't bet against them finding the cigars in 2018.
9. Come on Clermont! OK, I know that journalistic integrity is at risk here but come on, mes garcons... I will be in New Zealand by the time the final takes place, won't commentate on it, write about it, won't have any involvement at all, but listen, these fans from the Auvergne are seriously good people and the team plays a sweet style of rugby. They survived a sending off in their semi-final victory against the now former champions, Racing 92, while Toulon benefited from a red card issued against La Rochelle on Friday night. I don't think this is a team of Clermont chokers, nor do I think it a vintage Toulon team. Allez, Clermont...
10. You may be wondering why there is no comment on the England game. That is because I am sitting in an airport lounge without the luxury of Sky Sports. So, here are a few hopes as I write this Sunday afternoon; 1 That George Ford plays with panache. 2 That Alex Goode has a good game against the manager who really doesn't rate him. 3 That Ellis Genge ensures there's nothing friendly about the fixture. 4 That Alex Lozowski shows he can play 12 as well as 10 and 15 and that his dad, Rob has a better time than he and I did when we made our England debuts alongside each other against Australia... a couple of years ago...
So much for the immediate past and the present of England versus the Barbarians... no need to tell you what starts next Saturday. The wait is almost over (heck of a tired old phrase there, sorry). The Lions have little time on the ground before the first game, little time for preparation full stop, and not much time to finish their Monday night meal before catching the plane... hope the dietitians don't ruin the night for them... Lions versus NZ Barbarians, Saturday, Whangarei. The last time the Lions played there in 1993, some bloke from Bath was captain. Happy memories for me, best wishes for the 2017 squad. They have their work cut out. While I cannot help but tip New Zealand to win, remember in sport, as in life, anything can happen. The mightiest can be brought down...
