Europe is often a Welsh-free zone at this time of the rugby season. Not this year, with the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues appearing in high-profile semi-finals. Robin Davey finds reasons why both should go through to their respective finals.
We are reaching the business end of the season and it’s great to see Welsh rugby still has deals to clinch.
Two of the regions will be battling it out on Saturday in their efforts to reach the final of a European competition.
The Scarlets will take on Leinster in the semi-final of the senior Champions Cup at the supposedly neutral venue of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, while Cardiff Blues have home advantage against French opponents Pau in the semis of the Challenge Cup.
The Scarlets have enjoyed a bumper season under the guidance of Wayne Pivac, now being touted for the Wales job when Warren Gatland finishes after next year’s World Cup, with able assistance from Stephen Jones and Byron Hayward.
They’ve supplied the bulk of the Welsh team in the Six Nations after some stunning performances in Europe, enjoying terrific victories over Toulon and La Rochelle at Parc-Y-Scarlets, plus another notable triumph over Bath at the Rec.
Ken Owens has proved an inspirational captain, fulfilling Pivac’s wish for a local leader with the right qualities, while Aaron Shingler has had a great season for region and country, Steff Evans among others also making a major impact.
And then there’s the all-Wales front row of Rob Evans, Owens and Samson Lee, also well to the forefront.
And they have reached the semi-finals of the Champions Cup, plus likely Guinness Pro14 play-offs without the services of outstanding Lions centre Jonathan Davies and Wales lock Jake Ball, who have both been out with long-term injuries.
Now, they travel to Dublin where conditions must favour Leinster, who will provide the bulk of the crowd given that the venue is only down the road from their normal RDS headquarters – a ludicrous situation.
Even if the semi-final venues were decided some way in advance, there was still scope for the authorities to change it, given it will present Leinster with a big advantage.
On the other hand, the Scarlets will travel in the knowledge that they beat Leinster away last season in the league play-offs despite having Steff Evans sent off.
And then they thrashed Munster 46-22 to be crowned champions, so going to Ireland holds no fears for them. Though Leinster are seasoned European campaigners with a huge pedigree, well blessed with leading Irish internationals, the Scarlets can again provide a massive upset and make the Champions Cup final.
Cardiff Blues have enjoyed a magnificent second half of the season under departing head coach Danny Wilson, enjoying a run of eight successive league and cup wins and achieving back-to-back victories over Toulouse and Lyons.
Pau will be the toughest of them all, having proved they buck the trend of French teams failing to produce the goods on their travels by going to Kingsholm and beating Gloucester decisively.
They boast a number of All Blacks in their ranks – Conrad Smith, Tom Taylor, Benson Stanley and Frank Halait, plus flanker Steffon Armitage, the former brilliant England openside who performed wonders for Toulon.
But a packed Arms Park will roar the Blues on and they are in the mood to make it all the way to a European final again, given their current form.
Jarrod Evans has made himself almost the talk of Welsh rugby with a string of top class performances at outside-half, at the same time freeing up potent centres Willie Halaholo and Rey Lee-Lo.
Up front, bulldozing No.8 Nick Williams is as powerful as ever, while alongside him Josh Navidi has enjoyed a magnificent season after breaking into the Welsh team.
The way they are playing, provided they start with a bang and knock Pau out of their stride from the kick-off, they are well capable of going all the way to Bilbao for the final on May 11.
So, I’m going for a thrilling Welsh double celebration on Saturday – the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues to roar into European finals.
