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PREVIEW: Leinster v Scarlets

Today’s plot revolves around Leinster aiming to create a piece of history by completing a domestic and European double and Scarlets focused on retaining their Championship crown and claiming back-to-back titles.

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But it is the sub-plots that make this fixture a classic in the making. Firstly, we have the architects of both teams that bring a worldview and mould it to fit their local values.

At Leinster, head coach Leo Cullen and senior coach Stuart Lancaster have maximised the talent pouring out of the province’s academy and matched it well with the plethora of international talent among their established ranks. Competition for places is intense, the game plans are shrewd and the players are powered by a relentless motivation.

Power and finesse, this Leinster crop – the new European Champions – have it in spades.

Across the aisle in the opposing coach box and Wayne Pivac, the former policeman from New Zealand, has some very able lieutenants in Stephen Jones (attack coach) and Byron Hayward (defence coach) have forged a smart, agile and daring team in Llanelli.

Scintillating play is Scarlets’ calling card but it is based upon Kiwi values that ensure the opposition breakdown is raided at every opportunity and offloading ability is the main passport into the starting XV. There’s also a steely bond among the team that is best manifested in their defence, as Leinster will attest to, the red line refused to buckle in the RDS Arena during last season’s Pro14 semifinal. 

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Scarlets used that historic away win as a springboard to the title, Leinster used it as motivation to come back harder this season. When it mattered most in the Champions Cup semifinal in Dublin last month, Leinster blew the doors off but it’s difficult to imagine Scarlets allowing lightning to strike twice.

The playing ranks of both sides can safely be described as elite. British & Irish Lions sprinkle both squads while many of the players are used to going at each other toe-to-toe in the Six Nations when Ireland and Wales face each other.

There are icons on both teams bidding farewell, too. Leinster captain Isa Nacewa is due to bow out ahead of retirement and back row Jordi Murphy is departing for Ulster. Scott Williams will play his last game for Scarlets before moving to Ospreys while John Barclay misses out through injury ahead of his switch to Edinburgh.

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Scarlets also come into this game with their free-flowing style of play showing no signs of blunting. The Welsh region have scored over 100 points in their last three games while in comparison Leinster have not scored more than 16 points in any of the previous four outings. As for knock-out form, Leinster have won 50 percent of the last four Championship games while Scarlets are a perfect four from four.

Form guides, however, are only an accurate measure of the past and on an occasion such as the Pro14 Final nothing is certain beyond the prospect of a tantalising contest between two of the Championship’s very best teams.

Players to watch:

For Leinster: Isa Nacewa is playing his final game for the Irish province and he has been a match-winner many times. Flyhalf Jonathan Sexton is enjoying a remarkable season and he is one of the best in his position at the moment. If he stamps his authority on the game, life will certainly be difficult for the Scarlets. Leinster have a powerful front row and Tadhg Furlong is an absolute beast in the scrums and with ball in hand. Also keep an eye out for James Lowe, who is always dangerous with ball in hand.

For Scarlets: The Welsh side are one of the best-attacking sides in Europe and flyhalf Rhys Patchell is at the forefront of that. The Scarlets have plenty of firepower out wide. Scott Williams and Hadleigh Parkes are sure to cause Leinster plenty of problems in the midfield. In the pack, Aaron Shingler is a star in the back row and his physicality on attack and on defence is something to behold.

Head to head:

James Ryan v Tadhg Beirne

Tadhg Beirne will be desperate to help Scarlets defend their title in the same week he was called up to the Ireland squad for the three-Test series in Australia this June. The Scarlets lock is moving to Munster at the end of the season and is eligible to play international rugby, richly deserved after another fine season. Beirne ended the regular season with 37 turnovers won, 15 more than any other player in the Pro14 and is a key threat to Leinster at the breakdown, something they worked hard to stop during their Champions Cup clash. But at lock he goes head to head with another Irishman who has been in superb form since breaking into the Leinster side. James Ryan is yet to taste defeat in his professional career, with the 21-year-old enjoying 22 wins from 22 games for club and country. A defensive stalwart and hugely effective with the ball in hand, Ryan was man of the match in Leinster’s European triumph. The two second rowers offer something different to their respective teams, but both are capable of making a match-winning difference.

Jonathan Sexton v Rhys Patchell

Scarlets flyhalf Rhys Patchell will be up against it against Johnny Sexton, according to Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac, who admitted that Patchell is still developing as a flyhalf, while his opposite number is a world-class operator. But Patchell, seven years Sexton’s junior, has been excellent for Scarlets this season and has cemented himself in the side, versatile in being confident at flyhalf and fullback. The 25-year-old enjoyed a superb Six Nations debut for Wales against Scotland earlier this season and has contributed points in tries and from the tee as Scarlets aim to defend their title. Patchell has already proven that he can handle the big occasion, but will be keen to get the better of Sexton. The Irishman missed Leinster’s semifinal win over Munster with a calf injury, that also affected his kicking during the Champions Cup final. Now back and raring to go, he will be hungry to lead his province to their first Pro14 title since 2014. With six appearances for the British & Irish Lions under his belt and Leinster’s record points scorer, a high-quality Sexton performance could be the difference in Dublin.

PREVIEW: Leinster v Scarlets

Overall Pro14 head to head record:

Played 31 Leinster won 18, Scarlets won 11 with 2 games drawn.

PREVIEW: Leinster v Scarlets

Prediction: Leinster are seeking to become Pro14 Champions for the fifth time and become the first non-English or French side to claim a domestic title and European Cup double in the same season. Leinster have played in seven previous Championship finals, winning three and losing four, just one of those was at Lansdowne Road/Aviva Stadium, beating Munster there 24-20 in 2001. The Leinstermen have won their last eight matches at Aviva Stadium in all tournaments since losing there to Toulon in the pool phase of the 2015/16 European Champions Cup. Leinster’s only defeat in Dublin to a Welsh Region since February 2015 was in last season’s semi-final, to today’s opponents, Scarlets, at the RDS Arena. Scarlets, the defending Pro14 Champions, are bidding to win the title for a third time – only Leinster have ever retained the Championship title, having done so in 2013 and 2014. The Scarlets Region have played in just three previous finals in all competitions, losing to Munster at Lansdowne Road in the Celtic Cup final in 2005, and being beaten by Wasps at Twickenham in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final in 2006. Last season they overcame Munster in the Pro14 final at Aviva Stadium. Scarlets have lost on all four occasions they have visited Ireland in all tournaments this season. The two sides have met on three occasions this season, twice in the Guinness PRO14, with Leinster winning 20-13 at the RDS in February and drawing 10-all at Parc y Scarlets in March. Leinster also beat Scarlets 38-15 in the semifinal of the European Champions Cup at Aviva Stadium in April. The two sides have met three times before at Lansdowne Road/Aviva Stadium with Leinster victorious on each occasion including two regular season fixtures in the Pro14 in March 2005 and April 2006. Leinster will be crowned champions with a 12-point win.

Teams:

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Isa Nacewa (captain), 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Dan Leavy, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Seán Cronin, 1 Cian Healy.

Replacement: 16 James Tracy, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Scott Fardy, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Rory O’Loughlin.

Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Johnny Mcnicholl, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Tadhg Beirne, 7 James Davies, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Steve Cummins, 4 Lewis Rawlins, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Rob Evans.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 David Bulbring, 20 Will Boyde, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Tom Prydie.

Date: Saturday, May 26

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Kick-off: 18.00 (17.00 GMT)

Expected weather: There will be intervals of clouds and sunshine and clouds with a high of 17°C and a low 10°C. There will be a strong breeze as well.

Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Marius Mitrea (Italy), Mike Adamson Scotland

TMO: Neil Paterson (Scotland)

@PRO14Official

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