:00:27. > :00:36.Out on the wing is Llyr Williams, in his final game in Scarlet colours,
:00:37. > :00:43.Timmy, to you, to you, to me. Davis skips over. Determined. Absolutely
:00:44. > :00:47.incredible. The 50th try. The Scarlets are going to have the last
:00:48. > :00:56.word, worthy winners and worthy champions. So, the domestic season
:00:57. > :01:01.is done and dusted and the Scarlets are the 2017 Pro12 champions. They
:01:02. > :01:07.came here to be Aviva Stadium in Dublin and blue monster wave. Let's
:01:08. > :01:10.remind ourselves of the wonderful evening. COMMENTATOR:
:01:11. > :01:23.Ryan playing his last game in amongst a kit. So is Conor Murray at
:01:24. > :01:27.scrum-half. Bleyendaal, the Pro12 leading points scorer, the back
:01:28. > :01:32.three with over 80 league tries between them. No Ken Owens or Jake
:01:33. > :01:37.Ball, but Eliasson and Rawlins have done an excellent job standing in
:01:38. > :01:45.and have been rewarded for consistencies. Williams's farewell
:01:46. > :01:49.game for the Scarlets before joining Saracens, Evans reprieved after
:01:50. > :01:52.seeing red at the RBS last week. Patch up just a point behind Brian
:01:53. > :02:01.Dial in the top scorer stakes of the Pro12. -- patch shall appoint behind
:02:02. > :02:27.Bleyendaal. APPLAUSE The deaths of those in
:02:28. > :02:31.Manchester suitably remembered as sport plays its respects. Anthony
:02:32. > :02:32.Foley's son with Nigel Owens the referee today giving the match ball
:02:33. > :02:47.to Patchell. Patchell gets the game under way.
:02:48. > :02:57.The Scarlets in red, Munster the team in blue this afternoon. Munster
:02:58. > :02:58.comfortably victorious over the Ospreys, the Scarlets superb against
:02:59. > :03:12.Leinster to reach here. Good weight on the ball, every
:03:13. > :03:18.chance to run onto it, but Liam Williams, the bomb diffuser is
:03:19. > :03:34.there. Dragged out of play by CJ Stander.
:03:35. > :03:42.McNicol, two men outside him, to back rowers, James Davis the first,
:03:43. > :03:55.Conor Murray with the tackle. Barclay. Ball is therefore Gareth
:03:56. > :04:05.Davies, Patchell... O'Donnell with the big hit. The crowd loving it.
:04:06. > :04:11.Holding on against Rhys Patchell. Should have been inside ball, watch,
:04:12. > :04:15.and inside runner with two players. The scrum defences going wide -- the
:04:16. > :04:18.defence is going wide, good communication between scrum-half and
:04:19. > :04:23.winner, had that ball inside the Scarlets would have been a force. An
:04:24. > :04:24.opportunity missed. Jonathan Davies over to the far side alongside Steph
:04:25. > :04:44.Evans. Pressure on that Scarlets scrum.
:04:45. > :04:52.First penalty and set play going Munster's way.
:04:53. > :04:59.Bleyendaal leads leading points scorer, no trouble getting the first
:05:00. > :05:06.points of the final, putting Munster ahead 3-0.
:05:07. > :05:18.Rob Evans driving on, but not driving very far, Munster holding
:05:19. > :05:26.their ground. Scott Williams is first receiver. Taute on as a
:05:27. > :05:32.temporary replacement for Iscan all. He is undergoing a head injury
:05:33. > :05:39.assessment -- a replacement for Rory Scannell. Free play, they have a
:05:40. > :05:42.chance to go here. Patchell, McNicholl knew the kick was coming
:05:43. > :05:49.and on the wing is Liam Williams, and they don't need a penalty
:05:50. > :05:52.because Liam Williams on his final game in Scarlet colours has got the
:05:53. > :06:00.first try of the afternoon and put the Scarlets ahead. Lovely, lovely
:06:01. > :06:13.kick, watch the bounce favouring Scarlets. Kick it, that's it.
:06:14. > :06:19.Free play at the moment for the Scarlets. They are struggling,
:06:20. > :06:43.Munster. Great strike from Rhys Patchell, and
:06:44. > :06:45.as we approach the end of the first quarter it is an excellent start for
:06:46. > :07:02.the Scarlets. Dangerous but effective from the
:07:03. > :07:05.Scarlets. John Davies on the outside of Scannell, Steph Evans on his
:07:06. > :07:12.outside, there goes Evans with a run to the line for John Davies, back to
:07:13. > :07:19.Steph Evans, to me, to you, to you, to me, and it is trying number 13
:07:20. > :07:20.for the league's top try scorer. Brilliant, brilliant break-out. The
:07:21. > :07:32.Scarlets at their best. The extras come from Rhys Patchell,
:07:33. > :07:40.and it's getting better and better for the Scarlets.
:07:41. > :07:48.McNicholl. James Davies. LAUGHTER Finds Shingler and he goes tearing
:07:49. > :07:54.down the ring for Evans again, across comes Murray and Earls, Evans
:07:55. > :07:58.steps back and sides, feeds them... Davis drops it and it's gone
:07:59. > :08:02.forward. It was an even better approach that time and that would
:08:03. > :08:09.have been one of the tries of the season. They imploded. Unfortunately
:08:10. > :08:10.you have to scroll these tries. You cannot afford to miss those
:08:11. > :08:31.opportunities in this game. Captain John Barclay. James Davies.
:08:32. > :08:36.Bleyendaal is playing at full-back for Munster. They are just rotating
:08:37. > :08:42.the last man left and right, Zebo is doing so much running, it is
:08:43. > :08:46.amazing. Williams takes a up and go straight through, to Davis, Davis
:08:47. > :08:50.skips over, he's over the try line, but will it stand? Was the path
:08:51. > :08:57.forward? It could be trying number three for the Scarlets but they will
:08:58. > :09:08.have to wait and see. . From that angle it looks good. That will do
:09:09. > :09:14.nicely, it is trying number three. Pressure. They need to get out.
:09:15. > :09:31.Barclay goes to the brine side -- blindside. Lewis Rawlins. Beirne
:09:32. > :09:36.determined an effective and over, incredible, absolutely incredible.
:09:37. > :09:42.This is a sublime 30 minutes of rugby from the Scarlets. No bonus
:09:43. > :09:48.points in the final, but this is indeed a bonus in every sense for
:09:49. > :09:54.the Scarlets, with Beirne making it dream world for the men in red.
:09:55. > :09:59.Again, the job is done by Rhys Patchell, and the Scarlets slowly
:10:00. > :10:14.pulling clear. Saili with a half-break down the
:10:15. > :10:23.pass. Good interplay by those two. O'Donnell. Murray spots half a gap
:10:24. > :10:28.and goes for it. Looks for support. Patchell gets Battaglin, support
:10:29. > :10:33.slow in coming, Zebo to Ryan's. Munster have to go down the
:10:34. > :10:45.right-hand side. Shingler hounding his man. Scannell... Brilliant
:10:46. > :10:51.defence by the Scarlets under pressure. A man down against
:10:52. > :10:56.Leinster last week. Better play, they are going through the phases.
:10:57. > :10:58.They have dropped it, and the double knock-on will give Scarlets the ball
:10:59. > :11:16.back and a breather. CJ Stander at eight, they are going
:11:17. > :11:26.for the drive, Stander picks up the ball. Saili comes on the charge, a
:11:27. > :11:29.dummy run, and Tyler Bleyendaal boasts his way over. Munster get a
:11:30. > :11:37.sniff in the very last minute of the first half.
:11:38. > :11:47.Zebo steps in at ten. Davies. A cross comes Williams, creates the
:11:48. > :11:53.space behind forwards defending there. Peter O'Mahony trunk ratchet,
:11:54. > :11:57.Zebo in all kinds of trouble from McNicholl. Good play from Munster,
:11:58. > :12:04.they kept possession very well. Again, they couldn't break through
:12:05. > :12:14.so they kicked. Results for the Scarlets defence. Now they have been
:12:15. > :12:28.pushed back to the 22 as well. They just look more comfortable. Take the
:12:29. > :12:37.points, absolutely. Rhys Patchell, safely inside that far post, and now
:12:38. > :12:47.it becomes for squirrel game again. -- four squirrel game
:12:48. > :12:56.Zebo at our support inside from Keith Earls, Earls into the 22. Not
:12:57. > :13:03.a fine touch there. Bleyendaal can't get his kick through. Patchell stabs
:13:04. > :13:07.it in again. They are at sixes and sevens, they have no confidence with
:13:08. > :13:15.ball in hand. Rawlins again with the hit. Even when they have Zebo, the
:13:16. > :13:17.speed of the Scarlets getting back into defence yards in front of the
:13:18. > :13:33.Munster players stop . Again, solid scrum. Williams,
:13:34. > :13:41.short side, that's it, look. A bit flatter than he needed to be,
:13:42. > :13:48.actually. There is confidence and those confidence. -- there is
:13:49. > :13:55.confidence. John Davies, though, hits the gap, after halfway support
:13:56. > :14:06.comes from his brother James. Not done by Shingler in the tackle.
:14:07. > :14:11.Everybody... They won't stop. Yes! A quarter of an hour of the second
:14:12. > :14:17.half gone, 25 remaining. Scarlets defending a 22 point lead as Conor
:14:18. > :14:21.Murray puts the ball wide towards Conway, McNicholl has to watch the
:14:22. > :14:25.bounce, taps it and that goes Evans to cover, three Munster men to put
:14:26. > :14:32.pressure on him near the Scarlets try line. The Scarlets have done
:14:33. > :14:43.well, they have flooded back there to support the winger. Steph Evans
:14:44. > :14:51.did well there. Not giving a penalty way. Only a few metres, though.
:14:52. > :14:58.Well, the kick, again, is the best attacking option. -- is their best
:14:59. > :15:06.attacking option. He just got caught a little bit. Steph Evans is doing
:15:07. > :15:09.exceptionally well, goes in, McNicholl goes back to help him,
:15:10. > :15:23.Scott Williams is in there. They scored a try from a line-out at
:15:24. > :15:28.the end of the first half, Munster. Looking to keep themselves in this
:15:29. > :15:39.game, Munster, driving towards the try line. Penalty comes their way
:15:40. > :15:45.and it could be yellow. Danger area. I am going to penalised the first
:15:46. > :15:53.offence. He flies in. That's a penalty. He stops. Can't drop your
:15:54. > :15:57.shoulder into somebody's back like that. That's a penalty. It is a
:15:58. > :16:18.penalty. Good flick on by Scott Williams. Van
:16:19. > :16:27.der Merwe is still going and he's done it! A 50th try for DTH van der
:16:28. > :16:31.Merwe, he's meet -- reached his last century in his last game. The
:16:32. > :16:37.Scarlets come alive in the second half and they will be crowned worthy
:16:38. > :16:39.champions. It's such an easy play. Quick hands by Williams again and
:16:40. > :16:47.it's a brilliant finish. Liam Williams continues with his
:16:48. > :17:06.successful kicking. Charged down by Duncan Williams.
:17:07. > :17:24.Shingler wins the race. The effort is still there.
:17:25. > :17:33.Conway heading for the corner. A cross comes Williams. But Conway
:17:34. > :17:38.with a superb finish. Too little, too late for Munster. Crumbs of
:17:39. > :17:46.comfort as Conway gets the first try in the second half for them. They
:17:47. > :17:48.couldn't communicate to stay on the fast man. Valiant effort from
:17:49. > :18:04.Williams. Easy finish. Interception... We said Munster
:18:05. > :18:16.would keep on fighting and they are doing. But even then it won't be
:18:17. > :18:25.enough. Quick conversion. Two late tries for Munster to spoil the
:18:26. > :18:35.Scarlets party a little bit. Tadgh Beirne is not going to let go.
:18:36. > :18:46.Still they persist with the kicking. Davies... The Scarlets are going to
:18:47. > :18:50.have the last word. The Scarlets are going to finish in the style they've
:18:51. > :18:59.shown today and throughout the season. More than 40 points. Half a
:19:00. > :19:10.dozen tries. The Scarlets are worthy winners and worthy champions. Liam
:19:11. > :19:11.Williams signs off with two more points and the Scarlets sign of the
:19:12. > :19:27.season in style. At long last, Wales have their hands
:19:28. > :19:33.on the Pro12 Trophy again. It's been five views in waiting, it's been 13
:19:34. > :19:37.years in waiting for the Scarlets themselves. Ken Owens, before he
:19:38. > :19:44.joins The Lions, joins his team-mates. What a moment for the
:19:45. > :19:51.Scarlets. Worthy, worthy Guinness Pro12 12 champions in 2017. They
:19:52. > :19:58.have been superb. A truly historic day at the Aviva
:19:59. > :20:04.Stadium. Scarlets are the 2017 Pro12 champions. We'll analyse how they
:20:05. > :20:06.did it in a moment. First let's hear from the victorious players and
:20:07. > :20:12.coaches. Wayne Pivac, how does that feel?
:20:13. > :20:18.Very special. Their research happy from the boys, they put in so much
:20:19. > :20:26.hard work. Last week we were really tested. The character within the
:20:27. > :20:30.group, down to 14 players, and to back it up today. Three trips to
:20:31. > :20:39.Ireland in five weeks and a game against the Ospreys. Terry Brown. We
:20:40. > :20:43.knew we had to play for each other. -- very proud. We knew it would be
:20:44. > :20:49.80 minutes from the best feeling we've ever had. You can't stop
:20:50. > :20:54.smiling. It's the way the Scarlets have played, with a smile. It's like
:20:55. > :20:59.that every day in training, we're just happy to be there. We take it
:21:00. > :21:04.to the field and way happy to play for each other. It's the brand of
:21:05. > :21:10.rugby we want to play. Even with a wet ball, the boys chanced their arm
:21:11. > :21:15.and backed themselves. We came here and the Irish media gave us no jobs.
:21:16. > :21:23.All the talk was about Munster, it was the same against Leinster last
:21:24. > :21:27.week. -- gave us no chance. We knew we could win and we delivered
:21:28. > :21:35.tonight. Did you think it would be that easy? The game was almost over
:21:36. > :21:40.by half-time. We had confidence. We knew they would come out quickly, we
:21:41. > :21:44.knew they would be passionate and everything that goes with Munster.
:21:45. > :21:49.But we managed to weather the storm and we put some tidy rugby together.
:21:50. > :21:55.The commentators said you started with a front five, where you up for
:21:56. > :22:00.it? It's the whole team. I couldn't ask to play with a better bunch of
:22:01. > :22:06.boys, we're like brothers. I'm coming to work with my best friends.
:22:07. > :22:12.It means a lot to everyone. John Barclay, skipper on the day, what
:22:13. > :22:19.was it like for you? Unbelievable. The culmination of a long season.
:22:20. > :22:23.You saw the way we try to play the game, it was unbelievable. We said
:22:24. > :22:28.we wanted to be back at the top table and I'll feel like we're there
:22:29. > :22:33.now. The unity within this group I've never felt before, the
:22:34. > :22:38.camaraderie. Such a togetherness. If we can keep that next year, there is
:22:39. > :22:44.no limits. We are hitting peak form, if we can continue next year, we
:22:45. > :22:49.will target Europe and the Pro12 again. Tonight we're going to enjoy
:22:50. > :22:55.it. We started something tonight and we want to build it. We're not
:22:56. > :23:01.perfect. We will go away and prepare for next season. Is room for
:23:02. > :23:07.improvement in terms of personnel as well as style? We are happy with the
:23:08. > :23:16.group we've got. Disappointed to lose DTH, but if we get a few beers
:23:17. > :23:23.in him tonight, we might talk him into staying. Just a few? That was a
:23:24. > :23:28.joke! Sheer delight on the faces of the
:23:29. > :23:35.Scarlets coaches and players. Three guys who enjoyed watching that
:23:36. > :23:39.alongside me. Martin, some that up. The Scarlets came to Dublin, against
:23:40. > :23:44.the odds, with the crowd against them, and they blew Munster off the
:23:45. > :23:48.park. You can't over emphasise how big a result that is, not only for
:23:49. > :23:55.the Scarlets but also regional rugby. How often have we done this
:23:56. > :23:58.and there's pelt is about regional rugby. Scarlets haven't spent
:23:59. > :24:03.millions of pounds on players. They've shown what can be done,
:24:04. > :24:07.they've shown if you get a great group of coaches together, the group
:24:08. > :24:13.of players who work hard free Java, you get results like that, not just
:24:14. > :24:22.a night but last week as well. To come here with 90% Munster fans, a
:24:23. > :24:29.home game for Munster, and dominate them in nearly every part of the
:24:30. > :24:34.game... Probably one of the best Welsh rugby stories, let alone club
:24:35. > :24:40.stories. They've got some rock stars in this squad. But also some unsung
:24:41. > :24:45.heroes and grafters. What does it tell us about the culture that's
:24:46. > :24:49.developed? It says a lot. You can see the bond between the coaches and
:24:50. > :24:54.players. The ones that played in the final and those off the field, they
:24:55. > :24:58.celebrated together and it was amazing in the changing room.
:24:59. > :25:02.They'll never forget this. It's about podium finishes and they
:25:03. > :25:10.deserved it. They showed the courage of their convictions early in the
:25:11. > :25:13.season, they had a style and a game plan that they stuck to. They had
:25:14. > :25:19.injuries, but they played it through the season. There's no better way to
:25:20. > :25:22.win it. You could forgive them for retreating into their shells a bit
:25:23. > :25:27.here in the furnace that is the Aviva Stadium. The boys said before
:25:28. > :25:33.the game they have to play the way they've played all season and they
:25:34. > :25:37.did that. Enterprise, panache. It worked for them because they scored
:25:38. > :25:42.some fantastic tries. What I liked about it was the last 20 minutes.
:25:43. > :25:46.They didn't need to play that much, they kicked long and they could fill
:25:47. > :25:51.the defensive lineman and Munster were always chasing the game. By
:25:52. > :25:57.doing that they were forcing the errors and that's when turnovers and
:25:58. > :26:01.trays -- tries came. Wayne Pivac has encouraged them to play with the
:26:02. > :26:08.ambition and get the ball wide early. No try epitomise that more
:26:09. > :26:13.than Steff Evans. Giving the players the will to play from all areas has
:26:14. > :26:18.come through in the latter part of the season. Controlling their depth,
:26:19. > :26:25.good passing skills, and it was very evident in this dry. The Scarlets
:26:26. > :26:30.force them into so many errors. They are showing the depth needed.
:26:31. > :26:37.Munster were very narrow in the game in attack and defence. Shingler
:26:38. > :26:42.passing the ball. Great skills, controlling their depth. I
:26:43. > :26:47.highlighted Rob Evans on the inside, Davies and Williams. The energy and
:26:48. > :26:54.the will to support their team-mates. It typified their
:26:55. > :26:58.season. We talked about the rock stars, but some of the guys who have
:26:59. > :27:04.stepped up in recent weeks, they've been without Jake Ball for the
:27:05. > :27:09.semifinal and the final, Rollins and Beirne, most fans probably hadn't
:27:10. > :27:13.heard of them but they are almost household names now. Tadgh Beirne
:27:14. > :27:20.has been the find of the season in the Pro12. Watch them, not just
:27:21. > :27:26.tonight, but last week in Leinster as well. Down to 14 men, the effort
:27:27. > :27:31.they put in, the hard yards. The pretty boys get the glory, but this
:27:32. > :27:36.is invaluable. When the second rows have this much energy, winning
:27:37. > :27:42.turnovers, making tackles, getting back on their defeat, the heartbeat
:27:43. > :27:48.of the team. Kudos to somebody like Lewis Rawlins. Lots of panic when
:27:49. > :27:51.Jake Ball was injured, but he stepped up. He would never have
:27:52. > :28:00.played in a game as big as last week or this week, but it was to the
:28:01. > :28:03.Manor born. The coaches look at the contributions of all players. When
:28:04. > :28:06.your second rows have high contributions and they are
:28:07. > :28:13.effective, the team functions well and they did that. You mentioned the
:28:14. > :28:23.change in tactics, reverting to a more pro-black -- crab Matic game.
:28:24. > :28:27.-- pragmatic game. He had support runners on each elbow, van der
:28:28. > :28:36.Merwe. It showed willingness in attack and defence. It's a lovely
:28:37. > :28:42.pass from Parkes and a fantastic finish. You can see the support on
:28:43. > :28:47.the inside. Two runners on his inside. If he wasn't such a good
:28:48. > :28:52.finisher and he passed it inside, they would still be happy. The
:28:53. > :28:58.workrate is second to none. Looking to the future, we talked yesterday
:28:59. > :29:02.about how perhaps Connacht's victory, the foundations weren't as
:29:03. > :29:06.strong. You look at the Scarlets squad, strength in depth, there's no
:29:07. > :29:11.reason why they can't defend this title and do something in Europe.
:29:12. > :29:15.That's the challenge. There's a really good culture, a strong base,
:29:16. > :29:19.you've given youngsters a chance and they've shown they can perform
:29:20. > :29:29.against the best teams. You've got to kick on and develop. Competition
:29:30. > :29:31.will come into play, hopefully they'll add to the squad. That's
:29:32. > :29:34.part of building a legacy and perpetual successful stop I'd like
:29:35. > :29:38.to see Scarlets come out in their thousands to support them because it
:29:39. > :29:43.could be a really good time for them. They probably won't be
:29:44. > :29:48.thinking much about defending the title yet, but for the international
:29:49. > :29:52.players, there's no time to rest. The Lions flight to New Zealand on
:29:53. > :29:56.Monday and I caught up with Sam Warburton a few days ago and he told
:29:57. > :30:01.me how big the challenge ahead will be.
:30:02. > :30:11.To beat New Zealand, the best team in the world, we have two become
:30:12. > :30:16.potentially the best team in the world to beat them. That's the
:30:17. > :30:20.challenge, doing that in the next short time period. Four years ago
:30:21. > :30:24.there were chances where people could have a social, have a couple
:30:25. > :30:31.of beers, do things like that. That's quite a good way to get to
:30:32. > :30:36.know players. The games are coming so thick and fast, there won't be
:30:37. > :30:41.any time. Like that. Going through difficult training and games is what
:30:42. > :30:45.bonds players. Going through the motion and the pressure of a week
:30:46. > :30:49.building towards a game, the emotions of a game and afterwards,
:30:50. > :30:54.nothing beats that from the team perspective. Going through victories
:30:55. > :31:01.and defeats brings the team together. Every game I feel we will
:31:02. > :31:02.get closer and closer as a squad. Going through those games will be
:31:03. > :31:10.important. I am looking at the last tour we had
:31:11. > :31:14.a New Zealand and we went out after not playing for a few weeks. Even
:31:15. > :31:17.though we did well in that first test the pace of the game still took
:31:18. > :31:22.us back a little bit because you're not used to it, it is different down
:31:23. > :31:27.there than up here. Shaun Edwards said that to us when we toured
:31:28. > :31:31.Australia in 2012, in the southern hemisphere is different to coming up
:31:32. > :31:53.here. I didn't know what he meant cos I haven't been down south
:31:54. > :31:56.before and after going down south, it is different, it's a lot quicker,
:31:57. > :31:59.they play with more confidence than perhaps they do when they come up
:32:00. > :32:02.here. If you can get three games under your belt, three games worth
:32:03. > :32:04.of minutes going into the test, you physically Aaron O'Brien place to
:32:05. > :32:07.hit the ground running in the first test. You hope there are not too
:32:08. > :32:09.many injuries but if you are fortunate it could work out is good
:32:10. > :32:13.preparation. You will lose some games, the aim is not to lose any
:32:14. > :32:16.but chances are you'll a couple, at but as long as you are sure you are
:32:17. > :32:18.better than a week after it is all about the Test series then. Sam
:32:19. > :32:20.Warburton, the Lions captain, looking relaxed although under no
:32:21. > :32:24.illusions about the size of the challenge ahead. Interesting points
:32:25. > :32:26.he was making about the southern hemisphere sides, New Zealand in
:32:27. > :32:30.particular being almost twice as hard to play in their own backyard.
:32:31. > :32:35.Does that chime in with your experience? Definitely. Like you
:32:36. > :32:39.mention, New Zealand in particular, they come out and come at you
:32:40. > :32:45.straightaway, they don't try to squeeze a 9-3 victory, they want to
:32:46. > :32:49.score tries and that is the only way. They play so positively and
:32:50. > :32:53.they know in the northern hemisphere perhaps we don't play an 80 minute
:32:54. > :32:58.game of that intensity so from minutes 1-80, that's the difference.
:32:59. > :33:03.In the northern Hemisphere, Six Nations, there is a drop-off in the
:33:04. > :33:07.last 20. There is on to New Zealand. The bench come on and the intensity
:33:08. > :33:12.doesn't drop off. That is what he is alluding too, that is the biggest
:33:13. > :33:15.difference, and that is where, there is all this talk of the Lions
:33:16. > :33:19.starting 15, the Lions bench will be as important as the starters on that
:33:20. > :33:22.tour because that's where the game is won and lost. Speaking of which
:33:23. > :33:32.Warren Gatland is probably breathing a sigh of relief this weekend, two
:33:33. > :33:36.big domestic season, with no major new injuries for him. Vunipola
:33:37. > :33:42.withdrew during the week, obviously a blow, but in Faletau we still have
:33:43. > :33:45.a world-class number eight. Yes, and for a coach, Toby has almost had a
:33:46. > :33:50.mini pre-season, and will be hitting form let's hope in the Lions tour.
:33:51. > :33:53.Talking of form, Jonathan Davies has come on so strong at the end of the
:33:54. > :33:58.season, Jack Nowell has been excellent for Exeter Chiefs, so
:33:59. > :34:01.there are guys functioning. It is an exciting time. Not much time to
:34:02. > :34:13.prepare and they will need to get up to speed quickly but the strength in
:34:14. > :34:16.depth of the squad is something to behold. Hustlers and for Vunipola
:34:17. > :34:19.and it has brought up the topic of being a good tourist, apparently he
:34:20. > :34:21.is as good a tourist as a player. What constitutes a good tourist and
:34:22. > :34:24.why is it important? I think that's why Scarlets have been so
:34:25. > :34:27.successful, they have James Davies who for all the good he brings on
:34:28. > :34:31.the field he brings an awful lot of the field which cannot be
:34:32. > :34:36.underestimated. The likes of James Haskell, speak to everybody about
:34:37. > :34:41.him, they say he's a character. He will bring that. Whether it is just
:34:42. > :34:46.that little bit all whether he will -- they will feed off his energy, he
:34:47. > :34:50.is huge for the squad. And believe me in New Zealand you can't get away
:34:51. > :34:56.from the game so you need those characters. You need a sense of
:34:57. > :35:00.humour! Yes, Sam mention, on the field and off the field, there's
:35:01. > :35:03.nothing like it, when you go to Australia, it takes five weeks
:35:04. > :35:06.before they realise the Lions touring. As soon as they are off the
:35:07. > :35:15.plane in New Zealand they are on the front pages, the back pages, all
:35:16. > :35:18.over the news, it's constant, so they need those characters to break
:35:19. > :35:20.it up a little. First game coming up very shortly on Saturday against a
:35:21. > :35:24.cobbled together barbarian side although with more prep time than
:35:25. > :35:29.the Lions. It is the only game on that tour they should win, do you
:35:30. > :35:32.want to play in that? Believe me, when you are in the squad the first
:35:33. > :35:36.thing you want to do is get the first game and your belt, get the
:35:37. > :35:40.jersey on. There will be so much anticipation. The guys who have been
:35:41. > :35:45.in finals will miss out that game. It is imperative to get a good
:35:46. > :35:48.start, get a feel good factor, because there are tough games after
:35:49. > :35:53.that. Plenty of coverage coming your way on the BBC, the website, radio
:35:54. > :36:24.and TV as well on the forthcoming Lions tour.
:36:25. > :36:27.If you're not already excited we have a couple of special
:36:28. > :36:30.documentaries on the way. Gareth Thomas has been down under to find
:36:31. > :36:32.out exactly what it takes to beat the All Blacks, and we have also
:36:33. > :36:35.tried to delve into the mind of Warren Gatland, as well. Warren
:36:36. > :36:38.Gatland is a winner. I fight in very good company, dry sense of humour.
:36:39. > :36:40.He was once famously described as a menopausal warthog. He is the poor
:36:41. > :36:43.Hollywood of rugby, a good-looking guy. You are like the fresh Prince
:36:44. > :36:45.of Bel air! How do you beat the All Blacks? That is a fair question.
:36:46. > :36:49.Have you had any education doing this job? I have something to learn.
:36:50. > :36:57.How do you beat the All Blacks? I score more points. I knew you'd say
:36:58. > :37:00.that! Well worth watching those, I can guarantee you, both
:37:01. > :37:04.documentaries coming soon to BBC Wales. Not just the Lions heading to
:37:05. > :37:09.New Zealand, Wales had their next month as well to play Tonga in
:37:10. > :37:14.Auckland before taking on Samoa at home. A lot of uncapped players in
:37:15. > :37:21.the squad looking to make their mark. Keelan Giles is one of them.
:37:22. > :37:30.Giles, has a bit of space ahead of him, needs no invitation, steps up,
:37:31. > :37:36.and Keelan Giles is a way. Keelan Giles does the rest. Giles... What a
:37:37. > :37:47.try! What a try by Keelan Giles. I don't think it's quite sunk in,
:37:48. > :37:51.really. I will take it step-by-step. I think it hasn't really sunk in
:37:52. > :37:56.yet. How do you cope with the fact that you got to do this interview,
:37:57. > :38:01.that people talk about you constantly, your name always on
:38:02. > :38:05.Scrum V and the newspapers, or is it no issue? It's not really an issue.
:38:06. > :38:11.It partly comes with the job, really, so I don't take much notice
:38:12. > :38:17.of what other people say outside of rugby, I just focus on the rugby and
:38:18. > :38:23.let that do the talking. In terms of UN being a player, who we are your
:38:24. > :38:27.heroes growing up? Growing up, Shane Williams was one of my heroes
:38:28. > :38:39.growing up. I spoke to him once or twice briefly, but I was quite
:38:40. > :38:42.nervous. He sent me a message saying congratulations, so that was nice.
:38:43. > :38:47.It was nice to get that message from him. Having been in there before
:38:48. > :38:51.now, does that make you hungrier to win the first cap or are you not
:38:52. > :38:57.that bothered, it will come? I think I have had a taste of it, training
:38:58. > :39:02.and stuff, so I am hungrier than before, really. What would it mean
:39:03. > :39:06.to win a cup? It would mean the world. I grew up wanting to play for
:39:07. > :39:11.Wales and get back up so it would mean the world, be a proud moment.
:39:12. > :39:22.And these are the dates for your diary.
:39:23. > :39:27.Keelan Giles very much looking forward to the Wales tour, he nearly
:39:28. > :39:32.got his cap against Japan in the autumn and will surely get a cap in
:39:33. > :39:35.the summer. Him and Steph Evans, two exciting prospects on the wings,
:39:36. > :39:39.little guys with huge work rates, different from the windows we have
:39:40. > :39:43.seen for Wales, but the way Evans and the Scarlets play, is that the
:39:44. > :39:48.blueprint for the new Wales? Let's hope so, in the autumn and the Six
:39:49. > :39:54.Nations we saw development in the Welsh game, Tipuric and Moriarty and
:39:55. > :39:58.the wider channels. Let's hope we see more development of the Welsh
:39:59. > :40:02.game. You cannot say enough about Steph Evans. Keelan Giles is so
:40:03. > :40:05.exciting as a talent, we want the ball in his hands and don't forget
:40:06. > :40:11.Cuthbert, fantastic for the Blues towards the end of the season. Let's
:40:12. > :40:15.even with the ball in their hands. A mixed sport this one, 12 Welsh Lions
:40:16. > :40:19.not in it, but you have some guys at one end who never thought they would
:40:20. > :40:33.get a cup, some of the other just coming through the academy
:40:34. > :40:37.system with the regions. What is the aim of this tour, is it to blood new
:40:38. > :40:39.players or wind two Test matches? Four metres international rugby.
:40:40. > :40:42.They have to win the game, but there is experiencing the squad, Williams
:40:43. > :40:44.and Roberts, and a sprinkle of talent, wherever it is, they have to
:40:45. > :40:49.win the game first and foremost for me. Rhys Patchell seems fantastic
:40:50. > :40:52.here, interesting selection, Dan Evans, playing consistently all
:40:53. > :40:55.season, so a few interesting calls and hopefully sooner or later we
:40:56. > :41:00.will see them on the international stage. In terms of the opposition,
:41:01. > :41:04.then, two brutal teams to play against, both taking no prisoners.
:41:05. > :41:11.Does the Welsh one have the look of a squad that can beat those teams at
:41:12. > :41:14.home? It will be difficult. Two different atmospheres, conditions
:41:15. > :41:39.could be difficult, very hot maybe which the Welsh boys are not
:41:40. > :41:43.used to, hard grounds, then Tonga in Auckland will be like a home game
:41:44. > :41:46.for them so they will see this as an opportunity to not Wales over
:41:47. > :41:48.without the Lions. The beauty of these tools when the Lions are away,
:41:49. > :41:51.players will be exposed to international rugby and you find out
:41:52. > :41:54.for better or worse who was up to the task. I am looking forward to
:41:55. > :41:57.lots of players because we have only had three new caps since the 2015
:41:58. > :41:59.World Cup so a lot will be there for the first time and it will be
:42:00. > :42:02.interesting to see how they stepped up to the next level. They will be
:42:03. > :42:05.on the doorstep of the Lions if injuries occur of course and Warren
:42:06. > :42:07.Gatland needs to call some guys up. Final word to the Scarlets this
:42:08. > :42:10.weekend, it's only fair, a fantastic weekend for Welsh regional rugby,
:42:11. > :42:13.the Scarlets came here and did what they did in front of 45,000 fans at
:42:14. > :42:18.the Aviva Stadium. Some of the few can exactly how magnificent that all
:42:19. > :42:20.was. A huge boost for regional and Welsh rugby. Young people watching
:42:21. > :42:23.that will see young players getting a chance and showing what they can
:42:24. > :42:26.do on the biggest stage. It shows the regions what can be done. Con at
:42:27. > :42:30.last year, Scarlets started poorly and went through in a style that was
:42:31. > :42:34.attracted to watch. That is the biggest thing, how they went about
:42:35. > :42:38.it. It gives you so much energy and enjoyment watching them and
:42:39. > :42:43.hopefully it is a template for the regions and the national team. Can
:42:44. > :42:50.they defend the title next year? One word? Yes. LAUGHTER He's learning!
:42:51. > :43:06.That is all we have time for on Scrum V this
:43:07. > :43:11.season so thanks for following us on the Scarlets on the journey towards
:43:12. > :43:13.the title. That is the end of the domestic season four Scrum V, and
:43:14. > :43:15.Wotan and it was at the Aviva Stadium, an absolutely magnificent
:43:16. > :43:17.game of rugby and the Scarlets worthy winners, 2017 Pro12
:43:18. > :43:36.champions. We'll see you next season.
:43:37. > :43:48.MUSIC: "Yma O Hyd" by Dafydd Iwan. He goes straight through... Davies
:43:49. > :44:01.skips over. Determined and effective, absolutely... Its 50th
:44:02. > :44:04.try DTH Van Der Merwe. And the Scarlets are going to have the last
:44:05. > :44:10.word. Worthy winners and worthy champions.