Scene Is Set For Scarlets Showdown
3rd May 2016 By Munster Rugby
With Munster, Ospreys and Edinburgh still in contention for a 6th place finish, Anthony Foley’s men enter the final game of the season knowing that their Champions Cup destiny is firmly in their own hands. While Ospreys and Edinburgh require other results to go their way, a minimum of two league points will see Munster home and dry.
Scarlets may not have won in Limerick since 2003 but of late have had the measure of the Munstermen, winning three of the sides’ last four encounters. They also enter this weekend’s proceedings off the back of a more impressive league campaign that sees them very much in contention for semi-final qualification.
Although Munster enter Saturday’s showdown with statistically better attacking and defensive record, it’s been the Welsh side’s ability to etch out more vital wins this season – 14 versus 12 – that sees them travel to Thomond Park with nothing to lose and it all to play for.
With Champions Cup qualification in the bag, Scarlets will come at Munster all guns blazing as they require as many points as possible to give themselves the best chance of play-off qualification for the first time since the 2012/13 season.
Munster need two points from this game to secure Champions Cup rugby for 2016/17 and anything less could open the door for Ospreys, while if Munster fail to pick up a point, Edinburgh may also come into the fray.
Click here for full Round 22 permutations.
Interestingly the Munstermen’s last six games have been won by the home side on the day and they have not been defeated in Limerick since December 27th when they lost to Leinster.
Scarlets victory over Newport Gwent Dragons on Saturday ended a two game losing streak, with their last four encounters all being won by the away side on the day.
| Head To Head – Recent Guinness PRO12 Meetings | |||||
| Date | Venue | M | S | Munster scorers | Scarlets scorers |
| Sat 16 Feb 13 | Parc y Scarlets | 10 | 18 | Denis Hurley(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/P) | Owen Williams(D/5P) |
| Sat 21 Dec 13 | Irish Independent Park | 16 | 10 | Ronan O'Mahony(T) JJ Hanrahan(C/3P) | John Barclay(T) Aled Thomas(C/P) |
| Sat 1 Mar 14 | Parc y Scarlets | 13 | 18 | Ian Keatley(C/2P) Gerhard van den Heever(T) | Gareth Davies(T) John Barclay(T) Olly Barkley(P) Aled Thomas(C/P) |
| Fri 10 Oct 14 | Thomond Park | 17 | 6 | Andrew Smith(T) JJ Hanrahan(4P) | Rhys Priestland(D/P) |
| Sat 21 Feb 15 | Parc y Scarlets | 25 | 25 | Jack O'Donoghue(T) JJ Hanrahan(T) Felix Jones(T) Ian Keatley(2C/2P) | Steve Shingler(C/6P) Hadleigh Parkes(T) |
| Fri 23 Oct 15 | Parc y Scarlets | 22 | 25 | Andrew Conway(T) Ian Keatley(C/D/4P) | Tom Williams(T) Steve Shingler(5P) DTH van der Merwe(T) |
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 135th competition game)
Assistant Referees: TBC
Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (IRFU)
TMO: TBC
Munster v Scarlets, Guinness PRO12 Round 22, Saturday May 7th at Thomond Park Stadium – KO 3pm.
Tickets can be purchased online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices in Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park or by calling 0818 719 300.
Tickets from:
- Adults €;20
- Juniors €;7 (under 16)
- Families €;40 (2 adults and 2 juniors)
This game will be televised on S4C.
