Two rounds down and there’s a distinct pattern emerging in the Guinness Pro 12. If you play in red you’re going to be at the top of the table, as highlighted by the successes of Munster and the Scarlets over the last two weeks.
Of course it’s early days, and two weeks of rugby does not determine who will be at Murrayfield on the 28th May, but the way both Axel Foley and Wayne Pivac’s men have started the season will fill their fans with a lot of confidence.
PRO 12: Red Rising
The same can be said for Edinburgh fans, whose team are a third side who have taken two wins from their opening two encounters this season. Wins over Leinster and Treviso have them occupying third place.
But the impetus lies with the top two.
Munster, whilst rather lacklustre at home to Treviso, produced a stunning comeback to steal a win away to the Ospreys at the death on Sunday, courtesy of CJ Stander’s last minute try. It wasn’t a stellar performance by any means, but it was a crucial victory. Winning at the Liberty is never easy, and to dig it out in the typical Munster fashion will do wonders for the team’s confidence.
But, for as good as Munster were on Sunday, the Scarlets have also been great. A phenomenal rear guard effort at Scotstoun on the opening day saw them pick up four incredible points away to Glasgow, and then on Saturday they efficiently disposed of another play-off rival, defeating Ulster at home. Admittedly, Ulster were nowhere near as good as they were against the Ospreys in round one, but the Scarlets went about their business professionally, shutting out their Irish opponents with ease and sealing the win.
It does beg the question – after a few seasons of being on the edge of the top four, is this Scarlets side good enough to finally get back into the semi-finals of the Pro12?
The short answer: yes.
Wayne Pivac has a year under his belt down in West Wales and is starting to get the best out of his players. He has already turned the Scarlets into a formidable force at the Parc y Scarlets, and on the basis of their journey to Glasgow, they could be a tricky side away from home too. At his disposal, he also has a back row that many other coaches could only dream of, and it’s that back row that has led their climb to the top of the table. The Scarlets were blessed that Scotland did not take John Barclay to the World Cup, and he has continued his fantastic club form in the first two weeks of the season alongside the ever-impressive James Davies and Aaron Shingler.
And now with the knowledge that they can take on anybody in the Pro12 and win, there’s a growing belief in Llanelli that perhaps the Scarlets could retake the role of Wales’ top region. There’s a long way to go, but if the Scarlets can keep that back row fit and healthy, and if they can keep the home fortress impenetrable, they stand every chance of being in the mix come the end of the season.
But beware the red coming behind them.
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