In Pics: Scarlets Preparations

4th May 2016 By Munster Rugby

Munster trained in Thomond Park yesterday ahead of this Saturday’s season finale against Scarlets at the stadium – KO 3pm. See our latest training shots and get the pre-match thoughts of Head Coach Anthony Foley ahead of this decisive clash as Munster bid to secure Champions Cup qualification.

Click here to see our training gallery from Thomond Park.

Last weekend, Munster put Champions Cup qualification in their own hands by recording a bonus point win over Edinburgh. Despite a scoring drought for most of the second half that saw Edinburgh come within one point of the province, backed by a vocal sell-out crowd, Munster recovered to finish strongly with Anthony Foley hoping for a further show of support from the Munster faithful at Thomond Park on Saturday.

“We’re in control of our destiny in some respects in terms of making sure we ensure European Cup qualification next year so it’s important that we get a performance out of the players. You look at what gets the best out of them and you definitely saw it in Cork last Friday night when we were put to the pin of our collars and the crowd really got in behind the boys. When you look back at the game and see the involvement the crowd had, how loud they were, it would bring you back to the days when the hairs would lift up on the back of your neck when you’re a player so that’s important that we have that here on Saturday.”

Having already qualified for the Champions Cup, Scarlets travel to Limerick with nothing to lose and with a real chance of play-off qualification. The Welsh side lie just one point behind fourth placed Ulster and will pose a serious threat to Foley’s men who need a minimum of two points to make certain of top flight European rugby next season.

“They (Scarlets) keep it alive, they’re very unstructured in how they go about the game. You give them a sniff through an error or dropping a ball and they’ll take it and go. They’ll take quick lineouts, they’ll go after you at scrum time and they have an ability to play.

“Their scrum-half (Gareth) Davies is a top player, he’s dangerous, he’s quick and he fancies having a crack from anywhere. We would have seen that over in Parc y Scarlets so it’s important for us that we look after possession and stay in control of the ball. That can nullify a lot of what they do.

“They’re a good side and a good, traditional club. A lot of internationals have come through there and a lot of internationals are there at the moment. You just have to go through their back-row of (James) Davies and (John) Barclay, they’re trouble in itself so it’s going to be a tough game. They’re trying to catch Ulster and we’re trying to make sure Ospreys don’t catch us so everybody will have their own goals in the game. But it’s important that we turn up on Saturday and be very selfish in how we approach the game, make sure that we don’t worry about the outcome but make sure that we can get a performance that will deliver an outcome we deserve.”

Munster v Scarlets, Guinness PRO12 Round 22, Saturday May 7^th 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.

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