Ireland flanker Easterby will lead the Scarlets against the red jerseys of Munster in Dublin well aware of what is at stake following a hugely disappointing season for the giants of European rugby from either side of the Irish Sea.
Wildly fluctuating form and the loss of several key players at crucial times of the season saw both Munster and Scarlets meant the Heineken Cup provided little refreshment from a failed domestic challenge.
“Like us, I’m sure Munster will be desperate to get something out of what will be regarded as a disappointing season,” said Easterby. “Both Munster and ourselves are proud clubs with great history and have flown the flag for our countries in Europe over the last five or six years. Yet we both came up short this season and that has hurt.
“We have probably had a more disappointing season than Munster by our own standards so we are desperate to get something out of it. It would not make up for our previous disappointments but but it would be a great motivation tool for our summer preparations for next season. At least the supporters would finally have something to cheer about.
“Our performances have improved towards the end of the season. I wouldn’t say it has clicked but it’s definitely improving. Unfortunately it is too late to see us through the pool stages in Europe or save our Celtic League title. But we have at least put ourselves in a position where we could end the season with a major piece of silverware. A month ago that seemed very unlikely. We have grabbed this chance with both hands.”
In fact the Scarlets and Munster have had more in common this season than just their results and the colour of their jerseys. Their mutual distrust of the Ospreys is sure to be a sincere topic of conversation at the post-match dinner on Saturday following their respective verbal exchanges of claims and counter-claims this season with the new Celtic League champions.
Munster were incensed at allegations of racial abuse levelled against prop Marcus Horan, later thrown out by an ERC disciplinary committee, following an unsavoury encounter with the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup last October. This week the Scarlets’ preparations have been overshadowed by Ospreys team manager Derwyn Jones’s accusation that the region’s director of rugby, Gareth Jenkins, entered Irish referee Donal Courtney’s changing room during the half-time interval of last Saturday’s Celtic Cup semi-final between the two teams.
Meanwhile a player who could be forgiven for entering the wrong dressing room on Saturday will be Easterby, capped 42 times by Ireland, when he returns to Lansdowne Road. For once he will be out to silence the home fans.
“It will obviously be special to return to Lansdowne Road though it is always a little strange to use the Away dressing room. It is important that I concentrate on doing my job of leading the Scarlets, hopefully to victory,” said Easterby. “Obviously I know a few of the Munster boys very well and I know just how strong and experienced they are. They are a very forward orientated side with a pack that has been together for a long time and work alongside each other exceptionally well.
“We have to make sure we are fully focussed on our job. They may have been a bit limited in Europe this season and they’ve been criticised for the way they have played in the Heineken Cup. That has probably affected them.
“But their half-backs Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara are two key players for Munster as well. With those two calling the shots, Munster can score tries out wide so there are not many floors in their game. It is a huge all-round challenge, especially in Ireland.”
