Barclay set to lead Scarlets in PRO12 Final

Editor

Back-row John Barclay stepped up to lead the Scarlets last weekend in regular captain Ken Owens' absence and looks set to do the same on Saturday as the Welsh region head into their first championship final in over a decade. 

Owens missed last weekend's 25-17 PRO12 semi-final win over Leinster in Dublin due to an ankle injury and is doubtful for this weekend's final in Dublin.

The Scarlets won the domestic title back in 2003/04 and also bowed out in the semi-finals in 2012/13.

30-year-old Barclay, like the majority of his team-mates, will feature in his first championship final this weekend and the Scotland international said he's looking forward to the challenge;

"It's exciting," he told the Scarlets' official website.

"There's been a really good feeling about the place for weeks, months potentially. During the Six Nations you could tell that the guys were really enjoying the challenge of the internationals being away and they thrived in that period.

"I've not played in a final before, I don't think many guys in the team have. I believe that this is a big club; the history of the place, the position of the place kind of dictates that. 

"I knew that when I came here, it's really pleasing that we're in the final and I really feel that we deserve to be at top table but now it's about winning and delivering and staying up there."

Barclay also believes that the crowd, and some neutral fan support, will play a huge part on Saturday as the Scarlets head to Dublin's Aviva Stadium to take on Munster in the PRO12 Final.

"The crowd is pretty loud at the Aviva," he added.

"It'll be interesting to see how the support goes on the weekend. It's nice to silence the home crowd as the away team. The Scarlets fans and the noise they made was just fantastic on the weekend.

"We probably go in as the underdog, if I was going to the game as a neutral I'd support the underdog so you'd hope we'd pick up a few fans along the way too!"