Dan Leavy wary of ‘confident’ Scarlets
In-form Leinster flanker Dan Leavy believes the Scarlets will be full of confidence when they face Leinster in Saturday's opening Champions Cup semi-final.
The Welsh region and their supporters will have fond memories of the Dublin venue having won the PRO12 final there last year, overcoming Munster 46-22. The Scarlets reached the decider after defeating semi-final opponents Leinster at the RDS, a recent, painful reminder of how dangerous Wayne Pivac's side can be.
"They're a quality outfit. We didn't bring our A-game to (last season's PRO12) semi-final and we paid," admitted Leinster back rower Leavy, speaking to Irish Rugby ahead of the European showdown this weekend.
"They are littered with Welsh internationals. You throw in a Tadhg Beirne and a few others around the park and they are a serious handful. They are going to come over confident as well. They have no fear here (in Dublin). It wasn't that we were looking at them differently (last year). It's just we didn't step up the way we should have and it cost us the season.
"The Scarlets team that played (against Edinburgh last weekend) and the Scarlets team that will play against us are completely different. But they will be fired up and they will be coming to the Aviva with a lot of confidence so we have to be ready for them."
While it will be the Scarlets again on Saturday, ultimately the focus for Leavy is on the team playing well rather than getting hung up on notions of revenge. The real prize on offer is Bilbao.
"We're in finals rugby here. It's all about going out and playing the best game you can play. I think if we do that, and play the best rugby we can play, we'll be in with a good shot," said the 23-year-old Ireland international.
"We are very hungry. We've been saying it for a few seasons now. There was such success here at Leinster – three Heineken Cups in four years. There's been a bit of a lull since then, but I think the quality of young players and the experience of some of the older guys meshes together really well now. We have a good opportunity to take something but we have to play our best game and leave no stone unturned."