Scarlet fever gathering pace in the valleys

Simon Easterby insists the Scarlets’ emphatic opening day Rabo victory over Leinster will count for nothing against the likes of Brian O’Driscoll in the Heineken Cup this weekend.

The two sides clash on Saturday, just seven weeks after the Welsh region inflicted a humiliating 45-20 defeat on Joe Schmidt’s men. But Leinster were severely depleted for the September clash and Easterby reckons the reigning European champions will be a different animal in three days’ time.

“We can’t read anything into the match at the beginning of the season,” he said.