Evans misses own stag party in pursuit of glory

For Jonathan Evans, success at the RDS last week has come at a price.

Had the semi-final against Leinster gone according to the script most of us expected the Scarlets scrum-half would be in Budapest now for his stag party. Instead, he waved his mates off to the airport yesterday morning before returning to Dublin.

Joining him and the rest of Wayne Pivac’s side for today’s final will be an estimated 1,500 supporters who have been able to overcome the logistical difficulties of organising the trip at such short, and unexpected, notice. Close to 43,000 tickets have been sold and, though the actual attendance is anyone’s guess given the thousands of stubs held by Leinster fans that are likely to have flooded the market, there isn’t any doubt as to who will enjoy home advantage. The bookies have Munster down as overwhelming favourites, seemingly unconvinced by the Welsh club’s heroics in Ballsbridge eight days ago.