Scarlets stung by artificial surface at Scotstoun

Scarlets’ preparations for Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 final against Leinster continue to be affected by the physical toll exacted on Wayne Pivac’s side by their semi-final win over Glasgow Warriors.

The defending champions repeated their feat of 2016-17 when they beat Leinster at the RDS to become the first team to win an away semi-final, storming past Glasgow 28-13 at Scotstoun last Friday.

Yet the West Wales region must now plan to face Champions Cup winners Leinster at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening without Scotland captain John Barclay, who suffered a ruptured Achilles in the opening half, while the 4G artificial surface at Scotstoun left a number of otherwise fit players with cuts, friction burns and blisters, forcing head coach Pivac to abandon hopes of training on Monday.