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Simply sensational — the Scarlets saved the best for last to conquer Dublin for a successive weekend and claim the Guinness PRO12 title for only a second time .

With a gameplan carved out of the free-running ethos of so many great sides of the past, Wayne Pivac’s side once again defied the odds to send their travelling support into dreamland in the Irish capital.

Not even the most one-eyed of the West Wales faithful could ever have expected such a comprehensive victory.

Munster, a side who have appeared an irrepressible force at times this season, were a distant second and that doesn’t happen often in knockout rugby.

The Scarlets were smarter and sharper in thought and deed, a side who have ridden a wave of confidence and momentum in recent weeks.

Keeping faith with the brand of flowing rugby that had blazed a trail through the PRO12, they ran in four first-half tries to all but end this final as a contest.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

And it was fitting that they had the final word with flanker James Davies - such a huge influence this season - racing over to complete the triumph.

Davies again had a fine match, but it was his back-row buddy Aaron Shingler, who celebrated his Wales call with a man-of-the-match display bursting with hunger and aggression.

Behind the scrum, Jonathan Davies had another monumental game in midfield, Steff Evans dazzled out wide, while Rhys Patchell pulled the strings impressively.

But this was a victory for the collective rather than individuals and Wayne Pivac and his coaching team deserve huge credit for the way they have moulded this side and the style of rugby it has produced.

As well as their endeavour in attack there was also a voracious desire in defence.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

The Scarlets didn’t allow Munster any way back into the game, chopping down the men in blue at every opportunity and forcing them into a second half based on hopeful kicking rather than any sustained purpose.

In an almost replica of their semi-final win over Leinster eight days earlier, the Scarlets bewitched Munster with their mesmerising attacking game in the first half, then soaked up everything the Irish province had to throw at them in the second period.

Even torrential rain during the day failed to dampen the Scarlets’ ambition.

Both sides were unchanged from their semi-final triumphs, with the West Walians able to field Steff Evans on the wing after the Five Roads flyer had his red card against Leinster rescinded by a disciplinary panel in midweek.

The Welsh side were cheered onto the Aviva Stadium turf by a vocal support who had travelled across the Irish Sea by plane and ferry, many sacrificing a night’s sleep to make it to Dublin for the game.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Typically, the pace was frantic in the early stages — showcasing the contrast in styles of both teams.

The Scarlets looked for width, while a line-out rumble from the Munster pack made good yardage.

It was the Irish province who took a seventh-minute lead through a Tyler Bleyendaal penalty, but that was the last time they got anywhere close.

The Scarlets were up and running with a corner try for the departing Liam Williams after a perfectly-weighted cross kick from Rhys Patchell and never looked back after that.

Patchell slotted a penalty to extend the lead to 8-3 then Steff Evans finished off a try-of-the-season contender.

A slick pass from Beirne freed Jonathan Davies deep in his half, the British Lion put Evans away and the pair exchanged passes for the youngster to dive over for his 13th league try of the campaign.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

It was sublime stuff from Pivac’s men, defying the greasy conditions and blustery wind sweeping around the Aviva.

They should have had another after Evans was sent haring down the left wing only for Gareth Davies to spill a pass with the line beckoning.

Davies, though, made up for his lapse moments later, taking an inside pass from Scott Williams after another defence-splitting intervention from the outstanding Evans. The final pass to the international scrum-half appeared forward, but the television match official thought otherwise and the score was given.

There was more to come, plenty of it.

The clock had barely ticked to the half hour mark and the Scarlets were celebrating their fourth try.

This time it arrived via close quarters, with former Leinster lock Beirne twisting over against his countrymen.

A Bleyendaal try on the stroke of half-time served as a necessary reality check for those already dancing on cloud nine, but even for a side of Munster’s history, there remained a mountain to climb.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

That got bigger when Patchell landed a penalty four minutes after the restart and another Munster miracle never materialised.

With the second half peppered with loose kicks and Munster delivering one fumble after another, the Scarlets’ lead was never remotely threatened.

DTH van der Merwe’s score provided the prompt for the Munster fans to head for the exits, and after Munster wings Andrew Conway and Keith Earls claimed late consolations, it was James Davies who raced away to complete the triumph with John Barclay and Ken Owens lifting the trophy amid jubilant scenes.

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MUNSTER 22

Try: T. Bleyendaal, A. Conway, K. Earls.

Cons: Bleyendaal, K. Earls.

Pen: Bleyendaal.

S. Zebo (repl I. Keatley 61); A. Conway, F. Saili, R. Scannell (repl J. Taute 4-11, 28), K. Earls; T. Bleyendaal, C. Murray (repl D. Williams 72); D. Kilcoyne, N. Scannell (repl R. Marshall 55), J. Ryan (repl S. Archer 46), D, Ryan, B. Holland (repl J. O’Donoghue 53), P. O’Mahony (capt), CJ Stander, T. O’Donnell (repl J. Deysel 46).

SCARLETS 46

Tries: L, Williams, S. Evans, G. Davies, T. Beirne, DTH van der Merwe, James Davies.

Cons: R. Patchell (3), Liam Williams (2).

Pens: Patchell (2)

J. McNicholl; L. Williams, Jonathan Davies, S. Williams, S. Evans (repl DTH van der Merwe 58); R. Patchell (repl H. Parkes 55), G. Davies (repl J. Evans 52); R. Evans (repl W. Jones 52), R. Elias (repl E. Phillips 72), S. Lee (repl W. Kruger 28), L. Rawlins (repl D. Bulbring 62), T. Beirne, A. Shingler, J. Barclay (capt; repl W. Boyde 62), James Davies.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Attendance: 44,558

Man of the match: Aaron Shingler