Leigh Halfpenny to miss Guinness Pro14 semi final

(Photo: Getty Images)
By Jake Jones
Wales international Leigh Halfpenny has been ruled out of Scarlets‘ Pro14 semi final showdown with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun on Friday due to injury.
Halfpenny sustained the torn hamstring in the Scarlets’ win over the Cheetahs in their quarter final play-off a fortnight ago. The news of Halfpenny’s absence has been softened by the news that Kiwi, Johnny McNichol is over his shoulder injury that has kept him out since February.
“Leigh has a small tear there so with any luck, should we get through the semi-final then he may be available for the final,” said head coach Wayne Pivac.
“Johnny been’s training really, really well for the last couple of weeks.
“The last obstacle for him was full contact and he’s done that, come through so he’s available for selection.”
Scarlets were comfortable winners when the two sides last met in the competition, but Glasgow were able to fall back on their incredible start to the season to help them to finish top of conference B which secured them a home semi-final.
The quater final play off was the Llanelli side’s third game of knockout rugby since 30 March, after facing La Rochelle and Leinster in the European Champions Cup quarter-final and semi-final respectively.
Glasgow did not get past the pool stages of the Champions Cup, and their last game was their loss to city rivals Edinburgh on 28 April.
Pivac said he was expecting a different Glasgow side to the one that lost at Parc y Scarlets.
“We’d like to think the intensity will go up from that game,” he said.
“Certainly we know that Glasgow will be a lot better. I don’t think they played their best rugby.
“The intent from both sides will be there when it’s on to move the ball, but we’re expecting a very big physical clash as well.”