WHAT can be learned from Connacht? A question that was being asked 12 months ago and one that will soon be on the lips of those in Llanelli.

A year after the men from Galway upset the odds against Leinster at Murrayfield, the Scarlets repeated the trick against Munster in Dublin.

Wayne Pivac’s side have played some joyous stuff in the Guinness PRO12 since suffering a stodgy start and it was wonderful to see them repeat it on the biggest stage.

Whereas the Exeter-Wasps clash in the Aviva Premiership final was a tense affair, the PRO12 final was done and dusted when Rhys Patchell knocked over a penalty to make it 32-10 early in the second half.

Nobody can question whether the Scarlets are worthy champs after a run-in that saw them win at Scotstoun Stadium, Thomond Park and the Sportsground then succeeding twice in Dublin in the play-offs. They have always been strong on home turf but Pivac’s men have taken that spirit on the road.

Because of the rugby heritage in Llanelli, the narrative has been different to Connacht’s 2016 success that was hailed as one for the underdog.

However, Pivac has worked similar miracles to Pat Lam by getting the best out of a squad that may boast genuine Test beasts in the likes of Scott Williams, John Barclay and Jonathan Davies but seriously lacks depth.

The Scarlets are underfunded to the extent that they have operated without a proper number eight and when hit by propping problems this season were helped out by Newport Gwent Dragons with inexperienced loosehead Luke Garrett.

By contrast, when Munster were struggling them brought in Springboks Jaco Taute and Jean Deysel, Leicester signed France centre Maxime Mermoz on a short-term deal, Saracens enjoyed the services of giant Australia lock Will Skelton when in a pickle.

The Welsh regions don’t have such a luxury and the Scarlets’ exploits, and the joy that they have given to so many, shows why the quartet should be given more funds because, being the grumpy so-and-so that I am, I fear for next year.

They batted above their average in the 2016/17 PRO12 but Pivac and his management team will shortly be pondering that question that I opened with.

The Scarlets, without Liam Williams and DTH van der Merwe, will be there to be shot at next season with teams desperate to down the champs. Some of their surprise factor will be gone, opponents will be more savvy and I’d expect stronger and more consistent campaigns by Ulster and Glasgow after they missed out on the play-offs.

Fingers crossed the Scarlets won’t suffer the same fate as Connacht, who a year after lifting the trophy finished eighth and will be playing Challenge Cup rather than Champions Cup rugby next term.

However, if the west Walians do slip back a bit then we shouldn’t be too harsh on them; whereas some will see their triumph as evidence that money doesn’t mean everything, I see it as them winning DESPITE their financial disadvantage.

They have made the most of what they’ve got and this is peak Scarlets in the current funding model for Welsh rugby, just as last year was peak Connacht.

The Scarlets have long prospered thanks to their ability to spot a talent and get the most out of them, something that lead to some sighs here in the east when former Dragons scrum-half Jonathan Evans and ex-Cross Keys lock/flanker Lewis Rawlins were celebrating with medals around their necks.

They have brought through fine front row talent in Rob Evans, Ryan Elias and Samson Lee, snapped up a cracker in Irishman Tadhg Beirne, make the most of their pacey back rowers in the wide channels in the absence of a strong ball carrier, have arguably the best club midfield in Europe and have always been able to play expansive rugby.

In many ways they are the blueprint for what the Dragons, who also have the ability to bring through exciting talent, should be and provide proof that prospects flourish most in winning environments, guided by a vibrant coaching team of Pivac, Byron Hayward, Stephen Jones and Ioan Cunningham.

We are playing catch-up at Rodney Parade and it will take several seasons at least to reach the levels that the Scarlets and Ospreys are currently at but the west Wales pair also deserve the chance to press on themselves.

That will come down to money and, in a week where Montpellier spent a reported £900,000 to buy France number eight Louis Picamoles out of his Northampton contract, if we are serious about the regions doing consistently well in the PRO12 and in the premier European competition then they needed to be funded accordingly.

Cash isn’t exactly sloshing around in Welsh rugby but it has to be used wisely to give the Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and Dragons the chance to provide plenty of bang for their buck.

That the PRO12 trophy sits in a trophy cabinet in Llanelli despite their current wage bill adds extra credence to the efforts of Pivac & Co but it must not be used as evidence that they already get more than enough pounds to spend.