Champions Leinster resume regular service against sloppy Scarlets

Leinster 42 Scarlets 12

Leinster rediscovered some of their old mojo in the first home game of the season at the RDS as they ran in six tries against a weak Scarlets to open their league account in some style.

Ian Madigan with two tries and five conversions contributed 22 points to Leinster's haul, while Ireland fullback Rob Kearney also grabbed two tries in his first game of the season.

While Leinster began the match struggling to hold on to the ball, by the end of the first half they were streaking away with the game, three tries to the good and 21 points on the board.

Leinster’s first score came on nine minutes. A dummy, jink and run from Kearney starting the ball moving left in the Scarlets 22.

When it came back through the quick hands of Madigan and Brendan Macken, fittingly it was Kearney in space only willing to go over in the corner. Madigan converted from the tightest of angles for 7-0.

Just minutes later Scarlets replied when Scott Williams beat Macken to the ball in a foot race after a loose Jimmy Gopperth pass, a little nudge just before diving ensuring it was a Welsh hand on the ball. Rhys Priestland missed the penalty for Leinster to hold their lead 7-5 after 14 minutes.

The home side struggled for continuity and lost the ball in contact too frequently to form any sort of attacking platform. But again in open play Leinster looked threatening and on 28 minutes Kearney broke down the right and deftly kicked in field.

After a four-player scramble, the ball bounced kindly among a tangle of bodies and the fullback was at hand to touch down for his second try and 14-5 for Leinster.

Mick McGrath replaced a limping Zane Kirchner shortly after but Leinster kept on coming with another Kearney streak through the Welsh defence. When the ball came to outhalf Gopperth his looping pass right found Madigan in acres of space and he ran in unopposed. His conversion brought it to 21-5 at the break.

For that Scarlets could be grateful as Seán Cronin left a try on the paddock. After good work from captain Jamie Heaslip the hooker lost control going over in the dying seconds of the half with fullback Gareth Owen on his shoulder.

The second half had an air of inevitability about it as Scarlets were forced to chase the match and when prop Phil John was binned for pulling down Kevin McLaughlin in a lineout soon after the restart Leinster tore into them.

They piled on the pressure and a little magic from Madigan converted that into points as he ran around John Barclay, dummied a pass right and kept on going for his second try for 28-5.

Dominic Ryan added another minutes later and Madigan converted for 35-5 with the 50-point mark not an unreasonable target against a dreadful Llanelli side.

When Tadhg Furlong forced his way over on 70 minutes most of the 16,108 fans rose to their feet when the TMO awarded the score, the outside centre again converting again for 42-5. Scarlets scored in the last move of the game but it couldn't mask a shocker from them.

Leinster coach Matt O’Connor emptied the bench and there was to be no magical 50 but six tries to the good and a bonus point win, albeit against a poor Scarlets side, is a much needed tonic after last week’s downbeat opener.