Leinster struggle as Scarlets ease to the win in Wales

Scarlets 25 Leinster 14

Leinster suffered another case of the away-day Blues as they were thumped by the Scarlets in west Wales.

Two tries from debutant wing DTH van der Merwe plus a score from flanker James Davies and 10 points from the boot of Steven Shingler did the damage for the home side, who made it four wins from four this season.

They did at least manage to avoid the ignominy of being kept scoreless as Isa Nacewa claimed a consolation try, but it was a sobering night as, following the opening weekend defeat at Edinburgh, Leinster again performed poorly away from home.

They were up against it from the off, conceding a penalty to Shingler and then were cut to ribbons as flanker Davies romped over out wide following powerful work by Hadleigh Parkes and George Earle in the build-up.

A quick response was needed but the visitors paid for their inability to make the most of an extended period of pressure when Noel Reid’s pass was picked off by Van der Merwe, who ran in from 80 yards to put the Scarlets 15 points to the good at the break.

Leinster had a mountain to climb and it got even steeper when Reid was binned for diving off his feet at a ruck inside his own 22.

The Scarlets capitalised as Regan King’s lovely pass sent Van der Merwe scampering over once more.

Nacewa finished well from Reid’s half-break, and Tracy profited from a controlled rolling maul to at least put some respectability on the scoreline on a miserable night for the Irish province.

Scarlets: Thomas; Parkes, King, Owen (T Williams 73), Van der Merwe; S Shingler, A Davies (R Williams 62); Evans (John 69), Myhill (Elias 69), Edwards (Taylor 58), Earle, Price, A Shingler (Condy 64), J Davies, Barclay (Phillips 75).

Scorers: Tries - J Davies, Van der Merwe 2; Conversions - Shingler 2; Penalties - Shingler 2.

Leinster: Nacewa; Ringrose, O'Shea (M McGrath 55), Reid, McFadden; R Byrne (L McGrath 64), Boss (Marsh 64); Bent (Dooley 58), B Byrne (Tracy 58), Moore (Hagan 58), Molony, Denton (Beirne 75), D Ryan, Van der Flier, Leavy (T Ryan 58).

Scorers: Tries - Nacewa, Tracy; Conversions - McFadden 2

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)