Leinster’s mad dogs tear Scarlets to ribbons and march on to Bilbao

LEINSTER 38-16 SCARLETS

Leinster tore into Scarlets from the 9th minute until the 81st minute to hammer the Welsh side and reach the Champions Cup final in Bilbao. Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster can have asked for no more than their players delivered as Leinster reached their first European Cup final in six seasons. Scarlets had the better of the opening exchanges as Tadhg Beirne and John Barclay showed their brute strength. Leigh Halfpenny put the Welsh outfit 3-0 ahead but great harrying from Scott Fardy and Jamison Gibson Park got Leinster going. Scarlets were sucked into the breakdown and Leinster secured quick ball. They had the numbers and Fergus McFadden nearly got over before James Ryan bulled in to finish off on the next phase. Leinster pressed for another in a brilliant, sustained period of pressure but had to settle for a Sexton penalty. Halfpenny reduced the arrears to 10-6 but Leinster were like a dog with a delicious bone. Fardy thought he was over but play was called back by Romain Poite and Leinster went again. On their next burst, Cian Healy powered over from close range and the lead was up to 11 points. Scarlets chipped another three points back but Leinster, much like Ireland in the Six Nations, kept coming as the half came to a close. On this occasion, McFadden did get over in the corner. Sexton, who had been crunched with a shot to the ribs in the lead-up to the try, received treatment before pinging over a touchline conversion. There was no hint of Leinster letting up after the break. Instead, they were hell-bent on breaking Scarlets. Jordan Larmour, on for McFadden, went close before being bundled out but it was a mere parry. On they came again - a Sexton line break, Ryan following up and Fardy carrying half the Welsh side over the tryline with him. 31-9 was not enough. Leinster were not finished yet. On they flooded and Scarlets, visibly wilting despite shadow creeping over the pitch, could only look on as Sexton got in behind them to score is side's fifth. The outhalf converted that too before leaving the pitch to rapturous applause. 38-9 and there were still howls of protest when Fardy was denied a second try with five minutes to go. The players were livid with themselves, right at the death, when former Leinster lock Beirne evaded a couple of tackles to get a consolation try. That one will be replayed in the Monday video review but there are celebrations to be had first. This team are insatiable and they are going to Spain as red-hot favourites.