Painful lesson for young Lions

Scarlets 45 Leinster 20

The on-fire Welsh region roared to a seven-try rout of the severely depleted Irish outfit, who were missing 18 players due to a combination of injuries and international rest.

Leinster had won their last seven matches against the Scarlets but their opening day losing streak continued in devastating fashion.

Two Ian Madigan penalties kept the visitors in touch at the interval following home tries from Scott Williams and Liam Williams.

But they were blown away in the second as the Scarlets added five more through George North, Andy Fenby and Kieran Murphy.

Leinster hit back with scores from Devin Toner and Madigan but it was far too little too late.

Schmidt said: “For the young guys it’s a good learning experience and hopefully they can take something from that defeat.

“I knew we were vulnerable but you hope that you stay close enough so the opposition can’t really open up.

“But once it opened up it was one-way traffic and that’s a credit to the quality of player the Scarlets had on the field.

“There wasn’t a lack of effort but certainly a degree of naivety and a lack of physical presence. We were bullied around the park.

“We’re not going to panic. We lost in the first round last year by 24-points against the Ospreys. We’ve managed to top that which isn’t what we wanted but we are where we are.

“We’ll work really hard next week to make sure those lessons are put to good use.”

Leinster took an early lead in Llanelli thanks to Madigan but the Scarlets quickly got into their stride.

Wales centre Williams scorched over for his side’s opener and turned provider for full-back Williams minutes later.

Leinster clawed their way back but were run ragged in the second-half, unable to cope with the Scarlets’ speed, power and intensity.

North began the second-half rout and burst through Leinster from inside his own half. And following several phases he was on hand to finish the move in the corner.

Full-back Williams got in on the act and his break allowed Aaron Shingler to surge up field. The flanker beat the Leinster defence on the outside and offloaded to Knoyle, who fed Fenby.

Schmidt’s men enjoyed a bright period midway through the half but they were aided by the Scarlets lack of discipline.

Toner crashed over to give them a glimmer of hope after Madigan kicked to the corner but it was quickly slammed shut.

Murphy got the Scarlets back on track after collecting Fenby’s flick-pass in the corner. Then North and Fenby grabbed their second tries to complete the rout.

Madigan continued to battle and he was rewarded for his tenacity with a try at the death after slipping through the Scarlets’ tired defence.

Leinster welcome Newport Gwent Dragons to Dublin next week but will remain under strength and could also be without Isaac Boss and Dominic Ryan, who picked up knocks. Schmidt added: “It wasn’t so much missing the first choice guys but the youth and inexperience of the guys coming in. It would be a luxury to have the internationals back next week. But we’ve got to turn it around and really work hard.”

Scorers for Scarlets: Tries: S Williams, L Williams, G North (2), A Fenby (2), K Murphy; Cons, A Thomas (3) R Priestland (2).

Scorers for Leinster: Tries, D Toner, I Magidan Cons, I Magidan (2); Pens, I Magidan(2)

SCARLETS: L Williams; G North, G Maule, S Williams(J Davies 49), A Fenby; A Thomas (R Priestland 60), T Knoyle (G Davies 69); R Jones (P John 51), K Owens (M Rees 51), D Manu (S Lee 66), G Earle (S Timani 55), R Kelly, A Shingler, J Turnbull, R McCusker (capt) (K Murphy 62).

LEINSTER: I Nacewa (C O’Shea 64); A Conway, B Macken, N Reid, F Carr (D Hudson 57); I Madigan, I Boss (J Cooney 64); H van der Merwe (J McGrath 60), R Strauss (A Dundon 49), J Hagan (M Moore 52), D Browne (J Murphy 62), D Toner (T Denton 64), D Ryan, S Jennings (capt), L Auva’a

Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU).