Leinster back to winning ways against Scarlets

March 28, 2026 No Comments

Leinster back to winning ways against ScarletsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Joshua Kenny made his Leinster debut against Sharks in OctoberByChris KirwanBBC Sport WalesPublished26 March 202655 Comments

Updated 33 minutes ago

United Rugby Championship

Leinster (12) 36

Tries: Ringrose, Kenny 2, T O’Brien 2, Deegan Cons: Byrne 3

Scarlets (7) 19

Tries: J Roberts, Rogers, Douglas Cons: Hawkins 2

Leinster got back on track in the United Rugby Championship (URC) by beating a spirited Scarlets in Dublin.

After losses to Cardiff and Glasgow, the reigning champions avoided a third defeat on the spin by running in six tries at Aviva Stadium.

Leinster fought back from Joe Roberts’ opener to lead 12-7 at the break thanks to tries by Garry Ringrose and Joshua Kenny.

Tommy O’Brien’s quickfire double earned the four-try bonus after 45 minutes and further scores came from Max Deegan and Kenny.

Scarlets ensured Leinster did not have things all their own way and were agonisingly close to a deserved consolation bonus after tries by Tom Rogers and Max Douglas.

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Leinster climb to third in the table before Ulster’s Saturday trip to bottom club Zebre while Scarlets remain 14th, a point and place above Dragons.

Leo Cullen’s side were not at their best in a stop-start fixture but go into their home tie against Edinburgh in the last 16 of the Champions Cup on a winning note.

The visitors deservedly opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Joe Roberts latched onto midfield partner Johnny Williams’ grubber kick.

Lock Brian Deeny was yellow-carded for a line-out offence in the build-up but Scarlets were then reduced to 13 when Roberts and flanker Jarrod Taylor were sin-binned.

Leinster, back to 15, were clinical in the 22 to level thanks to centre Ringrose and then hit the front against 14 men through wing Kenny.

Wing O’Brien scored a double soon after the restart when put over down the left by Jamison Gibson-Park and then finishing on the other side after a stolen line-out.

Scarlets, with strong-running number eight Fletcher Anderson excellent again, were rewarded for a bout of pressure when Rogers went over down the right from Blair Murray’s fizzed pass.

Blind-side Deegan was adjudged to have gone over from close range after a TMO review before Scarlets lock Douglas finished off after Archie Hughes’ snipe.

Kenny got his second with an acrobatic finish and then man of the match O’Brien denied Scarlets a bonus with a covering tackle on centre Williams.

How they lined up

Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien; Tommy O’Brien, Ringrose, Osborne, Kenny; Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Deeny, Deegan, van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cahir, Slimani, O’Tighearnaigh, Soroka, Gunne, Prendergast, Henshaw.

Yellow card: Deeny 16.

Scarlets: Murray; Rogers, J Roberts, Williams, Mee; Hawkins, Blacker; Mathias, Harry Thomas, Henry Thomas, Lousi, Douglas, Taylor, Davis, Anderson (capt).

Replacements: G Roberts, S O’Connor, H O’Connor, Ball, T Davies, A Hughes, I Jones, Page.

Yellow card: J Roberts 22, Taylor 27.

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)

Assistants: Peter Martin & Chris Lough (Ireland)

TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)