Leinster overcome slow start to beat Scarlets

BKT United Rugby Championship, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 27/3/2026 Leinster vs Scarlets Leinster's Joshua Kenny celebrates scoring a try with Tommy O’Brien Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Leinster overcame a slow start to defeat the Scarlets 36–19 and claim a bonus point win.

Leinster made another slow start, but that didn’t mean the Scarlets were going to hold back. In the 16th minute, the visitors struck first, with Joe Roberts getting over the line after a clever dink in behind the Leinster defence.

Shortly after the Scarlets were reduced to 13 men after two yellow cards in quick succession. Joe Roberts was shown yellow for a deliberate knock on after 22 minutes, before number six Jarrod Taylor was also sin binned five minutes later for playing the scrum half while on the ground.

Leinster made their numerical advantage count, with Garry Ringrose crashing over in the 28th minute. Although Joe Roberts returned to the field, it didn’t stop Leinster from striking again, as Joshua Kenny got over after some well worked offloading from Jamie Osborne to Dan Sheehan, sending the winger over in the right hand corner.

It took Leinster just under 10 minutes to strike again in the second half. Dan Sheehan showed great power to get close to the line, before Jamison Gibson Park flung the ball wide to find Tommy O’Brien, who touched down for Leinster’s third try.

Three minutes later, Joe McCarthy got up to steal a Scarlets lineout getting the ball to Jamison Gibson Park who flung the ball to Harry Byrne, who fired a pass to Jamie Osborne running a great line. Osborne then found Jimmy O’Brien, who released Tommy O’Brien out wide, with the winger crossing for his second try of the night.

It wasn’t all Leinster however, as the Scarlets struck back in the 56th minute. Joe Hawkins moved the ball on to Blair Murray, who found Tom Rogers to finish in the corner.

Leinster came back in the 66th minute, with Josh van der Flier getting close to the line before the ball found Max Deegan, who powered over. After referee Aimee Barrett-Theron went to the TMO, Quinton Immelman confirmed the ball had been grounded and the try was awarded.

Some great play from Scarlets replacement scrum half Archie Hughes saw him brush past the Leinster defence and into the 22, before finding Max Douglas, who powered over under the posts.

With just under five minutes remaining, Fintan Gunne fed Byrne, who threw a long pass out to the left wing for Kenny to go over.

Tommy O’Brien doing Tommy O’Brien things. In the 76th minute, he was named BKT URC Player of the Match, and just two minutes later he showed exactly why, producing a try saving tackle on Scarlets number 12 Johnny Williams before getting back to his feet to win a turnover penalty.

As the clock went into the red, Gunne fed it back to Harry Byrne, who kicked it into touch to bring the game to an end, with Leinster winning 36–19.