Pro12: Leinster 42-12 Scarlets

Rob Kearney scored two tries in his first appearance of the season for Leinster

Leinster regrouped from their opening defeat by Glasgow as they outclassed the Scarlets in the Pro12 encounter.

Rob Kearney's two first-half tries came either side of Scott Williams's breakaway score as Ian Madigan's two conversions helped Leinster lead 14-5.

Madigan then helped himself to two tries to secure Leinster's bonus point.

Phil John's sin-binning was punished by Dominic Ryan's try and Tadhg Furlong's score heaped more woe on the Scarlets before Johan Snyman's late response.

Kearney's return to action after missing the defeat in Glasgow rejuvenated the Leinster backline as he linked up impressively with wing Zane Kirchner in the early stages.

Jamie Heaslip was also back in the Leinster line-up and his display earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Kearney notched Leinster's opening try in the ninth minute after a delightful flicked pass from Madigan to Brendan Mackin kept the backline move alive.

After Madigan's successful conversion, the Scarlets responded with a try of their own as centre Williams won the foot race with Macken after Leinster had spilled possession on halfway.

But Kearney's brilliant running soon had Leinster in complete control as he firstly latched on to his own infield kick to touch down in the 27th minute and then helped set up Madigan's opening try with Jimmy Gopperth's looping pass finding the unmarked centre.

Hooker Sean Cronin looked certain to secure Leinster's bonus point before the interval but he was dispossessed by Scarlets full-back Gareth Owen after crossing the line.

Owen had made a late switch to the number 15 jersey after Liam Williams was ruled out by a groin injury sustained in the warm-up.

But the fourth Leinster try did come courtesy of Madigan in the 52nd minute as the home side punished the sin-binning of Scarlets prop John.

The fifth Leinster try also came during John's absence as Ryan broke through some weak Scarlets tackling and Furlong barged over for another Leinster touchdown in the 69th minute.

Snyman's injury-time reply for the Scarlets, after the outstanding Heaslip had been sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, was little consolation for the well-beaten visitors.

TEAMS

Leinster: Rob Kearney, Zane Kirchner, Brendan Macken, Ian Madigan, Darragh Fanning; Jimmy Gopperth, Isaac Boss; Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross; Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy; Dominic Ryan, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip (capt).

Replacements: Mick McGrath for Kirchner 31 mins, Eoin Reddan for Boss 56, Bryan Byrne for Cronin 67, Tadhg Furlong for Ross 63, Ben Marshall for Toner 56, Cian Healy for M McCarthy 56, Kevin McLaughlin for Jennings 42.

Not Used: Crosbie.

Scarlets: Gareth Owen, Harry Robinson, Adam Warren, Scott Williams, Jordan Williams, Rhys Priestland, Rhodri Williams, Phil John, Ken Owens (capt), Rhodri Jones, Jake Ball, Johan Snyman, Aaron Shingler, John Barclay, Rory Pitman.

Replacements: Emyr Phillips for Owen 71, Steven Shingler for Priestland 71, Aled Davies for R Williams 56, Peter Edwards for R Jones 71, Richard Kelly for Ball 71, Rob McCusker for A Shingler 67.

Not Used: R. Evans, A. Warren.

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)

Assistant referees: Mark Patton, Jonathan Peak (Ireland)

TMO: Alan Rogan (Ireland)