Sheehan Brace Wraps Up Runaway Leinster Victory

Leinster’s forwards hogged all seven tries for themselves in a runaway 50-15 United Rugby Championship victory over the Scarlets at the RDS.

Two slick scores from Johnny McNicholl and debutant Tomas Lezana kept the Scarlets in the contest at 29-15, but Leinster powered home with closing tries from replacements Cian Healy and Dan Sheehan (2).

A late penalty try had given the hosts a 22-8 half-time lead, and Caelan Doris claimed the bonus point to add to earlier efforts from Ronan Kelleher and the excellent Andrew Porter.

Sam Costelow, who struggled last Sunday against Munster, slotted over an early penalty for the visitors. In a pacy start, Jonathan Sexton levelled in the seventh minute.

A scrum penalty in their own 22 got the Scarlets out of trouble, before Ioan Nicholas was the beneficiary of Johnny Williams’ brilliant offload out of a tackle and the supporting McNicholl scorched over from the edge of the Leinster 22.

That was the highlight of the first half for the Scarlets, their 8-3 lead lasting until the 23rd minute when Kelleher drove over from a lineout maul.

A terrific break from deep by returning Lion Jack Conan ignited the Leinster attack again, and a few minutes later Porter plunged over from a ruck. Sexton converted for a 15-8 lead.

The Leinster pack dominated approaching the interval, some late scrum pressure earning a penalty try to open up a 14-point gap.

Hooker Kelleher was the creator for the bonus point score, showing great speed and strength to tidy up a loose ball and break past three defenders before sending Doris crashing over. The conversion followed from Ciaran Frawley.

Some excellent hands – and a neat step inside and offload from McNicholl – set up a timely reply from Argentinian flanker Lezana. Replacement Dan Jones converted to leave it 29-15.

The penalties continued to hurt the Scarlets, though, as Leinster got back in range for Healy to finish off a series of pick-and-drives.

Fellow replacement Ross Byrne converted and also added the extras to Sheehan’s well-taken closing brace. The Scarlets finished the game with 13 men having lost McNicholl to the sin bin and Lezana to injury.

Sheehan’s second try of the night was a peach, the young hooker collecting a Byrne cross-field kick at the second attempt and running in behind the posts.

However, the handling and interplay produced by the Scarlets backs to set up McNicholl’s 17th-minute score takes the spoils.

It was certainly a night for the forwards, but Leinster centre Frawley stood out for his distribution in heavy midfield traffic.

The Skerries man showed some nice touches with ball in hand, often stepping in as first receiver. He also landed a well-struck conversion in a URC player-of-the-match performance.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said that captain Sexton is ‘hopefully okay’ after sustaining a hip flexor injury. James Ryan went off for a HIA and will go through the return-to-play protocols.

“It’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. We knew the Scarlets would come very aggressively at us, that they were well fired up,” said Cullen.

“They stretched up defensively, especially in the first half. Johnny McNicholl is one of the most dangerous attackers in our league over the last few years and they caused us problems on the edge.

“Overall, we are pleased. There is plenty to get better on. Recovery is the theme for now. We know it’s going to be tight over the course of the season because of fewer games.

“We talked about this five-game block and trying to squeeze every last point out of it.

“There are so many other variables over the course of the season. We’ve played three home games so it’s important to go away next week (to Glasgow) and prepare well.”