Leinster repeated their exploits of last weekend by blitzing the Scarlets in the first forty minutes of their Heineken Cup encounter.
Full back Rob Kearney crossed twice, after seven and 22 minutes, and Shane Horgan rounded off a perfect first half for his side with a long range run in after 37 minutes.
None of the scores were converted as the swirling Dublin wind make kicking difficult but that was unimportant as the defending champions put one foot into the final eight of the Heineken Cup.
For Nigel Davies and his Scarlets, qualification now seems unlikely and that will desperately disappoint the west-Wales side who were unbeaten aftr two rounds of this year’s contest.
Buty they were second best for a second week running and any belief they may have gained during the half time interval was swiftly erased when Gordon D’Arcy scored the bonus point try after 45 minutes.
It emphasised the difference in class between the two Magners League teams and when the fifth score came after less than an hour from talisman Brian O’Driscoll, there could have been no doubt.
Gordon D’Arcy extended the lead after 58 minutes. He was too fast, too strong and too agile for the Scarlets defenders, who will have to go back to the drawing board after this performance.
Rhys Priestland scored a consolation try, but that did nothing to change the fact that his side were well beaten and O’Driscoll’s second after 72 minutes finalized a good day for the champions.
