14-MAN SCARLETS LEAVE LEINSTER WITH RED FACES

Leinster crash to home defeat as an all-ireland final dream ends

LEINSTER’S LIONS will meet up with Warren Gatland in Carton House next week rather than prepare for a PRO12 final after the Blues’ shock RDS loss.

Hopes of an all-ireland decider at the Aviva Stadium in a week’s time were sunk by a Scarlets side that scored three first-half tries to leave Leo Cullen’s men in big trouble. The hosts were thrown a lifeline two minutes from the break when Steffan Evans was sent off. But the Welsh region, with ex-leinster starlet Tadhg Beirne in inspirational form, held out to make history as the first side to win an away semi-final in the competition. Leinster can only blame themselves as they fell to their third loss on the spin – and their first home defeat in the PRO12 since February 2015. They were buzzing early on but Isa Nacewa’s try was disallowed for Johnny Sexton’s forward pass and momentum stalled. Worryingly Sexton’s fellow Lions pick Jack Mcgrath had his elbow strapped and was replaced by Cian Healy after nine minutes. In the second-half, fellow prop Tadhg Furlong hobbled off. The Scarlets drew first blood before Mcgrath was gone. Adam Byrne’s missed tackle opened the door and John Barclay’s pass sent Evans in with Rhys Patchell converting the try. With Sexton receiving treatment for the first of two big hits he withstood, Nacewa was successful with a 18th minute penalty. Mcgrath went off for a HIA and didn’t return but the hosts managed to hit the front moments later when Sexton and Jack Conan combined to put Garry Ringrose away. Nacewa’s conversion made it 10-3 but the Scarlets roared back. Aaron Schlinger was picked out by Rhys Webb for the visitors second try on 26 minutes. With Sexton demanding the ref check for holding with the TMO, Patchell took a quick drop-goal to ensure the score stood. Then Webb flew in under the posts as the hosts’ cover went AWOL again on the half hour. Patchell’s third conversion made it 21-10. Sexton denied Evans another try on 36 minutes – and seconds later there was a ruckus as the out-half and his new Lions colleague Webb clashed. With Evans red-carded for tackling Ringrose into the turf head first. The hosts turned the screw from the start of the second-half but were frustrated by Scarlets’ committed defence until the 63rd minute, when they capitalised on a mistake. A lineout overthrow found James Tracy, who barrelled up close to the line. Although Dan Leavy couldn’t make it over, Jack Conan could. Somehow Nacewa missed the conversion but a converted try would still win it – until Leinster conceded a penalty 30m from their own posts. Liam Williams nailed it with 10 minutes remaining and, after Beirne won a crucial late penalty near his own line, Williams slotted over again in the last minute to rub salt in blue wounds.