How they rated

ROB KEARNEY 7 V 7 LEIGH HALFPENNY

The battle of the international full-backs was even with Halfpenny kicking well and defending strongly while Kearney was a master in the air.

JORDAN LARMOUR 7 V 4 STEFF EVANS

Wales winger Evans was given a torrid time as Leinster peppered him through the pinpoint kicking of Johnny Sexton, Larmour also beating him for pace for a second-half try.

GARRY RINGROSE 6 V 6 SCOTT WILLIAMS

Neither gave any quarter in midfield during an intriguing battle, with Williams’s brief mostly being in defence until running hard to create McNicholl’s third try.

ISA NACEWA 5 V 6 HADLEIGH PARKES

After four European titles and countless other honours, Nacewa hung up his boots early after limping off. Parkes ran hard off limited ball but was skinned by the sensational footwork of Joey Carbery for one of Leinster’s tries.

JAMES LOWE 6 V 8 JOHNNY MCNICHOLL

McNicholl edged the battle of the New Zealanders and was the Scarlets’ standout player with a stunning hat-trick of tries. Lowe got one for Leinster but, for once, came off second best.

JOHNNY SEXTON 9 V 5 RHYS PATCHELL

Leinster, Ireland and Lions play-maker Sexton gave an exhibition at outside-half as he controlled the match until being replaced with the job done. Patchell had a go, but didn’t have the same platform to work off.

LUKE MCGRATH 7 V 5 GARETH DAVIES

Ireland international McGrath has made massive strides this season and does the right thing at the right time. Davies tried but Scarlets weren’t good enough on the night.

CIAN HEALY 8 V 6 SAMSON LEE

Lions and Ireland prop Healy has been playing his best rugby since 2013 and was to the fore as the driving play of the Leinster pack put them on top.

SEAN CRONIN 8 V 7 KEN OWENS

Leinster hooker Cronin jumped for joy when he was on the end of a driving maul to score. Skipper Owens typified the Scarlets, never giving up.

TADHG FURLONG 8 V 6 ROB EVANS

There weren’t that many scrums so most of their work was done lifting at the line-out or working in the loose. Furlong had more moments because Leinster were on top.

DEVIN TONER 8 V 5 LEWIS RAWLINGS

At 6ft 10in, Toner has long been a towering line-out presence, but there’s so much more to his game with his deft hands and gritty forward work bagging him a rare try.

JAMES RYAN 7 V 5 STEVE CUMMINS

Lock Ryan, who has already been capped by Ireland, has only played 22 matches as a professional and won the lot. No wonder he’s been dubbed the new Paul O’Connell.

RHYS RUDDOCK 7 V 7 AARON SHINGLER

Wales blindside flanker Shingler was showing up well and it was a massive blow for the Scarlets when he limped off in the first half after going down in a heap as his left knee gave away attempting to step off it.

DAN LEAVY 7 V 7 JAMES DAVIES

Nobody can fault the work ethic of either of these openside flankers, with Leavy having been a revelation this season and Davies working to the end as the Scarlets refused to throw in the towel.

JACK CONAN 8 V 5 TADHG BEIRNE

Beirne has been wonderful during his two seasons with the Scarlets but the Munster-bound forward didn’t seem the right fit performing emergency duty as a No. 8 in the absence of the injured John Barclay against another top prospect.

REFEREE

Stuart Berry (South Africa).

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