Leinster do the double
As he so often is, Sexton was the catalyst for everything good that Leinster did, producing a masterclass of tactical kicking to stop the Scarlets from employing their attacking game plan for much of the game.
The Welsh side resisted until right on the stroke of half-time, but James Lowe’s try to make it 21-11 seemed to take the wind out of their sails in front of what was a record crowd for a Pro14 Final of 46 092.
Prior to Lowe’s effort, Devin Toner had got Leinster’s first try, with Sean Cronin, Jordan Larmour and Jack Conan following suit after the break.
Where this Leinster side ranks alongside the previous European champions is up for debate, but in terms of depth they must surely be first.
And where previous Leinster teams had failed, this one has now followed up European success with Pro14 glory, the first team in the competition’s history to do so.
A year ago it was the Scarlets who blew away Munster in such impressive fashion in this ground. On this occasion, they simply had no answer for a relentless Leinster, although Johnny McNicholl scored a hat-trick in a losing cause with Werner Kruger also crossing.
In a battle of the defending champions and the European champions, the only thing that was sure before kick-off was that there would be no shortage of quality.
That was certainly how it transpired, with Leinster flying out of the blocks and piling the pressure on their opponents.
An early Luke McGrath break led to a Scarlets offside, converted by Sexton, but that was soon cancelled out when Tadhg Furlong was pinged for pulling back Rob Evans and Leigh Halfpenny levelled.
The Scarlets fullback gave his team the lead shortly after for offside, but Leinster were not behind for long.
A brilliant high catch from Rob Kearney, ahead of Halfpenny, set up the Dublin side for three more points.
With the scores level Leinster lost skipper Isa Nacewa to injury, a sad way to go out for the Leinster legend in the final game of his career.
Rory O’Loughlin replaced him and Leinster were soon back in front, Sexton slotting another penalty when the Scarlets drifted offside.
And on the half-hour Leinster scored the first try thanks to their second row Toner, only his fourth-ever in the competition. It all stemmed from a break by Conan off the back of a scrum in the Leinster 22. They then marched inexorably up the field before Toner powered his way over from close range. Sexton missed the conversion but Leinster led 14-6.
The momentum appeared to be with Leinster, but the Scarlets are not champions for nothing and they came back with a searing break by McNicholl. The Leinster defence held initially but once the ball was recycled, Gareth Davies had the strength to get over with McNicholl eventually getting it down. Halfpenny’s conversion was off-target but Leinster lead was down to three.
Right on the stroke of half-time Leinster were over again through winger Lowe. After initially attacking through their maul, the Irish side went down the short side with McGrath finding Sexton who passed immediately for Lowe to cross in the corner. Sexton’s touchline conversion curled in to make it 21-11 at the break.
Leinster started the second half as they had the first, piling on the pressure, although this time they turned down a simple penalty in search of a third try, only to be denied.
They were not to be kept out for long though. A brilliant kick to the corner from Sexton set Leinster up five metres out and although the Scarlets stopped their maul, there was no stopping Cronin from peeling off and gleefully diving over.
Larmour’s effort on the hour was a magnificent individual effort. Under pressure out wide he kicked over the top, outpaced the covering defence and scooped up the ball one-handed before dotting down. Sexton’s conversion was off-target but it mattered little. Leinster were 33-11 up and in complete control.
To their credit the Scarlets kept fighting, and McNicholl produced a brilliant finish to get their second try of the afternoon.
However, any thoughts of a comeback were extinguished by Conan when he ran in try number five 12 minutes from time after Joey Carbery’s break. Carbery’s conversion made it 40-18.
The Scarlets had the final say with Kruger bludgeoning his way over from close range before McNicholl completed his hat-trick after a magnificent length-of-the-field counter-attack.
But it was to be Leinster’s day and Leinster’s season they were crowned Pro14 champions.
Man of the match: Leinster flyhalf Johnny Sexton was the star of the show once again. He controlled the game nicely from the No.10 position and epitomised the Irish side's dominance.
Moment of the match: Sean Cronin's try, which was the first of the second half, proved to be a pivotal moment in the match.
Villain of the match: Leigh Halfpenny – he looked like a schoolboy under the high ball.
The scorers:
For Leinster:
Tries: Toner, Lowe, Cronin, Lamour, Conan
Cons: Sexton 2, Carbery
Pens: Sexton 3
For Scarlets:
Tries: Mcnicholl 3, Kruger
Con: Halfpenny 2, Jones
Pens: Halfpenny 2
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Isa Nacewa (captain), 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Dan Leavy, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Seán Cronin, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacement: 16 James Tracy, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Scott Fardy, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Rory O’Loughlin.
Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Johnny Mcnicholl, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Tadhg Beirne, 7 James Davies, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Steve Cummins, 4 Lewis Rawlins, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 David Bulbring, 20 Will Boyde, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Tom Prydie.
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius Mitrea (Italy), Mike Adamson Scotland
TMO: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
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