Maybe I’m just getting soft in my old(er!) age. I’ve watched rugby for over 30 years but reading about players getting ‘smashed’ in tackles (resulting in them being subbed straight away) is becoming less and less entertaining for me. I actually give a sh** about player welfare and it looks like more and more of them are sustaining injuries, often serious, which mustn’t bode well for their future quality of life. Just look at the 6N injury toll. We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that’s it’s sport, not gladiators, and they should have a decent existence thereafter. For some of them, that patently won’t be the case and they/we should be concerned.

Agreed Thomas - if Luke Fitz says “what I like about this scarlets team” again I think I’ll have to watch without sound! Irritating

They run the clock down before McGrath clears to touch bringing the first half to a close. HT here at The RDS.

Leinster win the ball at the lineout and set their maul to work

Scarlets work the ball through the hands to Prydie who tries an offload but it sails into touch. Lineout Leinster

McGrath clears downfield to Prydie who looks to run it back from deep

Leinster secure possession from the scrum and begin a series of pick and drive phases to set up an exit

Nightmare commentary team on sky. The banter is unbearable.

Scarlets manage to retain possession following the restart and look to hit back with an attack of their own but the ball is lost forward. Scrum Leinster

After some excellent work at the lineout by Fardy, Leinster patiently work it to Lowe who barrels over from close range