Defending champions Leinster made a winning start to their RaboDirect PRO12 campaign as Jimmy Gopperth showed he is capable of filling Jonny Sexton’s boots in the 42-19 bonus-point victory over the Scarlets. Gopperth joined from English side Newcastle Falcons in the summer while Sexton moved to Racing Metro in France but the new arrival looked comfortable in the No.10 shirt, kicking 17 points. The 30-year-old also ran in his side’s fourth try of the night as Leinster overturned a 16-10 deficit at the break to taste victory in the opening round for just the second time since 2003. Scarlets had won four of their past five opening home fixtures and began in fine style when Aaron Shingler burst through Leinster’s defensive lines and brother Steven Shingler slotted the penalty that followed. Steven Shingler, who returned from London Irish this summer, doubled the advantage with another penalty after Dave Kearney was sin-binned for a high tackle on Scott Williams, who had made a superb break and looked destined for the corner. Aaron Shingler continued to shine in the Scarlets’ back-row and another fine break, followed by a forwards drive, saw captain Rob McCusker dive under the posts, with Steven Shingler converting. Defending champions Leinster have a rotten record in the opening round of the competition but they were back in the contest after a fine lineout and drive resulted in prop Martin Moore crossing the whitewash. Summer signing Gopperth made no mistake with the conversion to make it 13-7 and then added another penalty but Steven Shingler hit back with one of his own to send Scarlets in 16-10 up at the break. Brendan Macken sparked Leinster into life as soon as the second-half began, beating two tacklers before off-loading for Jordi Murphy to score with Gopperth slotting the conversion to put the Irish side 17-16 ahead. Gopperth then added a further penalty as Leinster attempted to pull clear but they were reduced to 14 men when replacement Darren Hudson was sent to the sin bin for a high challenge on Liam Williams. The Scarlets duly capitalised when Steven Shingler was again successful from the kicking tee but on 62 minutes Gopperth restored Leinster’s four-point cushion when he kicked another penalty. Leinster looked to have made the game safe when a great move allowed prop Jack McGrath to off-load the ball to the Hudson, back from the sin bin, to cross for the try. And any doubt was removed when Gopperth claimed the try his performance deserved as he collected an inside pass from Devin Toner to grab the bonus-point score and Kearney had the last word to take Leinster to 40 points.
