Llanelli broke the gain line almost at will following a shaky start, but given that Connacht beat the Dragons with a controlled and impressive display at home last week, they travelled across the Irish Sea with optimism.

However, by the conclusion of this contest, the magnitude of the task that lies ahead this season for Connacht was clear for all to see. The incisive and evasive Llanelli back-line picked holes in the Connacht defence for long periods of the second half, securing the fourth try bonus point deep into injury-time.

Llanelli deserved the five points. Leading 13-3 at half-time, they would have already being contemplating such a scenario having recovered from a spirited Connacht bombardment with 13 points in a ten-minute spell that could have and should have yielded more.

Connacht, to their credit, rallied after the break with new fly-half Tim Donnelly kicking an early penalty, but their spell of dominance was short lived and the game’s pivotal moment came in the 56th-minute.

The excellent Morgan Stoddart took advantage of one of a back versus forward miss-match to burst clear and eventually set up Vernon Cooper for a try in the corner – Rhys Priestland converted it superbly and Connacht were on one knee.

It got worse five minutes later with full-back Stoddart cutting through the defence on the counter attack and scoring under the posts. Chances followed for Connacht, including a promising succession of phases on the home line, but an unforced error once again proved costly.

With one minute remaining on the clock, replacement hooker John Fogarty scored a consolation try for Connacht after David Gannon’s lineout take and a solid maul. However, with just seconds to go, Davies capitalised on a Connacht turnover in the visitors’ 22 to score the simplest of tries and seal the Scarlets’ bonus point.

Connacht had started well. Five consecutive lineouts were superbly executed, the back-line play was threatening and the in-play kicking was effective, be it from Conor McPhillips’ box kicks or Donnelly’s chips over the fast advancing Scarlets defence.

However their only reward from the opening exchanges was a fifth-minute penalty from Donnelly. His opposite number Priestland landed penalty kicks after 27 and 33 minutes to send the home side in front and the Scarlets set the scene for this victory in the closing minutes of the first half.

Their first try was well-taken as Priestland made a midfield break and a lovely pass out of the tackle from Stoddart sent Kiwi centre King hurtling over on the right. The conversion was added and Phil Davies’ men suddenly had a 13-3 buffer.

The Welshmen improved on that after the break with their slick inter-passing between backs and forwards the highlight. Disappointingly for Connacht, this was their tenth straight defeat on Welsh soil since they beat the Ospreys at the Gnoll in November 2004.