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Leinster book home semi-final as Munster confirm play-off berth

Rhys Ruddock of Leinster

Leinster secured a home semi-final in the Pro12 play-offs with a 37-24 victory at Irish rivals Connacht, while Munster also confirmed a last-four place with a dramatic late win at Ulster.

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Last season, Leinster were beaten by Connacht in the Pro12 final, but Leo Cullen’s men remain well in contention to go one better this time around, and defeat for Ospreys on Saturday coupled with Scarlets failing to secure a bonus point against Newport Gwent Dragons means they cannot finish lower than second.

Cullen made 11 changes to his team for the encounter and they led by just one point at the break as, despite tries from Ross Byrne, Adam Byrne and Rory O’Loughlin, Craig Ronaldson’s boot kept the hosts in contention.

A Dave Heffernan try briefly had the soon-to-be deposed champions ahead, but scores from Rhys Ruddock and Barry Daly put Leinster into a lead they did not relinquish.

Munster are also confirmed for the play-offs, but only after Dave O’Callaghan’s late try earned a 22-20 victory over Ulster at Thomond Park.

Ulster’s Rory Best and Munster’s Angus Lloyd, on loan from Ulster, exchanged early tries as the match headed for the break at 10-10, but it was in the second half where the drama unfolded with the lead changing hands four times.

Keith Earls’ try put Munster in front only for Luke Marshall to put the visitors back ahead. But there was one final twist as O’Callaghan crossed with the clock winding down and Tyler Bleyendaal struck the winning conversion to put Munster into the last four and dent fifth-placed Ulster’s own play-off aspirations.

It was ‘Judgement Day’ in Wales, with two matches taking place at the Principality Stadium.

Third-placed Scarlets defeated Newport 21-16 thanks to second-half tries from Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams to cement their place in the top four with two rounds of the regular season remaining.

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Ospreys’ hopes took a hit, though, as they were turned over 35-17 by Cardiff Blues. They remain in fourth and one point ahead of Ulster.

The other match on Saturday saw Benetton Treviso move off bottom spot with a 21-6 defeat of Edinburgh.

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J
JW 37 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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