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

By Peter Hanson
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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Adrian 42 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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