Ireland rocks! in the Magners League, (and most other places) Tigers are tops, and the Sharks take a bite out of the Brumbies

What happens next? Picture from: http://bit.ly/lzie4e

This is it, the fantastic four, or the fab three from Ireland and the fortunate one from Wales as it should really be known.

1. Munster 83

2. Leinster 70

3. Ulster 67

4. Ospreys 63

5. Scarlets 62

Munster monstered this year’s Magners, only losing three times , and Connacht slowed them down hardly at all on Friday. It was farewell for Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan and Fionn Carr leaving for Leinster and Ian Keatley’s going to Munster. It must be really galling for Connacht to have finally built up a decent squad and then see the big boys cherry pick your stars. Alan Quinlan got a try, and could well have played his last match for Munster. Good to see this canny servant to Munster and Ireland end on a high note.

Leinster blew Glasgow away at the RDS. That’s a big victory, even if there wasn’t too much on offer for the Scots. That was a Leinster lite team as well, but the ‘lite’ players put in some heavy duty performances. How Luke Fitzgerald is first choice when Fergus McFadden is playing like that is a mystery. And he was kicking like a pro as well. I though Madigan played well with some great tactical kicking, and Kevin Mc McLaughlin was in excellent form.

Ulster broke the Dragons recent good run of results at home, scoring three tries in the first, then having a kip in the second half, but they’d already done enough to win the match. Two tries from the exciting Nevin Spence, and one from Pedrie Wannenburg sealed a semi final place for the Ulster men. The Dragons have really delivered for Ulster, beating the Ospreys and Blues in their last two matches, and then losing their spark at exactly the right moment. So it’s going to be Leinster v Ulster at the RDS next Friday for a place in the final.

The Ospreys staggered into the semis in a bewildering last day for the Welsh provinces. Aironi, bottom of the league, one win to their name went into the last few minutes in the match in the lead until Hook spared the Ospreys blushes. Both the Blues and the Ospreys have been falling over themselves to throw that lost spot away, if anyone deserved to get it was the Scarlets, who pretty well looked like they’d made it at one stage. Is it just me, or does it seem like the bigger your wage bill is in Wales, the worse you play? Munster must be bricking themselves for the semi final.

Aviva Premiership

1. Leicester Tigers 78

2. Saracens 76

3. Gloucester 67

4. Northampton 65

5. Bath 62

It was all topsy turvy in the Premiership at half time, Leeds beating the Saints and London Irish beating the Tigers. It was like some master director yelled ‘CUT’ at half time, every one read their lines again, went ‘OK, right’ and normal service was resumed. Saints threw on their A team (not THE A team) and beat Leeds pretty convincingly in the end, also consigning them to the drop (unless the Cornish Pirates do them a favour). The Tigers roused themselves and savaged the Exiles to claim top spot and a home semi. Saracens beat Quins pretty easily, with the commentators claiming that they are the ‘form’ team in the Premiership right now. Um, not if we watching the same match they aren’t. Lot’s of thud and puff but no hardly any penetration. Gloucester did a right number on Sale, and are looking good at the exactly the right time. Are you watching Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys? That’s how you do it. So it’ll be Tigers/Saints, Saracens/Gloucester, both intriguing excting matches, and Exiles – yes please!

Shark Bite

The Sharks have finally mastered the art of which half to play ( it’s the second one, boys) as they overhauled a 10 point deficit accumulated in the first half to claim a 5 point win over the Brumbies. Study the tape, and repeat until the end of the season.

Magners League

Leinster 38 - 3 Glasgow

Munster 22 - 6 Connacht

Scarlets 38 - 23 Cardiff Blues

Newport-Gwent D'gons 13 - 20 Ulster

Aironi Rugby 10 - 12 Ospreys

Benetton Treviso 31 - 6 Edinburgh

Aviva Premiership


Saturday , May 7

Northampton 31 - 24 Leeds Carnegie

Exeter 21 - 8 Wasps

Gloucester 68 - 17 Sale

Leicester 32 - 23 London Irish

Harlequins 13 - 16 Saracens

Bath 42 - 12 Newcastle

Super Rugby


Saturday , May 7

Chiefs 20 - 7 Highlanders

Waratahs 20 - 15 Western Force

Stormers 14 - 20 Crusaders

Sharks 34 - 16 Brumbies

Friday , May 6

Hurricanes 11 - 17 Blues

Melbourne Rebels 18 - 33 Reds

Lions 19 - 53 Cheetahs