RaboDirect Pro12: Week 17 Review

Aironi 6 “ 22 Leinster  

Ian Madigan kept Leinster's scoreboard ticking over as they failed to get into the game with the loss of their international stars. Madigan knocked over three penalties in the first half to give the visitors a nine point lead at the break. Naas Olivier found his range early in the second half to put Aironi on the scoresheet and when Luciano Orquera reduced their deficit to three points with just 20 minutes remaining. Madigan added kick two more penalties before Gilberto Pavan was sent to the sinbin and Leinster really turned up the heat.   Noel Reid intercepted a pass to go over for the only try of the game, Madigan added the extras to take the visitors out of reach.

Ulster 38 “ 16 Edinburgh

Ulster scored six tries as their put on a fantastic display against Edinburgh to try and maintain their push for a place in the playoffs. It was Edinburgh who got the first try of the game is Tim Visser going over just five minutes into the game. It was not long before Ulster got a break and Paul Marshall went over, Ruan Pienaar added the extras to give the home side the lead. Ulster continued to put pressure on Edinburgh and it was not long before Stefan Terblanche went over in the corner and another Pienaar conversion gave them a good lead. Just after 30 minutes Ulster made it a hat-trick with Adam D'Arcy went over, with another two points kicked by Pienaar. On the stroke of half time Phil Godman added another three points making it 21 - 8 at the break. On the 50th minute Ulster forced a penalty try with their scrum, converted by Piernaar and securing them the bonus-point. Chris Cochrane was the next Ulster player to go over the line which was set up by Paddy Wallace. Ian Humphreys got a break-away try in the 80th minute to make it six, while Visser went over for a consolation try.

Ospreys 20 “ 26 Glasgow Warriors  

Ospreys have slipped down to third in the table after their home defeat to Glasgow. The visitors got the first points on the board with a penalty but it was no long before Ospreys went into the lead with a try from Hanno Dirksen, Dan Biggar added the extras. The lead was back in Glasgow's hands minutes later after Jon Welsh went over for a try with Ruaridh Jackson converting. Things got worse for the Ospreys as Tom Smith was sent to the sin bin allowing Jackson to add another three points to Glasgow's scoresheet. Colin Shaw claimed Glasgow's second try, Jackson converted and it looked as those the visitors were out of reach. Biggar kicked a penalty just before half-time but the Ospreys were left with a lot to think about as they went into the break. Ospreys made a late comeback in the closing minutes of the game after Glasgow duo Johnnie Beattie and Al Kellock received yellow cards. Kahn Fotuali'I went over for a try and Biggar added the extras but it was too little too late for the home side.

Scarlets 38 “ 10 Connacht  

Scarlets got a bonus-point win over Connacht with Stephen Jones giving a stunning performance. Phil John, Andy Fenby, Rhodri Jones, Emyr Phillips and Kiernan Murphey went over for tries for the home side, with Jones kicking all five conversions and a penalty. Connacht did manage to put the Scarlets under some pressure and Miah Nikora kicked a penalty and converted Ethienne Reynecke try but the pressure Scarlets applied was too much for Connacht who were unable to make much of any pressure they did put on the home side.

Benetton Treviso 13 “ 20 Cardiff Blues  

The Blues held on to win against Treviso who made a good comeback at the end but it was not enough. Dan Parks and Willem de Waal exchanged penalties before Martyn Williams and Harry Robinson went over in the first half to give the visitors a comfortable 14 point lead as they went into the break. However a late surge by Treviso saw them come back into the game with tries from Brendan Williams and Simon Picone but it was a case of little to late for the home side.

Newport Gwent Dragons 14 “ 24 Munster  

Dragons put on a fantastic display as they were denied by Munster. An exciting first half looked like the game was going to go the way of the Dragons. Ian Keatley and Lewis Robling exchanged early penalties. Ashley Smith then gave the Dragons the lead after going over for a try on the quarter mark. Keatley then started reducing the deficit by kicking two more penalties before Robling added another three points for the Dragons. Munster piled on the pressure in the second half with Felix Jones, Scott Deasy and Luke O'Dea bought about the Munster comeback to give them their first win in Newport for three years. Their win over the Dragons put Munster second on the Pro12 leader board.

Credit - Rugby Picture - Colin Heyburn