RaboDirect Pro12 round-up: Munsterwrapped up the regular season campaign with a bonus-point home 36-8 win over a weakened Ulsterside, although the Thomond Park success was marred by a suspected knee injury which forced Paul O'Connell off midway through the second half.
The sight of O’Connell being helped off will have concerned Tony McGahan and watching Ireland boss Declan Kidney, but Keith Earls did make a welcome return from injury.
Simon Zebo and forwards Peter O’Mahony, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer and Tommy O’Donnell all crossed for the defending league champions, who will travel to the Ospreys in next Friday’s first semi-final.
The Zebo and O’Mahony tries book-ended the first period which ended with Ulster 17-3 adrift.
Sherry and Ulster newcomer Iain Henderson swapped tries in an even third quarter, but Munster finished strongly to rubber-stamp their third-place finish in the table.
The Ospreyswarmed up for the match with a hard-earned 18-11 win over Aironiin Italy.
Knowing their season had already been extended, there was little pressure on the Welsh side, but they still rose to the occasion and produced a win that gives them some momentum heading into the play-offs.
On a tight night, the boot of Dan Biggar proved decisive, as he kicked two penalties and also converted one of his side’s two tries which were scored by Richard Fussell and Hanno Dirksen.
Leinsterwill play the Glasgow Warriors in the second semi-final at the RDS next Saturday as the league leaders finished their regular season on top of the table with an 18th victory at Rodney Parade where they beat the Dragons22-18.
A try from prop Jack McGrath and points from the boot of outhalf Ian Madigan saw Leinster home.
Flanker Dan Lydiate and Will Harries scored consolation tries for the Dragons at the end, adding to a couple of Lewis Robling penalties and a conversion from replacement centre Adam Hughes.
Glasgowenjoyed a resounding 24-3 home victory over Connachtto secure fourth place.
In what was their last ever game at Firhill Stadium before their summer move to the recently redeveloped Scotstoun Stadium, the Warriors impressed throughout and grabbed the spoils thanks to tries from DTH van der Merwe and John Barclay.
The rest of the points came from the boot of Duncan Weir, while replacement Ruaridh Jackson also chipped in with a late conversion. Despite their loss, Connacht remained in eighth place in the table, their highest league finish ever.
