The Aviva will be covered in red next weekend.

It was always going to happen, acknowledged Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus yesterday, as he reviewed his side’s weekend defeat against the Scarlets. 

Munster 21 Scarlets 30: For 40 minutes at Thomond Park last night, Munster played some of their finest rugby of the season and deservedly opened up a 15 point lead over Welsh visitors Scarlets in a truly remarkable Guinness Pro 12 encounter.

Scarlets claimed the scalp of Guinness PRO12 leaders Munster with a stunning 30-21 comeback win at Thomond Park.

Pride restored after a Parisian wake-up call a fortnight ago, Ronan O’Gara was able to take plenty of encouragement from Racing 92’s honourable defeat on his return to Thomond Park.

Glasgow 12 Munster 14: With no frills and few thrills Munster left Glasgow on Saturday night with everything they had hoped for. 

It says plenty about Rory Scannell’s form this season and his immense contribution to Munster’s run of form that he has kept his place in the centre ahead of Springbok Jaco Taute and Francis Saili, an All Black.

Niall Scannell spoke for the entire Munster dressing room when he derided descriptions of the Leinster team they defeated on Monday evening as second string.

Munster appear to be moving closer to tying down Springbok centre Jaco Taute for the rest of the season with director of rugby Rassie Erasmus suggesting an extension to his loan deal was a matter of “crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s”.

IRFU performance director David Nucifora insists Johnny Sexton will not be rushed back to action until he is 100% fit.

The clock may be ticking but there is still no definite news on whether South African centre Jaco Taute will be available to Munster in 2017. His temporary contract comes to an end on January 1st so a decision as to whether his stay with Munster can be extended must be made imminently.

Munster management will wait until after Saturday’s Champions Cup showdown at Leicester before deciding whether to press for an extension of Jaco Taute’s contract.

Rassie Erasmus believes keeping Springbok centre Jaco Taute at Munster beyond his short-term contract could be a possibility.

Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus still has more questions than answers surrounding the make-up and fitness of his squad as he attempts to prepare his players for Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 opener at Scarlets.

Former Leinster centre Collie O’Shea will partner Cian Bohane in Munster’s midfield tomorrow night as Rassie Erasmus begins his search for willing alternatives to the injured Francis Saili.

Rassie Erasmus has given Munster’s young midfield hopefuls two pre-season games to stake their claim to a starting place for the new campaign before looking to bring in a more experienced replacement for long-term injury victim Francis Saili.

Munster's plans for a strong start to the Rassie Erasmus era have been dealt a blow.

Munster 31 Scarlets 15: Given the trials and tribulations of Munster’s season, there was more than a tinge of irony this five-try victory on the last day of an utterly frustrating campaign had no bearing on the Guinness Pro12 standings.

Munster secured their place in next season's Champions Cup after a hard-fought 31-15 victory over the Scarlets at Thomond Park earned them a sixth-place finish in the Guinness Pro12.

Munster 27 Edinburgh 19: Munster left it late to land the killer blow but there will be few quibbles from the province’s supporters after this bonus-point Guinness Pro12 victory over European qualification rivals Edinburgh.

It’s late December. Festive season, though it feels like anything but for Munster.

To say the weight has been lifted from CJ Stander’s shoulders by the end of Munster’s losing streak would be underplaying the relief the province’s captain is feeling as he heads to Paris.