Last AIL qualifying place up for grabs
With Clontarf, Lansdowne and Ballymena sure of reaching the knock-out stages of the top echelon, interest centres very much now on which side joins them and where home advantage will lie when in the semi-finals in two weeks.
Clontarf are virtually assured of being at Castle Avenue with Buccaneers, providing the opposition defeat Ballymena in Athlone this afternoon.
Failure to do so will not alone give Ballymena a home semi-final but also give Belfast Harlequins the chance to leapfrog Buccs as the fourth and last qualifier.
Harlequins are at home to a weakened Shannon side not alone out of the equation but much weakened for many reasons.
The wise betting for now is a semi-final line-up of Clontarf against Buccaneers and Lansdowne against Ballymena with Harlequins a worthy outsider.
At the other end of the table, all eyes will be on Thomond Park for the clash of UL/Bohemians and Co Carlow. Given that UCD, the other side in danger of the drop, can be reliably expected to beat doomed Terenure College, even at Lakelands Park, the Limerick outcome will decide which side joins Terenure in the second division next year.
The odds favour Carlow who are currently two points clear of Bohs and that means the home side must win the game and also ensure that the visitors don't pick up a bonus point for either scoring four tries or losing by seven points or less.
The picture at the top of the second division is clearcut. If centenary-celebrating Dolphin beat Malone at Musgrave Park, then they go up as champions.
No matter what second placed Old Crescent achieve against Old Belvedere at Rosbrien, nothing can change that scenario.
It's a huge game for Dolphin who are anxious to join Constitution as a second Cork side in the top flight. Malone have nothing to play for so Dolphin should get there without undue difficulty. Should Dolphin lose and Crescent win, the Limerick side will gain promotion.
It would require a minor miracle to deprive Waterpark of the third division championship and promotion. They can be safely backed to dispose of Skerries at Ballinakill and so bring a great league campaign to a triumphant conclusion.
In the Super 12 competition yesterday, last season's finalists ACT Brumbies swept aside the New South Wales Waratahs 41-15 to keep their Super 12 rugby finals' hopes alive.
Over the remaining three weeks, the Brumbies face mighty tests against the Highlanders in Dunedin, Hurricanes in Wellington and a home game against the champions of last season Canterbury Crusaders.
George Gregan's team bounced back from last week's bye to outclass the Waratahs with their slick backline play and commanding advantage in the tight five.
Joel Wilson scored two tries with fullback Joe Roff maintaining his impeccable kicking form with six out of six for 14 points.
Winger Mark Gerrard, unwanted by the Waratahs, scored the opening try when he charged on to a long cut-out pass from centre Matt Giteau to put the Brumbies ahead 10-3.
ACT went further ahead minutes later when Wallaby flanker George Smith picked up the ball from the base of the ruck and flung an overhead pass as he was tackled into touch to prop Bill Young to pick up his second try of the season.
Behind 17-3, the Waratahs cracked the Brumbies' try-line after a sustained period of pressure with scrumhalf debutant Paul Sheedy scoring in the 26th minute.
But the Brumbies went to halftime leading 24-10 after Wilson powered through the tackles of Lote Tuqiri and Matt Burke for ACT's third try of the game.
Wilson picked up his second try of the game after a slick backline move off the ruck, while winger Andrew Walker crossed in the corner to put ACT 41-10 up.
Tuqiri had little opportunity to impress Wallaby selectors on the Waratahs' wing, but did manage a late consolation try.
Meanwhile, Gloucester and Sale served-up a pulsating encounter in the Zurich Premiership which ended in a thrilling 30-30 draw.
A tight first half, edged 11-10 by the Sharks, was all but forgotten after the break as both teams opened up in a see-saw encounter which Sale appeared to have under control.
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