Munster get welcome top four lift

Treviso 13 Munster 16: Improving Treviso pushed Munster all the way in yesterday’s Guinness Pro12 clash at Stadio Monigo but failed narrowly to secure a third victory in succession.

Instead, it was Anthony Foley’s side that emerged with a hard earned but most welcome four points to help them move up to sixth place, level on points with Edinburgh but with a game in hand, and four points away from a coveted top four place.

They could perhaps have done with Glasgow losing away to Newport Gwent Dragons and Edinburgh falling at home to Scarlets. Both of the Scottish sides also won narrowly, Glasgow 18-15 against Dragons and Edinburgh 24-23 against Scarlets, but there was some good news elsewhere for Foley’s men – Connacht’s impressive victory over Ospreys to continue setting the pace in the competition. That Ospreys defeat leaves the Welsh club down in eighth place, four points adrift of Munster who have a game in hand.