[caption id="attachment_67652" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Ronan O'Gara kicks a penalty for Munster against Arironi."]
MUNSTER and Leinster are second and third respectively in the Rabo Direct Pro-12 League following their victories over Arironi and Edinburgh last weekend.
Munster overcame difficult conditions at Thomond Park to defeat Aironi 18-6 with Ronan O'Gara kicking all of the points. Over in Scotland, Jonathan Sexton was in equally good goalkicking form for Leinster, contributing 20 points in helping his team to a 36-28 success.
It is the perfect set-up for the meeting of the two Irish provinces when they clash at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night. Worryingly for Leinster, however, Sexton did have to go off in the closing stages against Edinburgh with an injury.
Both Munster and Leinster are on 22 points in the table, just two behind leaders the Ospreys. Unfortunately, Connacht are beginning to feel the pressure a bit after a great start.
They went down 26-20 to Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground. It was a disappointing result, given that they had played so well to lead 17-6 at the interval.
But a lack of concentration at the start of the second half when they conceded two tries cost them dearly. "We were in position to win but five minutes of madness and it is gone from us." lemented coach Eric Elwood.
Elwood will be looking for an improvement when Connacht take on Ulster on Saturday. But then so will Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin following his team's 24-17 defeat at the hands of the Llanelli Scarlets in Wales.
A second-half try from Ireland's Andrew Trimble gave Ulster hope but they couldn't go through with their effort. They currently lie fourth from bottom, one place behind Connacht, with three wins from their seven games.
