Benetton produced a memorable home upset over the URC champions, with Jacob Umaga’s late penalty sealing a 29–26 win over Leinster in Treviso.

Key moments

1st half – TRY Leinster: Ciarán Frawley finished in the corner after slick Leinster handling to open the scoring. Harry Byrne converts. (Benetton 0–7 Leinster)

1st half – TRY Benetton: Nicholas Gasperini barrelled over from a powerful driving maul to drag Benetton back into the contest. Umaga converts. (Benetton 7–7 Leinster)

1st half – TRY Leinster: Leinster struck back through their forwards as the visitors built a lead. Byrne converts.

Half-time: Benetton 12–19 Leinster. An open, end-to-end first half with Leinster nudging ahead but Benetton refusing to fold against the URC champions.

2nd half – TRY Benetton: Gasperini bagged his second from another driving lineout to bring the home side level. Umaga converts.

2nd half – TRY Leinster: Leinster hit back with a clinical strike to push themselves back in front.

2nd half – TRY Benetton: Benetton refused to be denied, going wide to score and edge ahead in a thrilling final quarter. Umaga converts.

80 mins – PENALTY Benetton: Umaga held his nerve from distance to slot the match-winning penalty and seal a famous Treviso victory. (Benetton 29–26 Leinster)

Full-time: Benetton 29–26 Leinster

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (capt), 6 Manuel Zuliani, 5 Riccardo Favretto, 4 Giulio Marini, 3 Tiziano Pasquali, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Destiny Aminu.
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Marcus Gallorini, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 21 Eli Snyman, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Leonardo Marin.

Leinster: 15 Ciarán Frawley, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (capt), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Ed Byrne.
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Jerry Cahir, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Alex Soroka, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Charlie Tector.

Match details

Benetton 29 (Tries: Gasperini 2; Cons: Umaga; Pens: Umaga)
Leinster 26 (Tries: Frawley; Cons: H. Byrne)
Half-time: 12–19

Venue: Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)

A four-try John Hodnett and a hat-trick from Alex Kendellen powered Munster to a commanding bonus-point win over an understrength Ulster at Thomond Park.

Key moments

13 mins – TRY Ulster: Aitzol Arenzana-King crossed for the opening try of the contest after Ulster’s bright start. Jack Flannery converts. (Munster 0–7 Ulster)

22 mins – TRY Munster: John Hodnett finished off a powerful lineout drive to bring the hosts level. Jack Crowley converts. (Munster 7–7 Ulster)

29 mins – TRY Munster: Hodnett bagged his second after sustained Munster pressure inside the Ulster 22. (Munster 12–7 Ulster)

Half-time: Munster 12–7 Ulster. A tight first half, with Munster heading in narrowly ahead despite Ulster’s spirited resistance.

42 mins – TRY Munster: Hodnett completed his hat-trick two minutes after the break to start a Munster surge. Crowley converts. (Munster 19–7 Ulster)

52 mins – TRY Munster: Replacement Alex Kendellen muscled over for the bonus-point score. Crowley converts. (Munster 26–7 Ulster)

60 mins – TRY Munster: Kendellen powered over for his second of the afternoon to widen the gap.

65 mins – TRY Ulster: John Andrew rumbled over from a driving maul to halt the Munster avalanche. (Munster 34–14 Ulster)

68 mins – TRY Munster: Hodnett crossed for his fourth of the match to all but seal the Player of the Match award. Crowley converts. (Munster 41–14 Ulster)

Full-time: Munster 41–14 Ulster

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Munster: 15 Shay Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Oli Jager, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Josh Wycherley.
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Mark Donnelly, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Ben O’Connor, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Daniel Okeke.

Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry (capt), 14 Aitzol Arenzana-King, 13 Ethan McIlroy, 12 Ben Carson, 11 Brett Moxham, 10 Jack Flannery, 9 Conor McKee, 8 Lorcan McLoughlin, 7 Tom Brigg, 6 James McKillop, 5 Cormac Irvine, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Ben O’Connor, 2 James McCormick, 1 Eric O’Sullivan.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 James Hopes, 20 Matty Rea, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 Jack Humphreys, 23 Jude Postlethwaite.

Match details

Munster 41 (Tries: Hodnett 4, Kendellen 3; Cons: Crowley 3)
Ulster 14 (Tries: Arenzana-King, Andrew; Cons: Flannery 2)
Half-time: 12–7

Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

The Lions made it six straight URC wins as they ran in five tries to floor Connacht at Ellis Park and tighten their grip on a play-off place.

Key moments

4 mins – TRY Lions: Angelo Davids finished off a slick wide pass from Chris Smith to land the opening blow. Smith converts. (Lions 7–0 Connacht)

21 mins – TRY Lions: Henco van Wyk sliced through from distance and powered over. Smith adds the extras. (Lions 14–0 Connacht)

40 mins – TRY Lions: Siba Mahashe dived over in the corner on the stroke of half-time after a sweeping attack. Smith lands a touchline conversion. (Lions 21–0 Connacht)

Half-time: Lions 21–0 Connacht. The home side were in total control after a clinical first-half display, with Connacht struggling to find any foothold in the contest.

44 mins – TRY Lions: Erich Cronje crashed over courtesy of Francke Horn’s trademark draw-and-pass three minutes after the restart. Smith converts. (Lions 28–0 Connacht)

47 mins – TRY Connacht: Matthew Devine pounced after Lions’ indiscipline to grab his side’s opening try. (Lions 28–7 Connacht)

59 mins – TRY Lions: Van Wyk grabbed his second of the afternoon, collecting from Quan Horn to push the lead out to 33–7.

72 mins – TRY Connacht: Devine bagged his second to give the visitors hope.

80 mins – TRY Connacht: Number eight Paul Boyle crossed in the final play of the match for a consolation score.

Full-time: Lions 33–21 Connacht

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Rynhardt Jonker Kriel, 11 Erich Cronjé, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ben-Jason Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Sti Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Marnus Brandon, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Schalk Lombard, 19 Reinhardt Nothnagel, 20 Sibusiso Qoma, 21 Jaco Pretorius, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Khanyiso Mpeku.

Connacht: 15 Sean Gilbert, 14 Hugh West, 13 John Devine, 12 Hugh Gavin, 11 Shayne Jennings, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Conor Reilly, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Sean Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Peter Dooley.
Replacements: 16 Matty Victory, 17 Brian Bohan, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 Sam Bolton.

Match details

Lions 33 (Tries: Davids, Van Wyk 2, Mahashe, Cronjé; Cons: Smith 4)
Connacht 21 (Tries: Devine 2, Boyle; Cons: Carty 3)
Half-time: 21–0

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy)