Gerry Thornley previews the Magners League play-offs - whether they are fair or not - in The Irish Times.
"For sure, Munster finished 13 points clear of the rest, and there’s an old-school argument that they should be the champions – as Leinster ought to have been 12 months ago after finishing top (a point ahead of eventual winners the Ospreys). But finishing first still earns the added advantage of a home semi-final as well as the knowledge victory would ensure a home final as well.
"As with second over third the difference between a semi-final at the RDS or Ravenhill this Friday, there’s plenty of incentive to achieve the highest place possible and, if a team can’t make home advantage tell in the semi-final or final – as Leinster failed to do a year ago – then so be it. It’s not entirely fair, but them’s the rules, and, besides, it’s not strictly a level playing field during the 22-game programme given so many matches are shoe-horned into the November and Six Nations windows, leaving coaches unable to pick from a full deck."
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