Irish heavyweights on receiving end as regions have a rare weekend to savour

IT'S not often Irish giants Leinster and Munster lose to Welsh sides on the same weekend, but that is exactly what has happened.

- STEFFAN THOMAS

Leinster fell flat on their faces at Parc y Scarlets, while Munster were beaten by Cardiff in front of a packed-out and emotional Arms Park on Friday night.

The Ospreys' bonus-point victory over the Dragons means there are three Welsh clubs in contention to reach the United Rugby Championship play-offs with just two rounds of the regular season to go.

But it wasn't all a bed of roses as Wales Women ended the weekend with a 44-12 thrashing at the hands of Italy Women to finish the Six Nations with the wooden spoon.

Here are your winners and losers from an action-packed weekend of rugby.

WINNERS

THE OSPREYS

Mark Jones' side had the stuffing knocked out of them after their disappointing EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat to Lyon in Swansea.

The Ospreys had put a huge focus on potentially winning the Challenge Cup, or at least reaching the final in Cardiff, but it wasn't to be.

There was inevitably a European hangover on Judgement Day after they were very much second best against Cardiff, and they started slowly against the Dragons.