Munster recorded their fourth win in five meetings with the Ospreys this season to qualify for the Magners League grand final with an 18-11 win at Thomond Park.

Sharp-running centre Wynand Olivier scored a hat-trick of tries for the Bulls who overwhelmed the Melbourne Rebels 47-10 in a Super Rugby mismatch at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The Rebels, tournament newcomers on their first visit to one of South Africa’s rugby fortresses, made most of the running in the first seven minutes, but were then outclassed as the defending champions scored seven tries to one.

The Bulls scored six of those tries in the first half, often with ridiculous ease, but the Rebels did make them work harder after the break.

“We found it very tough to get into the game because of turnovers and soft tries in the first half. We certainly have a lot to work on, and we can take it from the second half,” said Rebels and former Australia captain Stirling Mortlock.

Victory kept the Bulls, who sit in eighth place, in playoff contention.

“It was an unbelievable first half, we scored some good, easy tries,” Bulls captain Fourie du Preez said.

The Bulls rampage started after Olivier ran on to an excellent chip by flyhalf Morne Steyn, gathering the ball and speeding clear of the cover-defence.

The intensity of the Bulls game forced numerous mistakes from the Rebels and, after Steyn had hacked through a dropped pass to force a lineout on the 10m line, an exciting run by wing Bjorn Basson set up fullback Zane Kirchner for the second try.

A Julian Huxley penalty in the 17th minute would be the Rebels’ only points of the first half and their shoulders dropped when the Bulls extended their lead thanks to a controversial try by Basson.

Kirchner appeared to have knocked on a pass and with all the defenders standing and waiting for the whistle, the Springbok wing picked up the ball and strolled over the line. The try was awarded as referee Chris Pollock ruled the ball had come off Kirchner’s chest.

The Bulls followed up from the kick-off with a brilliant length-of-the-field try, Basson cracking on the pace and Olivier and outside centre Stephan Dippenaar combining to send Springbok Olivier over for his second try.

A fine backline move the allowed the pacy Kirchner to zip over for his second try and scrumhalf Du Preez scored three minutes before the break.

The Rebels regrouped and got their reward with a breathtaking try by replacement wing Cooper Vuna, who scorched down the right touchline and also showed good control with the boot in his kick-and-chase try.

Olivier had the last word, however, when he stepped back inside the defence to complete his hat-trick just before the hour.

Aviva Premiership champions Leicester ended Northampton’s hopes of achieving their first domestic and European double – but their punishing 11-3 play-off victory is likely to come at a price.

The bottom-placed Lions of South Africa used a controversial sin-binning to help inspire them to a 29-20 victory over the ACT Brumbies.

The Waikato Chiefs overcame a 17-point halftime deficit and capitalised on a controversial penalty try and yellow card to upset the highly-touted Stormers 30-23 in their Super rugby clash at Waikato Stadium.

Leinster will contest two major finals in the coming weeks after ending Ulster’s Magners League title aspirations in this semi-final at the RDS thanks to an 18-3 win.

Steffon Armitage has been cleared to join Toulon after being granted an early release from his London Irish contract.

The Queensland Reds leapfrogged the Auckland Blues at the top of the Super rugby standings after a scintillating 37-31 victory over their New Zealand opponents.

The Otago Highlanders snapped a three-game losing streak with a 13-6 victory over fellow New Zealanders Wellington in their Super rugby clash in Invercargill.

Neil Back believes Leeds must win at least two of their remaining four matches if they are to complete another great escape and avoid relegation from the Aviva Premiership.