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Like most years, the Irish provinces figure prominently in the final stages of the Rabo Pro 12.

This season is no different with Leinster, Munster and Ulster reaching the playoffs.

Leinster host Ulster, while Munster must make the trip to an in-form Glasgow side.

To preview this weekend's semi-finals, we were joined by ex-Munster and Ireland man Alan Quinlan and the Irish Times' Gerry Thornley.

Quinlan expects Ulster to run Leinster very close, although he believes Matt O'Connor's side will just about edge it.

And he thinks the challenge of Glasgow will be "very difficult" for Munster, saying that the standard of late has been "really poor".

He added that he felt sorry for the outgoing Munster head coach Rob Penney.

The lads also discussed the benefits of the interprovincial rivalry in terms of pushing Irish rugby on to new heights, with Gerry explaining how Munster "drove Irish rugby" at the turn of the Millennium.

Gerry also spoke about the prospect of Eddie O'Sullivan joining the Munster coaching staff.