1. Connacht showing no signs of letting up
With five games remaining in the regular season Connacht are edging ever closer to reaching the GUINNESS PRO12 play-offs for the first time since they came into existence, and they cemented that spot with victory away to Edinburgh this weekend.
It's their attack which has been the difference and they managed five more points with a 28-23 win at BT Murrayfield. Their next game will be a home clash with second-placed Leinster, and a win would all but guarantee Pat Lam's side a place in the post-season.
2. Another Scarlets youngster shines
When it comes to having a conveyor belt of young talent, the Scarlets stand out as one of the most productive teams in Europe.
While the likes of Rob Evans, Samson Lee and Gareth Davies are all away with Wales, it was winger Steff Evans who stepped up against Benetton Treviso. Two tries for the 21-year-old proved crucial in the 24-15 win, and he'll be hoping to convince Wayne Pivac that he should be starting every week.
3. Duncan Weir keeps the pressure on Russell
Finn Russell might be first choice for both Glasgow Warriors and Scotland, but Duncan Weir is pushing him all the way for a starting role.
The 24-year-old was man of the match as the defending champions saw off Cardiff Blues this weekend 27-20 and will be looking to prove a point to Gregor Townsend and Vern Cotter. In his final season at Glasgow before a summer move to Edinburgh, Weir is showing no signs of slowing down.
4. Dave Kilcoyne isn't your usual prop
The role of the loosehead prop has certainly changed since the advent of professionalism, but even by those standards, the prolific Dave Kilcoyne is an anomaly.
A prop who can carry, tackle and hold up in the set-piece is worth his weight in gold, but Munsterman Kilcoyne has added try-scoring to his repertoire. With four tries in his last three GUINNESS PRO12 appearances, the Irish international is developing a taste for the try-line.
As Munster battle for a play-off spot, they'll be hoping for more of the same as he helped them to a 26-5 win over Newport Gwent Dragons with a double.
5. So near and yet so far for the Ospreys
The Ospreys were another team very much in the race for the play-offs, but they could have been much better-placed had they not been on the wrong end of two close losses recently.
After picking up nothing from a trip to Connacht last weekend in a very close encounter, they were again beaten in Ireland when Leinster edged a 19-16 clash in Dublin.
A great fightback gave the Ospreys a chance of a win on the road but they couldn't quite get over the line, leaving Steve Tandy wondering what might have been.
6. Closing out games the killer for Treviso
Benetton Treviso have really picked up in recent weeks, with back-to-back wins followed by heartbreaking losses to Munster and this weekend the Scarlets.
That's now six matches where Treviso have either led or been level heading into the final 15 minutes of matches that they went on to lose.
Both games against the Scarlets fall into that category, and with the race for the Italian Champions Cup spot now hotting up, Treviso will be hoping those close losses don't come back to haunt them.
7. Perfect four from four for Irish sides
It's certainly been a promising season for the Irish provinces in the GUINNESS PRO12, with Connacht leading the way and Leinster also flying high.
In fact as it stands all four Irish teams are very much in contention to reach the play-offs, and they helped their cause this week with a clean sweep.
Connacht kicked things off with their win over Edinburgh on Friday, while Ulster were too strong for Zebre. Add in Leinster's success against the Ospreys and the Munster win over the Dragons and it made for a great weekend all-round.
8. Don't count out the Warriors
The defending champions have had their difficulties this year, making a slow start after the World Cup, and struggling to find the form that saw them crowned champions last season.
Lying eight points off the play-offs, they might look to be out of it but with two games in hand, they are very much still in the hunt. With games to come against all of the current top four, including Leinster next up, qualification is in the Warriors' hands.
9. Openside talent just keeps coming in Wales
As Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric give Warren Gatland a selection headache at openside for Wales, there are more players at the regions sticking their hands up.
Two in particular stood out this weekend, with James Davies of the Scarlets, younger brother of Jon, getting man of the match against Treviso.
A regular when it comes to man of the match awards, he is a key figure in the Scarlets back row, while Ellis Jenkins has been flying for Cardiff Blues. A try-scorer this weekend, he looks an international in the making, albeit in a position of great strength in depth.
10. Nick Williams is a force of nature
Jenkins will be joined by a new addition to the back row next season when all-action No.8 Nick Williams arrives from Ulster.
Having previously turned out for Munster and Aironi, Williams will be moving to a fourth GUINNESS PRO12 team but showed why he is still in demand with two tries against Zebre. That's now 28 tries in the GUINNESS PRO12, not a bad return for a forward!
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