UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: FOUR GAMES IN ROUND 13 THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR THE PLAYOFF RACE

The United Rugby Championship (URC) is now entering the business end of the regular season and there’s a whopping 11 teams in the running for the eight play-off spots that come with Champions Cup qualification.

As the tournament enters Round 13 we take a closer look at which games this weekend will influence the play-off race.

Leinster v Bulls

It is a classic top-of-the-table clash between two heavyweights in the competition who will both make the knockouts at the very least. However, for these teams, top spot is what they are primarily contesting for with a home final the ultimate goal.

Leinster will take a big step in that direction if they manage to beat Jake White’s Bulls as it will give them some breathing space at the top of the table before a possibly tricky tour to South Africa that includes a trip to Cape Town to face the Stormers.

The Bulls will look back fondly on their amazing semi-final win in Dublin in URC I and target the same as they hope to increase the gap between them and Glasgow Warriors by taking points off the only team above them on the table. It has been a great season for the Pretoria men who now need to close out the season strongly.

It could very well be that the winner gets a home final (should they make it there).

A shortened United Rugby Championship table after 12 rounds of action.

Benetton v Connacht

The two teams in question sit just outside the hallowed top eight but are well and truly in the play-off race, making this game even more important as the benefits are obvious for the winner while the loser runs the real risk of falling out of the equation.

The hosts, Benetton, were near the top of the table for most of the season and will be frustrated to have dropped out of the top eight, but the squad will be boosted by Italy’s success in the Six Nations and are desperate to try to ride that wave. They need the win. There is no way around that.

Meanwhile, Connacht come off a rough loss to a 14-man Lions side last time out. Although their Ireland internationals were not present, the result could have some big implications. It certainly puts more pressure on the trip to Treviso that they simply need to get right.

Big game time already for these two who need to enter a play-off mindset from now.

United Rugby Championship: Unpacking the tight playoff race that includes 11 teams

Ospreys v Lions

This clash is equally important for both teams but on completely different levels, with the sides in different form coming into the weekend.

Ospreys are not in the best form having lost their last two league games, leaving them perilously close to falling out of the play-off picture as the 11th-placed side. The consequence of that is that they cannot lose this game considering it is against another play-off competitor. In the same breath taking points off a rival would be invaluable to their knockout prospects and they will be looking to leverage their home advantage in this one.

The Lions have aptly shown tremendous courage throughout this season which is perhaps typified by their win last weekend. They will only have one thing in mind and that is to take it to the Ospreys in their own backyard as Ivan van Rooyen will know that if his team falls off now their progress would have been for nothing.

It’s all to play for in Swansea.

Stormers v Ulster

The last time the Stormers hosted Ulster Manie Libbok nailed a conversion to win the semi-final of URC I and this clash is almost as important.

Like both URC I and II the Stormers are looking to find fire late on but this season it is even more important after a faltering start at the beginning of the campaign. Still, they are well and truly in the play-off picture and in fact, will be eyeing a top-four spot to try to host a quarter-final at the very least. No doubt they will be targeting a fully loaded win.

Ulster’s situation has been turbulent in recent months and they will be desperate to avoid any more bleeding after a loss last weekend to the Sharks in Durban. Make no mistake, Ulster are still a quality side but they need to find their feet and togetherness to make a charge to stay in the mix for the end of the regular season.

Points are at a premium at Cape Town Stadium.

READ MORE: The ‘unbelievable’ Springboks legend that Ireland star ‘looks up to’ ahead of URC showdown

2024-03-28T08:36:22Z dg43tfdfdgfd