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The URC race to eight has reached it’s final four games and it’s as tight as ever; a single victory separates 5th down to 10th. However, the picture has started to crystallise and what we are seeing is three distinct tiers to the competition.
Tier one contains Leinster, Bulls and Glasgow, all of who have broken double figures for wins. Sharks are clinging on by their finger tips. The Durban side missed a huge opportunity to beat a weakened Leinster at the weekend, but the log points show they still have breathing space between themselves and the chasing pack in the race for a home quarter final.
Munster lead the next group, having survived a trip to Castlebar with a bonus point win despite a 25th minute red card to centre Alex Nankivel. Traditionally, they are the ones to hit peak form at this time of year, but they probably need to overtake the Sharks to be considered contenders. Provincial rivals Ulster have somehow fought their way back to 6th place despite some very poor form mid-season, the return to fitness of Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale has injected life into their play-off challenge. Behind them, Benetton, Edinburgh and Cardiff continue to keep pace despite their fans having serious doubts about their true level, whilst Stormers will hope a run in of all home games will be what gets them over the line.
Now looking unlikely to make the eight are Scarlets and Ospreys, having essentially ended each other’s seasons in the two West Wales derbies. Ospreys have the kinder fixture list but could be distracted by a Challenge Cup run. Connacht’s URC challenge looks all but done, they will be stung by losing every single inter-pro game. Lions have actually won more games than the men from Galway but a whopping 7 bonus points fewer has come back to bite them. Zebre’s enjoyable late season revival still has them 9 points short of eighth and the Dragons are a long way adrift in last place. For all the talk about talent and player salaries in Welsh rugby, most onlookers would agree the Newport side are in desperate need of a coaching upgrade.