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One Round to go in the URC in what has been a thrilling season which has put fans from Edinburgh to the Eastern Cape through pleasure and pain. The race for eight will now be decided by eight: eight games that will determine whose season is over and whose will continue for at least one game more. The storylines are literally everywhere…
Set a reminder because this one kicks off at the unfamiliar time of 18:00 (UK time) on Friday evening. The Stormers have be atrocious for periods this season, earning the name ‘goof troop’ from fans, but with the return of their key stars and a run of home fixtures they have managed to worm their way into fifth. They cannot finish higher than that, but a loss leaves them vulnerable to slipping down as low as 7th. Manie Libbock returns at 10 as they look to make it safe.
Cardiff, meanwhile, can still qualify for the top 8 and there is a world in which 1 match day point will be enough: if Ulster beat Edinburgh. Don’t count the Blue & Blacks out, they know how to score tries and this game could end up being a free scoring one. Remember: 18:00.
Ulster’s season, as always, was a rollercoaster. Sadly, going into this game, they cannot make top 8 and will be playing Challenge cup rugby next season for the first time ever. Edinburgh, remarkably when you consider the displeasure of their fans at the level of performances, are still in the fight. Two match points could be enough to see them go above the loser of Munster vs Benetton so long as Cardiff lose in Cape Town. They’ll have a good idea what they need to do by the time this one kicks off at 19:35.
The game of the evening. The knock-out rounds may officially start in 2 weeks but for these two it started last weekend with both getting essential bonus point wins. There is a scenario where a draw with a try bonus each could see them both make the play-offs. If not, the winner shall progress and the loser shall shake hands and head home.
Benetton have flattered to decide this season and have a points difference of -76, the 14th worst in the league, but have managed to stay in contention by the skin of their teeth. Munster are a shadow of themselves this season and will look to rebuild under a new coach next term, but in typical Munster fashion they are doing it the most dramatic way possible. Tune in at 20:00.
Bulls will look to nail down 2nd place with a routine win over the hapless Dragons. The visitors are not only bottom of the league with no wins since round 1 but they have an injury list that stretches from Pretoria all the way back to Newport. Some are predicting the heaviest ever URC defeat, but the Bulls will probably have one eye on two weeks time. This commences at 14:00.
One of just two games this week with nothing riding on it as neither can make the play-offs. Both have had purple patches this year and scored some nice tries, but will be left sole searching having seen their top 8 hopes end with a couple of games still to play. Kick off at 16:15.
The 2nd dead rubber as once again neither can make the quarter finals, they can’t even swap positions despite occupying 14th and 15th. Connacht fans will be hoping to forget this season as quickly as possible and await news of a new coach for next term. Zebre, on the other hand, will be looking to sign off a season where they fought off sale by the FIR with a record breaking 4th home win in the league. Feel-good-factor on the line at 17:00.
The Sharks are the bane of rugby analysts everywhere. An objectively bad team totally failing to utilise the vast potential of their unbelievably talented squad. However, annoyingly, they keeping winning games and cannot finish lower than 4th. They can go as high as 4th if Glasgow lose in the late kick off, but will need to be wary of their west Walian visitors if they are to do so.
The Scarlets have enjoyed a huge step forward from last season having already more than doubled up on wins this time around. They might even feel aggrieved they are not higher having let several wins slip through their fingers by a point or two earlier in the campaign. With 4 bonus point wins in a row, they are the URC’s form team and have beaten teams higher ranked than the Sharks, so will be full of confidence heading to Kings Park. They’ve even started pulling out weird tap and go routines. Keep an eye out from 18:30.
On paper, this should be the biggest game of the night as 1st take on the defending champions in 3rd, but Glasgow come into this one in a tough place. They’ve won just once since a 52-0 humiliation on the same turf 4 weeks ago - a turgid 6-14 win out in Parma. They are still shot through with injuries and, despite having had top 4 sewn up long ago, look to be fizzling out.
Leinster, meanwhile, have nothing else to do but take out their hurt of losing the Champions Cup semi-final on the rest of the URC, so expect them to show no mercy here. They cannot finish anywhere but top, yet you suspect they will be foot to the floor for the league run in. The wait for a trophy must end. Parental advisory required from 19:35.
