URC: Kick-off times, key playoff permutations

URC: Kick-off times, key playoff permutations

There is no doubt that, from a South African perspective, a key focus will be on the early Saturday afternoon URC shoot-out in Pretoria between the Bulls and the Warriors. It pits the first placed team against the fourth.

The visitors have to win to stay ahead of Leinster and Munster in the race for top spot on the final log, while the Bulls must claim victory to make their coveted top four finish safer. And to keep in the race for a top spot, which is still entirely possible.

The bottom line is that there is a lot on the line for the Bulls, not least because defeat will leave them vulnerable to the chasing Stormers in the race for four spot. The Stormers are six behind the men from Pretoria, but Connacht, Ulster and Benetton are tied together just one point further back.

It also can’t be forgotten that the Bulls finish off their campaign with a potentially tricky trip to Durban to play the resurgent Sharks.

URC action really hotting up

Given Benetton’s position, and potential threat to the top four, their game in Durban against the Sharks is just as important as the one in Pretoria.

Meanwhile, Connacht are fighting for a second successive appearance in the URC playoff phase, and face the Stormers next week in Galway. That will add to the intensity with which the Cape side approaches Friday night’s game in Newport against the Dragons.

John Dobson’s men will be strong favourites, but they haven’t been great in Wales recently. A defeat now would seriously threaten their Champions Cup status, apart from ending any hope of a top four finish, so the pressure on them is red hot.

Finally, the Lions are in their last chance saloon in their quest for a top eight spot as they host Cardiff. The Lions will be favourites, but the Ospreys showed on their recent tour that Welsh teams can no longer be trifled with, even on South African soil.

United Rugby Championship Round 16 fixtures

Friday, 10 May:

20h35: Edinburgh v Zebre (Edinburgh)

20h35: Dragons v DHL Stormers (Newport)

Saturday, 11 May:

14h00: Vodacom Bulls v Glasgow Warriors (Pretoria)

16h05: Hollywoodbets Sharks v Benetton (Durban)

16h05: Scarlets v Ulster (Llanelli)

18h15: Munster v Connacht (Limerick)

18h15: Emirates Lions v Cardiff (Johannesburg)

20h35: Leinster v Ospreys (Dublin)