Who needs what to make URC play-offs?
First place is of huge value given that it will mean home advantage throughout the play-offs, including the Grand Final on Saturday, 20 June. Stormers and Glasgow have secured play-off places, though the South Africans suffered a surprise home defeat by Connacht in round 15. Both teams face the same opposition in the final weeks against Cardiff and Ulster, who are also chasing play-off spots.
Defending champions Leinster and Lions can also secure home advantage in the quarter-finals and meet in Dublin on Saturday, 9 May. Munster are chasing hard while seventh-placed Bulls look threatening. Lions and Leinster have one foot in the play-offs so it appears five clubs are chasing the final four spots.
The Irish trio of Munster, Ulster and Connacht as well as Cardiff and Bulls - who have lost three of the last four finals - are battling for those places. Connacht stunned Stormers in Cape Town but are three points off the pack and defeat by Munster this weekend could end their bid if other results also go against them. "This one has got real significance because of the league position.
We are fighting for every point," said head coach Stuart Lancaster. "Every team above us is playing meaningful games where they can take points off each other, so there's a lot to play for. " Connacht won the Pro12 in 2016 but have missed out on play-off places for the past two seasons Munster would be nervously looking over their shoulder if they lose in Galway, with a final fixture against Lions.
Nonetheless, Gavin Coombes remains confident in the bid to repeat their 2023 title triumph. "We're so tight and connected as a group that belief inside this building is huge," said the back-row forward. Cardiff aim to ensure Welsh interest in the knockouts and are fuelled by narrowly missing out to rivals Scarlets last season, but face the top two sides in the final weeks.