URC: What’s on the line for South African teams in round 16?

Here are the playoff permutations for the four South African teams ahead of this weekend’s round 16 URC matches.

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PERMUTATIONS FOR URC PLAYOFF SPOTS

Leinster v Stormers (RDS Arena, Dublin, 7.35pm Friday)

First plays second in what could yet prove to be a dress rehearsal for the Grand Final at the end of May.

The Stormers’ hopes of reaching that showpiece occasion will be significantly increased if they can hold on to second spot, which would give them home advantage through to the semi-final stage of the playoffs.

Ulster are hot on their heels, just five points behind, so victory in Dublin would be a precious result for the reigning champions.

Yet that’s easier said than done with Leinster unbeaten in all competitions this season. The Irish province are already guaranteed a top two finish, but they would love to go through the entire URC league campaign winning every game, while victory this weekend against the title holders would also lay down a marker ahead of a potential re-match in the final.

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Benetton v Emirates Lions (Stadio Monigo, Treviso, 1pm Saturday)

The Lions, for their part, have put themselves right back in the mix with victories over Glasgow Warriors and the Bulls.

Although they are down in eleventh, they are only six points off eighth spot and can’t be discounted, especially as their last two fixtures are at home. If they win out in Treviso, they become serious play-off contenders.

Benetton are just one point outside the top eight so they will be aiming to heap the pressure on the teams above them by getting the better of their guests from Johannesburg. To stay in the playoff hunt, they really do need to win this one as it’s their last home game of the regular URC season ahead of spending the final two rounds out in South Africa.

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Scarlets v Sharks (Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, 5pm Saturday)

The seventh-placed Sharks have lost their last two league matches and will know another defeat could well see them drop out of the all-important top eight.

On the flip side, victory would leave them really handily placed with home matches to come in the final two rounds.

The Scarlets are on the trail of Cardiff Rugby in the quest for the Welsh Shield. They are now only five points behind them having turned their season around after winning just one of their first nine matches.

They have scrum-half Kieran Hardy returning from Wales squad duty, but experienced backs Johnny McNicholl (knee) and Jonathan Davies (calf) are sidelined, with Davies set to miss the rest of the season.

Ulster v Bulls (Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, 7.35pm Saturday)

Ulster know the score. They have to win their remaining three matches and hope the Stormers slip up, as they look to leap above the reigning URC champions into second spot and secure home passage through to the final.

First up, it’s the sixth-placed Bulls who are also in need of points as they aim to nail down a play-off spot and potentially push for a top-four finish.

The men from Pretoria will be looking to turn things around after a run of six successive defeats in the URC, Champions Cup and Currie Cup. You have to go back to mid January for their last win in any competition.

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