Round 16 of the URC season is upon us. This means just three matches remain for teams on the edge of playoff contention to fight their way into the finals picture.
The biggest match of the weekend sees Bulls travel to Scotland to face the Glasgow Warriors. Leinster may have run away from the pack to win the regular season crown (again), but this match will go a long way toward deciding who finishes in second place on the log.
Here is a look at some of the crucial games this weekend.
Glasgow Warriors VS Bulls
Friday, 25 April – Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow (Scotland)
This is not only a battle for second on the log, but it is also a rematch of last year’s Grand Final as Bulls take on Glasgow Warriors. Warriors are currently second in the table on 58 points, with the Bulls sitting in third on 54 points. It’s worth noting that Glasgow has a plus-72-point differential on Bulls, too.
This will be the first meeting of the sides since Warriors shocked the rugby world by winning the 2023-24 season showpiece in Pretoria. The winner here lays down a significant marker of intent with the playoffs just around the corner.
Bulls have two home games left after this, so a bonus point win would have them thinking second place is theirs to lose. Warriors are without their star center pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones for at least one more week, so this is an area of the pitch Bulls should target.
Adding in that the Fagerson brothers and Jack Dempsey are still all missing, and my lean is with the visitors. Bulls take this by less than a try and set course on a home run through the semi-finals.
Cardiff VS Munster
Friday, 25 April – Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff (Wales)
The playoff top four seems to be pretty much set, barring some weird results late in the season. The bottom half of the playoff places is a different story.
One win separates Benetton in fifth and Edinburgh in 11th. That is why this game between sixth-placed Cardiff and seventh-placed Munster on Friday night is a massive clash for both teams.
Cardiff have 41 points to Munster’s 40. A defeat here allows all those teams in the race to potentially gain ground, while a win for either would have them in an outstanding position with just two games of the season to play.
Munster are still livid about the refereeing fiasco that cost them their match against the Bulls last week. Cardiff battered Ospreys last time out to show they are the best team in Wales, even as off-field noise around the club continues to grow.
Munster have injury issues you would never wish on any team. Even so, they can deal with adversity that is wildly impressive. Take the visitors by 10+ in a high-scoring contest.
Stormers VS Benneton
Saturday, 26 April – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town (SA)
This one feels harder to call than the handicap suggests. Stormers in eighth are one point behind Benetton in fifth on the log, with both sides boasting an array of attacking talent.
I like this to be high scoring, and the Italians are worth paying to watch to see the exceptional Tommaso Menoncello doing his thing in midfield. I love Benetton to cover and, if the game is open enough, they have the team to steal one from the Stormers in Cape Town.
