Munster secured a narrow 29-26 victory over Edinburgh at Hive Stadium, earning five points and guaranteeing a home quarter-final in the URC. This win marks their eighth consecutive victory, placing them at the top of the URC table. The Bulls achieved a dominant 56-35 win over Benetton, moving up to second place in the standings with nine tries. The Lions, despite playing with 14 men for most of the match, triumphed over Glasgow with a 39-21 scoreline, keeping their playoff hopes alive, with Rabz Maxwane scoring a brace of tries. The Stormers clinched a 16-12 win against Connacht, bolstered by two crucial penalties from Manie Libbok, and are closing in on a URC playoff spot. Ulster secured a playoff berth with a late penalty from John Cooney, defeating Leinster. With one round remaining, six teams have qualified for the URC playoffs: Munster, Bulls, Leinster, Glasgow, Stormers, and Ulster. Edinburgh, Benetton, Lions, Connacht, and Ospreys are battling for the remaining two spots.
Having put 50 points past the visiting Benetton side, the Bulls leaked five tries to concede a losing bonus point for the second match in succession. This led to Jake White having to field more questions about his side's apparent lapses in concentration. https://t.co/jgrmgbdhob
The penultimate round of the @Vodacom #URC regular season saw the Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers qualify for the quarter-finals, while the Lions kept up their playoff hopes with an epic victory over Glasgow Warriors. https://t.co/m5CaD1bpxQ
John Dobson hailed the DHL Stormers' character on a near-perfect two-win tour to qualify for the @Vodacom #URC quarter-finals with one round remaining https://t.co/NAhzIW71LG
For the Ospreys to reach the URC play-offs, they have to claim a bonus point victory over Cardiff, with the Lions claiming no more than one point away to the Stormers and either Edinburgh or Benetton failing to score a match point in their Treviso showdown.
Considering the upheaval at the province this season, its mad to think that Ulster currently top the interpro table with 1 round left. #ULSvLEI #URC https://t.co/Hsd6JgNNRf
Ulster are definitely through to the URC play offs as Edinburgh and Benetton can't both overtake them as they play each other in Treviso in the final round.
So with just one round of matches to go, reigning champions Munster are top of the URC table for the first time this season. Talk about timing your run well!
That's six teams through to the URC play-offs now - Munster, Bulls, Leinster, Glasgow, Stormers and Ulster. Then you've got five sides battling it out for the other two spots - Edinburgh, Benetton, Lions, Connacht and Ospreys - with one round to go.
John Cooney’s 78’ minute penalty kick secure Ulster a victory at home over Leinster #ULSvLEI #URC https://t.co/yzPsNtoYt5
John Cooney tonight #ULSvLEI https://t.co/Ghp34TCKYB
⚪ JOHN COONEY DENIES LEINSTER TOP SPOT WITH A LATE PENALTY TO STEAL THE GAME. #URC #ULSvLEI https://t.co/M4PvNVaHks
Maaassive kick from John Cooney! #ULSvLEI
REPOR: Two late Manie Libbok penalties earn the Stormers their first-ever win in Ireland at the sixth attempt. #URC #CONvSTO #rugby Click below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/Ab6OfDELVv
⛈️ The Stormers got the job done in Ireland. 📋 Check out our #URC report from games in Galway and Durban. https://t.co/Anr1RH4sPh
News24 | Stormers close in on URC playoffs with vital away win over Connacht https://t.co/UeDDgIFSD3
Manie Libbok slotted two crucial second-half penalties to help the DHL Stormers claim a vital victory over Connacht in Galway on Saturday. @Vodacom #URC https://t.co/VTEihpoMo6
Stormers get going in the 2nd half!🔵⚪ Stormers🏉 1 Try 1 Conversion 3 Penalties Connacht🏉 2 Tries 1 Conversion https://t.co/fWkKTlzPW8
A professional 16-12 win for the Stormers over Connacht in Galway to all but seal a URC play-off spot.
The results so far in the URC playoff race this weekend; - 5 points for the Bulls - 1 for Benetton - 5 for the Lions - 0 for Glasgow - 5 points for Ospreys - 5 for Munster last night - 1 for Edinburgh - Connacht-Stormers in the balance at 12-13 with 12 minutes left. #URC https://t.co/fOoYMyU1MY
Rabz Maxwane scored a brace of tries as a 14-man Lions outfit kept their @Vodacom #URC playoff hopes alive with a bonus-point win against the Glasgow Warriors in Joburg on Saturday. https://t.co/wHW5UQyZEW
Ospreys keep play-off hopes alive with hard-fought Dragons win https://t.co/aCFAOk3iQx https://t.co/XmZ7FQcSca
🦁 14-MAN LIONS WIN THRILLING CLASH IN JOHANNESBURG! #URC #LIOvGLA https://t.co/95vWACfriD
Follow the live action as the Sharks face Cardiff Rugby in Durban. @Vodacom #URC #SHAvCAR https://t.co/xl37zItIsg
Lions, who have played 45 mins with 14 men v Glasgow after having a man sent off, are winning 39-21 with 8 mins left. Incredible second half from them
Follow the live action as the DHL Stormers face Connacht in Galway. @Vodacom #URC #CONvSTO https://t.co/WZOGalls6X
H/t Lions 8. Glasgow 7. The score line paints a false picture. Lions have one man sent off and another in the sin bin. Glasgow should win this easily in the second half. https://t.co/MAycFvjUPE
The Bulls' win over Benetton had shades of Super Rugby's candyfloss rugby years as both teams showed intent with ball in hand. Will this lack of control come back to bite them in the backside? | @simxabanisa @Sport24news https://t.co/P6aOCoO9Q8
REPORT: Benetton were brought down to earth at Loftus Versfeld after last week's historic win on SA soil. #URC | #BULvBEN https://t.co/iZObmp27jM
The @Vodacom Bulls rampaged to a bonus-point victory over Benetton in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon to ensure a top-four #URC finish. https://t.co/SMEtxg23hM
🐂 NINE-TRY BULLS CRUISE TO ANOTHER VICTORY IN PRETORIA! #URC #BULvBEN https://t.co/5bO9aprPey
F-T: Bulls 56, Benetton 35. A 14-try cracker in the sunshine in Pretoria. Nine of them from the Bulls who move up to second in the @URCOfficial for the time being. Five of them for play-off chasing Benetton who secure what could be a precious bonus point.
Benetton have secured a four-try bonus point. That could be vital in their bid for a play-off spot. They now trail the Bulls 48-28 in Pretoria with 13 minutes to go.
A hat trick for winger Canan Moodie. The Bulls are simply electric with ball in hand. That’s eight tries for them now against Benetton with 20 minutes still to go at Loftus.
Three tries inside the opening 20 minutes for the Bulls against Benetton. They are looking hot at a sultry Loftus.
LIVE | URC: Bulls v Benetton @Sport24news https://t.co/eMAl9Y7dYr
Here are today’s fixtures in the @URCOfficial. The ideal scenario for the play-off chasing @ospreys would be a bonus point victory over the Dragons, plus defeats for Benetton, Lions, Connacht and Ulster. https://t.co/3o9LO3IgYk
Follow the live action as the @Vodacom Bulls face Benetton Rugby at Loftus Versfeld. #URC #BULvBEN https://t.co/7jjDmnsbGe
The point @EdinburghRugby earned last night may yet prove crucial. It certainly threatens to stymie @ospreys who, if Edinburgh were to earn a losing bonus point @BenettonRugby in rd18, will probably need to earn 10pts from both matches and hope @UlsterRugby draw a complete blank.
The Stormers are confident that they've adequately prepared for Saturday's important URC clash against Irish side Connacht in Galway. | @Herman_Mostert https://t.co/EpfylYWZXL
A thriller at the Hive Stadium has ended with Muster atop the URC and Edinburgh left to fight for a top-eight finish. #URC #BKTURC https://t.co/WR5g4xu7qc
Munster move to the URC summit after narrow Edinburgh win https://t.co/rHSrq1fjAi
That’s eight wins in a row for Munster, who go top of the URC table – for 24 hours at least. https://t.co/I8y8yurrAV
Don't think that was a high quality game by any means but it was still weirdly enjoyable? Massive result for Munster as they get the full 5 points and guarantee a home quarter-final. #EDIvMUN
Munster top of the URC table after a tight win over Edinburgh https://t.co/EbfNUMLjBR
F/t Edinburgh 26 Munster 29. Set back for Edinburgh making the play-offs but Munster street smart.