We are now 15 rounds into the 2023/24 season and the Race to the Eight Vodacom URC play-off spots is as close as ever.
There are now just THREE rounds left to play in the regular season as the Vodacom URC continued over the weekend for Round 15 and the hunt for a play-off spot continues to race on.
As things stand, just FIVE points separate 6th and 11th position in the standings – and just THREE points separate 2nd and 4th.
11 of the 16 teams can still make it and after what we saw over the weekend – anything can happen at this stage of the season.
Glasgow knocked Leinster off the top of the table with their bonus-point win over Zebre Parma, putting them in the driving seat for now following Leinster’s loss to the DHL Stormers.
But the Scottish side will tour South Africa in Rounds 16 and 17 with games against the Vodacom Bulls and the Emirates Lions which will be no easy task.
They will be hoping they can take a page from Munster’s playbook, with Graham Rowntree’s side securing the maximum 10 points available on their tour against the same sides.
The reigning champions are now unbeaten in their last 5 games in South Africa, including last year’s Grand Final.
Ulster came out on top in a huge game in the #RaceToTheEight, overcoming Benetton 38-34 at Kingspan. They’re up to 7th now, just above their Italian counterparts on points difference.
Edinburgh, meanwhile, are just a point behind Benetton in 9th, just outside the play-offs – with the pair interestingly set to meet in Round 18.
The big movers over the weekend are Connacht, who jump from 10th to 6th following their hard-fought 27-34 win against the Dragons away from home.
There will be no VURC action this weekend as most teams park up in the pit stop and prepare their engines for Round 16.
Leinster, however, will be in Investec Champions Cup action as they get set to take on Northampton Saints in the semi-finals.
And in the Challenge Cup, we’ll be hoping to see an all-URC final come with the Hollywoodbets Sharks taking on Clermont Auvergne in one semi-final and Benetton taking on Gloucester in the other.
>>>Story courtesy of www.unitedrugby.com<<<
