Defending champions Munster, Vodacom Bulls, Leinster and Glasgow Warriors have advanced to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship play-off semi-finals.
Munster overcame Ospreys at Thomond Park and will again be at home in the last four when they face the Warriors, who edged out the Stormers at Scotstoun.
In the second semi-final, the Vodacom Bulls welcome Leinster to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, a rivalry quickly becoming the VURC calendar’s highlight.
Beaten finalists in 2022, the South African side saw off Benetton while Leinster came out on top against Irish rivals Ulster as they chase a ninth title.
Both games will take place on Saturday, June 15.
Here is all you need to know about the semi-finalists.
Vodacom Bulls (2) v Leinster (3)
When: Saturday June 15
Where: Loftus Versfeld
Time: 1500 (UK & IRE); 1600 (SA)
Referee: Sam Grove-White
AR 1: Adam Jones ; AR 2: Mike Adamson ; TMO: Ben Whitehouse
TV: SuperSport, RTÉ, Premier Sports, URC.tv
Did you know?
- Since their defeat to Munster in Round 14 – their only home loss this season – the Vodacom Bulls have won their last five URC matches.
- The Bulls reached the final in 2022 when they lost to the Stormers in Cape Town.
- The Bulls have won their two previous URC play-off fixtures at Loftus Versfeld – both quarter-finals, against the Sharks in 2022 and Benetton last week.
- This is just the fourth Leinster play-off game to be played outside of Dublin. The three previous ones were all finals, Leinster winning against Glasgow at Celtic Park in 2019.
- Leinster’s only victory in South Africa since 2018 was against the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg in April 2023.
- If named in the squad, Robbie Henshaw is in line to make his 100th URC appearance
URC record 2023/24: Vodacom Bulls (W13 D0 L5 = 66 points); Leinster (W13 D0 L5 = 65 points)
Form guide: Vodacom Bulls (LWWWWW); Leinster (LLWLWW)
Top try scorer: Vodacom Bulls (Akker van der Merwe – 12); Leinster (Rob Russell – 7)
Top points scorer: Vodacom Bulls (Johan Goosen – 141); Leinster (Ross Byrne – 65)
Munster (1) v Glasgow Warriors (4)
When: Saturday June 15
Where: Thomond Park, Ireland
Time: 1800 (UK & IRE); 1900 (SA)
Referee: Andrea Piardi
AR 1: Federico Vedovelli; AR 2: Gianluca Gnecchi; TMO: Matteo Liperini
TV: TG4, SuperSport, Premier Sports, URC.tv
Did you know?
- Munster have won their last 10 URC matches since Connacht beat them in Galway on New Year’s Day – their best run since 2011.
- Munster have played in 12 previous URC semi-finals, winning six and losing six. However, they have been successful in all four played at Thomond Park.
- Munster’s only defeat in Limerick in the URC this season was to Leinster on St Stephen’s Day.
- Glasgow have played in nine previous URC semi-finals, winning three.
- The Warriors have lost all five semi-finals they have played away from home.
- Glasgow won on their most recent visit to Thomond Park (38-26 in March 2023) – their first victory at the venue since 2014.
URC record 2023/24: Munster (W13 D1 L4 = 68 points); Glasgow (W13 D0 L5 = 65 points)
Form guide: Munster (WWWWWW); Glasgow (WWLLWW)
Top try scorer: Munster (Shane Daly and Tom Ahern – 6); Glasgow (Johnny Matthews – 14)
Top points scorer: Munster (Jack Crowley – 110); Glasgow (George Horne – 76)
>>>Story courtesy of https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest<<<
