The final round of the BKT United Rugby Championship regular season is here, and there are a variety of stakes on offer for the Irish provinces.
Munster are the only team who have something major on the line. As rugby enthusiasts across Ireland analyze form guides and key matchups on Twin Casino’s sportsbook, where special URC final round promotions are currently offering enhanced odds on tight matches like Munster vs Benetton, the pressure is mounting on the men in red to deliver.
Ian Costello’s side welcome Benetton to Virgin Media Park in Cork on Friday night knowing a win will likely be needed for them to make the play-offs, and secure Champions Cup rugby for next season.
Having secured the number one seeding for the play-offs last week, Leinster welcome Glasgow Warriors to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night for what is effectively a tune-up fight for their quarter-final in two weeks.
With Ulster and Connacht both officially out of contention for the play-offs, both sides are away from home for their final games of the season.
Ulster are in action on Friday night against an Edinburgh side who need a win to keep their own play-off hopes alive.
Connacht take on Zebre in Parma on Saturday evening, knowing a defeat would see them finish in 14th position, with their lowest win total for 15 years.
Munster’s Last Stand at Virgin Media Park
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Munster as they prepare to host Benetton at Virgin Media Park on Friday night. Currently sitting eighth in the table, Costello’s men know that anything less than a victory could spell the end of their play-off hopes and, more significantly, cost them a place at Europe’s top table next season.
“This is knockout rugby for us, simple as that,” said Munster captain Tadhg Beirne. “We’ve put ourselves in this position where our season comes down to 80 minutes. It’s not where we wanted to be, but we’ve got to front up now and deliver.”
The province’s recent record in Cork has become a cause for concern. Traditionally a fortress, their last outing there resulted in a 34-28 defeat to Edinburgh – a result that could prove costly in the final reckoning. However, the late double bonus-point they salvaged that day may yet prove crucial in the final calculations.
Benetton arrive in impressive form, having won four of their last five URC matches, including a comprehensive 33-7 victory over Glasgow Warriors last weekend. The Italian side sit just two points behind Munster and have play-off ambitions of their own.
“They’re coming here with absolutely nothing to lose,” warned former Munster flanker Alan Quinlan. “That makes them dangerous. When Benetton click, they can beat anyone – they’ve already shown that this season.”
The history books favor Munster, who are unbeaten in the last 15 URC meetings between the teams, though the sides did share the spoils in a 13-13 draw back in October. With internationals Peter O’Mahony, Jack Crowley and Tadhg Beirne all starting, Munster will hope home advantage proves decisive.
Ulster’s Scottish Spoiler Role
While their own season might be effectively over, Ulster still have a significant role to play as they travel to Edinburgh on Friday night. Richie Murphy’s side can’t reach the play-offs, but they can dash the hopes of their hosts, who need a victory to keep their own top-eight ambitions alive.
Edinburgh currently sit 10th, the lowest-ranked team that can still mathematically qualify for the play-offs. Even with a win, they’d need Cardiff to lose against the Stormers in Cape Town to sneak into the knockout stages.
The Scottish outfit recorded an efficient 31-21 win away to Connacht last week but have lost their last two home games – a Challenge Cup semi-final against Bath and a URC clash with the Sharks.
Despite Ulster’s disappointing campaign, which has yielded just two away wins all season, they boast an impressive record in Scotland’s capital, having won their last six league visits to play Edinburgh.
The match will be particularly poignant for Ulster pair Kieran Treadwell and Andrew Warwick, who will pull on the white jersey for the final time before departing the province.
“We want to finish on a high for those guys,” said Ulster captain Iain Henderson. “They’ve given so much to this club over the years, and while our season hasn’t gone to plan, we owe it to them and our supporters to put in a performance we can be proud of.”
Connacht Look to Avoid Unwanted Record
Pete Wilkins’ Connacht face a tricky trip to Parma to take on Zebre, with the western province desperate to avoid setting an unwanted record. Currently 14th in the standings, a defeat would confirm their lowest win total in the competition for 15 years.
With just five victories all season, Connacht are enduring their worst run of form since 2014, having lost their last five URC games. Their most recent win came against Benetton in early March.
“It’s been a tough season, no doubt about it,” admitted Connacht captain Cian Prendergast. “But we have one last chance to finish with some positivity and that’s what we’re focusing on. Nobody wants to be remembered as the team that set records for the wrong reasons.”
While Zebre were hammered 76-5 by Leinster last weekend, the Italian side have claimed notable scalps this season, defeating both Ulster and Munster. However, Connacht have won the last seven meetings between the teams, dating back to 2018.
Bundee Aki returns to the Connacht lineup in a significant boost for the visitors, who will hope the Ireland centre can spark their attacking game into life.
Leinster Fine-Tuning for Knockout Rugby
For Leo Cullen’s Leinster, Saturday’s clash against Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium is all about maintaining momentum ahead of the play-offs. Having already secured the top seed for the quarter-finals, the four-time champions can afford to use this as a rehearsal for the business end of the season.
Cullen has named a strong side featuring several Ireland internationals, including Hugo Keenan, Robbie Henshaw and Andrew Porter, while Jordie Barrett continues his midfield partnership with Henshaw.
“We want to keep building,” said Leinster captain Jack Conan. “There’s no such thing as a meaningless game when you’re wearing a Leinster jersey. We’ve got standards to maintain and the competition for places is so fierce that everyone selected knows they have to perform.”
For Glasgow, the game carries more significance. For much of the season, Franco Smith’s side looked set to secure the second seed behind Leinster, but a poor run of form has seen them slip to third. If they drop to fourth, they would likely host the Stormers in the next round rather than enjoying home advantage throughout the play-offs.
The Scottish side’s recent record against Leinster doesn’t inspire confidence – they were humiliated 52-0 at the Aviva in the Champions Cup quarter-final just over a month ago, and have lost all three of their previous visits to the Dublin venue.
How to Follow the Action
TV
Watch Leinster v Glasgow Warriors (Saturday, 7.35pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, with coverage getting under way at 7pm.
Munster v Benetton (Friday, 8pm) and Zebre Parma v Connacht (Saturday 5pm) will be live on TG4 and Premier Sports, with Edinburgh v Ulster (Friday, 7.35pm) also live on Premier Sports.
All games are shown live on URC.tv.
RADIO
Listen to live commentary of Munster v Benetton on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra from 8pm on Friday, with reaction on RTÉ Radio 1’s Saturday Sport.
ONLINE
Live score updates, reports and reaction from all games will be available on major sports websites and the URC official platforms.
WEATHER
Perfect conditions are expected for all matches this weekend. Cork will enjoy a balmy evening with temperatures around 17C for Munster’s crunch clash, while Edinburgh will be similarly pleasant at 15C for Ulster’s visit.
Connacht players will need to prepare for the heat in Parma, with temperatures forecast to reach 22C, though there’s a slight chance of rain. Dublin will bathe in evening sunshine for Leinster’s game, with clear skies and 14C expected.
“This final weekend will set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the URC season,” said former Ireland international Bernard Jackman. “For Munster, it’s do-or-die time, while Leinster are clearly the team to beat in the play-offs. The final placings will determine some fascinating quarter-final matchups.”
