With two rounds to go in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, all four South African teams are in the race to finish in the top eight. Check out where your team is positioned on the grid!
Stormers
Ranking: 2nd
Fixtures: Munster (h), Benetton (h)
The DHL Stormers have already secured their place in next season’s Champions Cup, by winning the South African Shield. The defending champions will be hoping to get maximum points from their next two games to beat Ulster to a second-placed finish.
Vodacom Bulls
Ranking: 7th
Fixtures: Zebre (h), Leinster (h)
The Vodacom Bulls have their playoff fate very much in their own hands. A favourable final two fixtures sees last season’s finalists host a winless Zebre, before facing what will likely be an inexperienced Leinster side in Pretoria. Seven points are needed from those two games to guarantee a quarter-final place.
However, due to tournament rules, the Vodacom Bulls will need to finish at least in seventh place to secure a Champions Cup spot, as the winner of the Welsh Shield is guaranteed a place in the tournament, even if they don’t finish among the URC’s top eight.
Sharks
Ranking: 8th
Fixtures: Benetton (h), Munster (h)
Together with the Stormers, the Sharks arguably have the toughest run in out of the South African teams, facing two fellow playoff contenders, though they will do so at home. Wins against Benetton and Munster are the only they can guarantee their place in the playoffs.
Like the Vodacom Bulls, the Sharks need to finish higher than eighth in order to qualify for the Champions Cup.
Lions
Ranking: 11th
Fixtures: Leinster (h), Zebre (h)
The Lions are the only South Africans relying on other results as well as their own performances against Leinster and Zebre to get a playoff spot. The Lions will need the Vodacom Bulls to slip up against Zebre in the double-header in Johannesburg and will hope for a stalemate between the Sharks and Benetton in Durban. They will also need to beat Leinster and gets as many points as possible against Zebre to stand a chance.
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