The three remaining league rounds of the United Rugby Championship (URC) may smooth the path to a collision course for the Bulls and the Stormers in the quarterfinals.
Both are scrambling for higher places after displaying uncharacteristic vulnerabilities at home.
Should the Bulls and the Stormers maintain fourth and fifth positions on the log respectively, they will play off at Loftus Versfeld on the weekend of June 7-8.
They boast a win over the other this season but significantly the Bulls broke their seven-match losing streak against their rivals in their latest clash at Loftus.
The Bulls, who enjoy a six-point buffer over the Stormers, will more likely fix their gaze on Leinster, who are three points better off in second place. They will however have to hope Ulster or Connacht can trip up their countrymen.
Not that it is plain sailing for the Bulls. They still have to face Glasgow Warriors, top eight hopefuls Benetton Treviso, both in Pretoria, and the Sharks in Durban.
Though they know it is almost impossible, the Stormers have not given up hope of snatching fourth place. They will go “Full Metal Jacket” in selection in their remaining matches, including the first two on tour against the Dragons and Connacht. The match against the latter may determine who will ultimately end higher. The Stormers finish their league roster at home against the Lions, who may still be on the hunt for a play-off spot. The Stormers will now make minor adjustments in selection as they go along.
Swings expected
There may yet be significant swings in mid-table with just six points separating fifth from 11th on the log. The Lions need to win all their remaining games against Cardiff and Glasgow Warriors at home, and the Stormers away, to secure a place in the top eight.
Eighth-placed Benetton face a tall order with away matches against the Bulls and the Sharks before closing at home against ninth-placed Edinburgh. The Scottish side are yet to host Zebre Parma and Munster.
The 10th-placed Ospreys still have to face Cardiff and the Dragons, which should also keep them in the play-off conversation.
Up top though, Glasgow Warriors under head coach Franco Smith have been purring along and are now four points clear of Leinster. When the competition resumes, they basically face the same examination Munster did recently with back-to-back matches at altitude starting in Pretoria.
Glasgow's closing game at home against Zebre Parma should see them finish the league stages with a bang.
Champions Cup diversion
Though Leinster’s head coach Leo Cullen made it clear the URC is immensely important to the club, the Champions Cup is the trophy they seek most. They haven’t won that tournament since 2018 and have gone on to lose three finals since, including the last two seasons, to Stade Rochelais.
They will be desperate to re-establish themselves as top dogs in Ireland after Munster toppled them in the semifinals of the URC in 2023.
Munster of course went on to win the tournament and they did so on the road less travelled. Their march to the title was remarkable as they went unbeaten away from home against the Stormers, the Sharks, Glasgow Warriors in the quarterfinals, Leinster in the semifinals and the Stormers again in the final.
Their two recent wins at altitude at Loftus Versfeld and Ellis Park came as ominous signs that they are again building a head of steam with the tournament’s climax approaching.
Should they beat Cardiff and Glasgow Warriors, the Lions, in the words of their coach Ivan van Rooyen, will have a spicy clash against the Stormers to close their league proceedings at the start of June.
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