Welsh trio aim to seal URC play-off spot

Positive weekends in the United Rugby Championship (URC) for Welsh professional sides are few and far between.

But while Wales women were emulating the men by finishing rock bottom of the Six Nations, there was some light as bonus-point victories for Cardiff, Scarlets and Ospreys kept their play-off hopes alive.

The last time both Leinster and Munster lost to Welsh opposition on the same league weekend was March 2015, but that has now been matched 10 years later with wins for Scarlets and Cardiff.

Contrastingly, Dragons continue to prop up the table after suffering a 57-24 hammering at hands of Ospreys.

The top four of Leinster, Glasgow, Bulls and Sharks have secured their play-off places and are set to be the leading quartet when the league finishes.

This means there are now eight points separating eight teams who are realistically in the battle for the final four play-off spots.

The Welsh sides are battling it out with Munster, Ulster, Stormers, Edinburgh and Benetton, while Lions and Connacht are on the periphery.

The four Welsh professional sides have a break this weekend before they all travel to South Africa for the final two matches of the regular league season in May.

Cardiff and Scarlets are currently in the play-off places, while Ospreys are hovering just outside waiting for rivals to slip up.

Cardiff have shrugged off the financial issues which saw them put into temporary administration before being taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

After defeating Ospreys at Judgement Day, Cardiff overcame Munster 26-21 in front of a passionate Arms Park crowd to go up to fifth in the table.

Matt Sherratt's side have a real chance of making the URC play-offs for the first time with trips to the Bulls and Stormers to come.

"It was a brilliant night on Friday and we probably got more than expected with a bonus-point win," said Sherratt.

"It was a great occasion, the fans got behind the team and there's a strong group here.

"It has been a whirlwind couple of months for everyone, including myself, so we wanted to make sure we enjoyed that night. It's the best part of rugby.

"Then we go to South Africa. I said before Munster I didn't want that game to define our season, whether we won or lost.

"Even though we won, that's not the season over. We have to pick up points in South Africa."

Sherratt praised Cardiff's character over the past couple of seasons.

"It wasn't long ago we only had 12 players training, we changed training base halfway through a season, there's been a change of ownership and we've lost about 1,800 caps of experience," said Sherratt.

"The group had every excuse to ease off, but where we are now is a huge credit to everyone here."

Scarlets became only the second team to beat Leinster this season, with their thrilling 35-22 win representing a first success against the Irish province since 2018.

Dwayne Peel's side are now up to seventh in the table with trips to Lions and Sharks to follow in the final two rounds.

"We've shown some real character in recent games and the big theme this season was being competitive in every match," said Peel.

"For the large part of the season we have [been competitive] and now we have it all to play for.

"It was a pressure game [against Leinster] and we are delighted our destiny is in our own hands going to South Africa.

"We have two big games and haven't won as a region out there against the four teams now in the URC, so we need to make some history.

"Only eight teams make the play-offs, so to have two teams from Wales in there would be massive for Welsh rugby.

"But we've all got tough games on the road so there's plenty of rugby still to play."

Ospreys snuck into the top eight last season and they will have to perform an even more spectacular recovery to repeat that feat this campaign.

Mark Jones' side ran in nine tries as they defeated Dragons to move within three points of the top eight.

"It is a tough looking fixture list and a tough ask," said Jones.

"At the end of the season you want to be within a chance of play-offs and we have given ourselves an opportunity.

"We know if we want to win games against the better sides we are probably going to need to score four tries anyway.

"Our mindset will be to try and get as many match points as we can and we know we are going to need four or five from each game."

Ospreys will travel to Durban and Johannesburg on their campaign-concluding tour of South Africa, knowing they will have to win both matches and hope other results go their way.

"There is a chance now on tour to South Africa try and get ourselves in the play-offs, or certainly make life uncomfortable for others if they do slip up," said Jones.

"We need to make sure we get the boys physically and mentally excited about things.

"It is an awesome place to tour and we are playing in some good venues. What a way to finish off the season."

Jones believes having three Welsh sides in contention shows there is progress being made.

"For the regions to be competing as well as we are for as long as we are shows there is talent and growth," said Jones.

"We need to make sure we can take it on for the next couple of seasons."

Dragons have now lost 15 consecutive league games since beating Ospreys at Rodney Parade on the opening weekend in September.

The Gwent region prop up the table and are 20 points adrift of second from bottom Zebre.

"We want to be so much better than what we showed in that last 20 minutes [against Ospreys]," said Tiatia.

"I know deep down in my heart that the players, when they stay connected and play for each other, they are a good side.

"We played against a good Ospreys side and in the last 20 minutes they found gaps, exploited it and scored points. We are disappointed with how we finished.

"The young group came on for the last 25 minutes, and we lost shape defensively and the chemistry of connecting.

"That is where we are at with our young players. It is another opportunity to keep learning and keep pushing at this level. The learning for us is how do we stay in the match."

*All kick-off times BST unless stated.

Round 17

Friday, 9 May

Sharks v Ospreys, 18:00

Munster v Ulster, 19:35

Saturday, 10 May

Bulls v Cardiff, 15:00

Benetton v Glasgow, 17:15

Leinster v Zebre, 17:15

Stormers v Dragons, 17:15

Connacht v Edinburgh, 19:35

Sunday, 11 May

Lions v Scarlets, 14:00

Round 18

Friday, 16 May

Stormers v Cardiff, 18:00

Edinburgh v Ulster, 19:35

Munster v Benetton, 20:00

Saturday, 17 May

Bulls v Dragons, 14:00

Lions v Ospreys, 16:15

Zebre v Connacht, 17:00

Sharks v Scarlets, 18:30

Leinster v Glasgow, 19:35