With this season’s two finalists already determined in PRO14, attention will now turn to the Champions Cup qualification, with a host of games set to determine the entries into next season’s European competitions.
Leinster and Munster are sitting pretty knowing their places in the final are already booked but for a number of other sides – including Munster’s opponents in round 15 – Scarlets, there is still a way to go before European qualification is guaranteed.
Scarlets are in a three-way fight for two places in Conference B with Munster secured at the top and Benetton at the bottom. Connacht will secure the second spot if they can beat Edinburgh this weekend but Scarlets will need to keep up the pressure as Edinburgh have two games in hand and are 14 points behind the Welsh side.
Cardiff Blues will be hoping for a Munster win as they head to Benetton to try and make up some ground on their eight-point deficit from Glenn Delaney’s side.
The Munster-Scarlets game will be the pick of the weekend with Delaney hoping for a drop in intensity from the Irish side to capitalise on.
“We went there for the last game we played before we shut up shop for a spell last year. It will be a big challenge, we played them in the first game of the season and didn’t manage the last 15 minutes well enough after putting ourselves in a really good position,” Delaney said this week.
“They have evolved, they are in the final already and they will be excited by that, but we are certainly excited by the opportunity to keep building a bit of momentum and keep playing the way we are.
“We will go out there knowing it is a massive challenge playing at Thomond. We had the winning formula on the road last time out against Edinburgh and it is about discovering that again.
“Munster are a side who can be really attritional, they also have a very good tactical kicking but you can’t be seduced by that, they can also play with width as well. They are a side who are all about getting the job done, a powerful unit with some great carriers like Gavin Coombes who has been outstanding all year, Jack O’Donoghue as well. There are guys who we are going to have to keep an eye on.
“For us, it is about taking steps forward, we still need points to secure Europe, that hasn’t changed from a few weeks ago. Our objective is to secure our position in the Champions Cup for next year.”
Scarlets are eyeing a third straight win after victories over Benetton and Edinburgh which have left them on the brink of Champions Cup qualification. They were narrowly beaten 30-27 when the teams last met in October despite Munster scoring all three tries in the game.
Connacht, meanwhile, will need to pick up the pieces after their hopes of the final disintegrated with their defeat at the hands of Munster last weekend and while they have an eight-point advantage over Scarlets with two rounds left, they will want to secure their spot with s solid win.
Edinburgh’s three-game winning run against Connacht came to an end five months ago in a 37-26 defeat and they go into Saturday’s clash having won just one of their last four matches. Last week’s clash with Benetton was postponed after a positive coronavirus test in the Benetton camp.
Friday’s other games see defending champions Leinster travel to Zebre on a high after securing their final spot while Ospreys head to Glasgow Warriors knowing a victory will secure third place in Conference A and a Champions Cup place.
The Welsh side is 10 points clear of their hosts having played a game more and will be keen to get the job done ahead of a daunting trip to Leinster in Round 16.
Dragons host Ulster in the only other fixture in round 15.
Fixtures
Friday
Zebre v Leinster (7.45 pm)
Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys (10 pm)
Munster v Scarlets (10 pm)
Saturday
Connacht v Edinburgh (9.35 pm)
Dragons v Ulster (9.35 pm)
Sunday
Benetton v Cardiff Blues (3 pm)