What the Lions need to do to qualify for the URC playoffs
The Lions have to win their last four URC pool games, likely with bonus points, to give themselves the best chance of making the playoffs.
For the fourth straight season it is the last chance saloon for the Lions in the United Rugby Championship (URC) as they once again have to fight tooth and nail down the home stretch to try qualify for the competition playoffs.
The Lions are currently languishing in 14th place on the log on 30 points, and realistically need to win all four of their final pool games, to qualify for the knockouts for the first time.
Over the first three URC seasons they have been the nearly men, finishing 12th in their opening campaign, before just missing out on the playoffs with two ninth placed finishes in the following two seasons.
Last season was particularly brutal, with the Lions ending level on points with Ospreys, but the Welsh side pipped them to eighth thanks to having won a game more.
If past URC seasons are used as a guide, 50 points seems to be the standard for reaching the playoffs, after Glasgow Warriors finished on that in eighth in season one, while the Sharks took the position on 48 points in season two, and last season Ospreys edged the Lions, with both teams on 50.
But for the Lions to reach that mark this season they would have to win all four of their final pool matches with bonus points, which is possible but will be a very tough ask.
Competitive top 8 battle
However, it is likely that less than 50 points will be enough to reach this season’s knockouts, as it is the most competitive URC top eight battle to date.
Munster in fifth place on 39 points and all the teams down to the Lions six points off the playoff places, still realistically have a chance of qualifying or dropping out of the hunt, during the end of season run.
The Lions also have an advantage of playing teams around them on the log, which means a win for them doubles as a blow for the opposition in their fight for the playoffs, while they also are playing all their matches at Ellis Park.
Currently the highest placed team they face comes first up in Italian side Benetton, who are seventh on the log, followed by Connacht (13th), Scarlets (11th) and Ospreys (12th).
They are all teams that the Lions should be confident of beating, with bonus points, but Benetton and Connacht are both possible banana peel games, while Ospreys stunned the Lions on the Highveld in the Challenge Cup last season.
So the hosts will have to be at their absolute best over their final four pool matches, pick up as many points as they possibly can and hope that other results go their way to reach the playoffs.
Lions’ remaining URC fixtures, all at Ellis Park
April 19 v Benetton – Kick-off 1:45pm
April 26 v Connacht – Kick-off 4pm
May 11 v Scarlets – Kick-off 3pm
May 17 v Ospreys – Kick-off 5:15pm
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