3 Way Chase For Play-Off Place

For fans of Cardiff Blues, Edinburgh and Munster, this weekend wil be as tense as they come as the three sides chase the final Play-Off place.

With the introduction this season of a clause requiring games affecting qualification for a Magners League Play-Off place to kick-off at the same time, the two fixtures involving the three teams still vying for that fourth spot, will be played simultaneously and will wrap up the final weekend of the League stage of the competition.

Two of those teams face each other, Cardiff Blues v Munster, in what could be a winner takes all scenario, although Blues will have to look over their shoulder to make sure the result does not allow Edinburgh to sneak in under the radar. Edinburgh themselves need a bonus point win at the RDS, and hope that other results go their way, to stand any chance of securing the fourth place, whilst one match point will give Leinster the luxury of a home semi-final tie.

The round opens on Friday night with two of the top four teams in action in Wales – second placed Ospreys hosting Newport Gwent Dragons, whilst Glasgow Warriors, currently lying third in the table, visiting Scarlets. With just one match point separating them, any slip up by either team could give the other the opportunity of claiming home advantage in the Magners League semi-finals. Also on Friday night Ulster face Connacht at Ravenhill, and only an unprecedented scoreline would give Connacht any mathematical chance of overtaking Ulster in the table.

This round brings to a conclusion the League stage of this year’s competition, and the top four teams will go forward to the inaugural Magners League Play-Off semi finals on 14/15 May.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.