The last round of the URC is under way. The top eight teams for the playoffs is essentially set, though there are seeds to be determined.
Ulster's big win over Edinburgh on Friday assured them the second seed. Sharks and Bulls will hope that Connacht lose so they can gain a place in the table. Connacht entertain slip chances of passing out Munster if results go their way.
Speaking on The Buildup for Ladbrokes this week, former Ulster stalwart Stephen Ferris said it will be extremely difficult for any side to stop Leinster.
Leo Cullen had done a great job at the head of the team. Leinster have had an heroic season this year. They are undefeated in the URC with 16 wins and one draw. In the Heineken Champions Cup, they've won all their games too, with a home semifinal to come against Toulouse next weekend.
Stephen Ferris is sure that Leinster are unstoppable at this moment in the URC and it is highly likely they'll win the competition. When asked if somebody can stop them, he said:
I don't think so, no. The reason for that is that the South Africans are very leaky in defence. They could ship a lot of points and Leinster will cut you to shreds. If Leinster scores 20 points, they'll very rarely concede more than 10 or 15 points. It's certainly different when it comes to the [Heineken] Champions Cup. But I think in our league at this very moment, they are not miles ahead, and they can get caught out on any given day but it just feels it won't happen this year.
The squad depth of Leinster can be a massive help to the team in the playoffs. Being qualified earlier than all the other teams, Leo Cullen has played a second team for the last few games. This allows their main players to rest before the knockout stages.
15 April 2023; Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Ferris insisted on that squad depth point and also on the fact Leinster are playing all their playoff games at home will also help them win the URC title:
Go a full season unbeaten into the knockout stages would be incredible especially with the amount of squad rotations Leo Cullen made over the Six Nations, and some other Leinster games. I think Leinster will be very hard to beat. When you've got a home quarter final, a home semi final and a home final, it's gonna be super difficult to beat you.
Leinster will play the Bulls in this final round before starting their playoff journey in two weeks.
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