South Africa will have three teams in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarter-finals after a dramatic final round for the Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers and Fidelity SecureDrive Lions.
The Bulls sealed a top-four finish with a commanding 45-19 victory over Benetton Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, while the Stormers held onto third place despite a 22-16 defeat to Cardiff Rugby in Wales.
The Lions slipped to a 24-17 defeat against Munster Rugby in Limerick but still booked their place in the playoffs, where a daunting clash against defending champions Leinster Rugby awaits in Dublin.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks, already out of playoff contention, ended their campaign on a high with an emphatic 54-19 win over Zebre Parma in Durban.
The Bulls were clinical in Pretoria, running in seven tries to stretch their winning streak to six matches. Sergeal Petersen crossed twice, with Willie le Roux, Johan Grobbelaar, Cobus Wiese, Celimpilo Gumede and Ruan Nortje also getting on the scoresheet. Handre Pollard slotted five conversions.
Benetton replied through Louis Lynagh’s brace and a try by Rhyno Smith.
The Stormers, meanwhile, were left frustrated in Cardiff after failing to convert early dominance into points. Adre Smith scored their only try, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added a conversion and three penalties.
Cardiff struck through Jacob Beetham, who grabbed a double, as well as tries from Tom Bowen and Ioan Lloyd to secure a playoff place and set up an immediate rematch with the Stormers in Cape Town.
In Durban, Siya Kolisi stole the spotlight in what could be his final appearance for the Sharks, scoring two tries in an eight-try rout of Zebre Parma. Jaco Williams, Zekethelo Siyaya, Vusi Moyo, Emmanuel Tshituka, Le Roux Malan and Ross Braude also crossed for the hosts.
Friday, 29 May
Glasgow Warriors v Connacht – Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow (20:45 SA time)
Saturday, 30 May
Vodacom Bulls v Munster – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (13:00)
DHL Stormers v Cardiff – DHL Stadium, Cape Town (15:30)
Leinster v Fidelity SecureDrive Lions – Aviva Stadium, Dublin (21:00)
