URC RACE TO THE EIGHT: Two laps to go and we simply still cannot call it
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We are now 16 rounds into the 2023/24 season and the Race to the Eight URC play-off spots is nearing closer and closer to the finish line.
There are now just TWO rounds left to play in the regular season as the BKT URC continued over the weekend for Round 16 – and the hunt for a play-off spot continues to race on.
As things stand, just SIX points separate the 5th-placed DHL Stormers and 10th-placed Emirates Lions with things even tighter in the top four.
11 of the 16 teams can still make it and after what we saw over the weekend – it's going to be an almighty battle in the final two rounds of the regular season with so much up for grabs.
We still don't know who will finish in the top 2 and potentially earn a home semi-final should they progress, who will finish in the top four and earn a home quarter-final, and who will finish in the final eight!
Former leaders Leinster are now just a point behind Glasgow Warriors following their bonus-point win over Ospreys on Saturday night, with the Scottish side holding on after earning two late bonus points in their defeat to the Vodacom Bulls.
Munster, however, are just a point further back following their big win over Connacht with the southern province on a remarkable run of form in the latter stages of the season.
The Vodacom Bulls are four points off the top and just two behind Munster with their win with things even tighter from 5th to 8th.
Just two points separate the 5th-placed DHL Stormers and 8th-placed Benetton with the latter earning a famous win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in South Africa.
Connacht and the Emirates Lions are four points off eight, with Ospreys still having an outside shot at the play-offs with the Welsh side 8 points behind Benetton.
There are some huge games in the #RaceToTheEight this weekend for Round 17 with some seismic encounters to look forward to.
7th-placed Edinburgh host 3rd-placed Munster with the home side looking to stay in the race and the Irish province looking to push into one of those top 2 spots.
The Vodacom Bulls (4) host Benetton (8) in another huge encounter, while leaders Glasgow play the final game of their South African tour against the Emirates Lions (10).
We've also got Connacht (9) hosting the DHL Stormers (5) and a big inter-provincial battle between Ulster (6) and Leinster (2) at Kingspan.
No time for a pitstop! Two laps to go!
