Watch VideoWATCH | THE LAST WORD ON RUGBY: Home advantage on the line for South Africa’s URC contenders

The Stormers will look to take one step closer to sealing a home URC play-off when they face Ulster on Friday. The Bulls and Lions will have a chance on Saturday to seal their quarter-final places in the tournament. With only two rounds left in theUnited Rugby Championship (URC), the pressure on South Africa’s leading franchises to secure home play-offs is impossible to ignore.

The Stormers, sitting at the top of the table,the Lionsin third, andthe Bullsin seventh, all still have a very realistic chance of hosting a quarter-final. But the next two matches will decide who earns that advantage and who will have to hit the road for the knockouts. In the latest episode ofThe Last Word on Rugby, the panellists unpack a defining fortnight in the URC.The Cape side is best placed to secure a home berth, but they are also in a position to help their fellow South African teams in the race for home games.

, the panellists unpack a defining fortnight in the URC.The Cape side is best placed to secure a home berth, but they are also in a position to help their fellow South African teams in the race for home games. The Stormers’ challenge, though, is far from straightforward. Trips to Ulster in Belfast and Cardiff will require them to adapt to quick 4G pitches that demand precision and control.

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Their dominant scrum and fluid attacking game have made them one of the most dangerous sides in the competition, but the panellists stressed that consistency will matter more than flair at this stage of the season. The version of the Stormers that dismantled Glasgow — composed, accurate and connected across the park — is the one they need now.

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