The results the Ospreys need to secure URC play-off spot

AS we enter the final three weeks of the United Rugby Championship’s regular season, there is still a chance that a Welsh team could make the play-offs.

At the start of the campaign, that would have seemed unlikely that a Welsh side would still be in action past June 1, but the Ospreys have defied the shrinking budgets and general uncertainty that has plagued the game in this country, keeping themselves in a hotly-contested battle for the top eight.

Now, just 240 minutes of rugby stand between Toby Booth’s side and the post-season. But what do they require to get there?

Well, for starters, it’s worth noting just how tight the battle for the playoffs are in the URC.

The top four of Glasgow, Leinster, Munster and the Bulls have a little bit of breathing room and seem unlikely to be reeled in, but below that, it’s anyone’s guess.

Currently, six point separate fifthplaced Stormers and the 11th-placed Lions.

5th. Stormers - 45 points Remaining matches: Dragons (A), Connacht (A), Lions (H)

6th. Connacht - 44 points Remaining matches: Munster (A), Stormers (H), Leinster (A)

7th. Ulster - 44 points Remaining matches: Scarlets (A), Leinster (H), Munster (A) 8th. Benetton - 44 points Remaining matches: Sharks (A), Bulls (A), Edinburgh (H)

9th. Edinburgh - 43 points Remaining matches: Zebre (H), Munster (H), Benetton (A) 10th. Ospreys - 40 points Remaining matches: Leinster (A), Dragons (H), Cardiff (N)

11th. Lions - 39 points Remaining matches: Cardiff (H), Glasgow Warriors (H), Stormers (A)

Ultimately, with three rounds of fixtures left to play, there are still too many variables to plot a path for the Ospreys.

But, if you look at their fixtures, you can work out where they might get to in terms of a final points tally.

Ten points from their final games would be a good number. Beat Dragons

and Cardiff and see where you can pick up any bonus points across the three games.

That would take them to 50. From there, it’s about who takes points from whom in this condensed midsection of the table.

Benetton might struggle to get past the half-century of points, facing two matches in South Africa before meeting Edinburgh. So that’s one team the Ospreys could move past.

But, Edinburgh are also vying for a spot and, with a favourable run-in, you’d say they’re likely to finish in front of Booth’s side.

Both Ulster and Connacht have fairly tricky run-ins, with both facing their provincial rivals Leinster and Munster.

Connacht, in particular, have a tough time with a clash against the Stormers.

As for Ulster, could the Scarlets do their west Wales rivals a favour this weekend at Parc y Scarlets?

Sitting in fifth, the Stormers probably aren’t going to get sucked into any sort of dramatic battle, especially with their run-in.

One issue for the Ospreys could be their points difference after their hammering by the Bulls last time out.

After that heavy defeat, they are now the only side in the play-off race to have a negative points difference.

Hopefully that changes in the coming weeks, but it could end up playing a part in their end-of-season fate.