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2nd June 2024
11:17am BST
Munster's 29-24 comeback against Ulster at Thomond Park means that Graham Rowntree's men will have home advantage in the URC knockouts.
Wins on the road to Glasgow, Leinster and Stormers paved the way to a first trophy in twelve years last season, but this year's run-in begins with the more favourable prospect of a Friday night date with Ospreys in Limerick (KO 7.35pm).
Ospreys snuck into the URC quarter-finals by overcoming Cardiff in the last round of the season but were also fortunate that other results swung in their favour.
That interpro result at Thomond Park sets up another intriguing derby for next week, with 3rd placed Leinster hosting 6th placed Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.
Adding intrigue is how Ulster got the better of Leinster just two weeks ago at the Kingspan. Riche Murphy's side were 23-21 winners on that occasion but know they will face a different beast entirely at 5 pm on Saturday.
Leinster will be all but full strength this time around as they look to banish some ghosts from their Champions Cup Final defeat to Toulouse with a win.
Leo Cullen's men are yet to celebrate winning a trophy since the COVID-19 pandemic. They famously lost three European finals in a row in 2022, 2023 and 2024, but the URC hasn't been kind to them either.
Munster ended their hopes in last season's semi-final courtesy of a dramatic drop-goal from Jack Crowley, and the Bulls were their conquerors in the previous campaign.
Earlier that day, the Bulls take on Benetton at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (KO 2.30 pm). The Bulls beat Leinster to second place by sinking the Sharks and will be a hard outfit to stop in the knockout rounds.
Italian side Benetton impressed throughout the league stage of the competition, winning eleven of their eighteen matches and drawing one.
They look like an improving team every season but it would still be a shock should they cause an upset in South Africa.
Saturday concludes with Glasgow Warriors inviting the DHL Stormers to Scotstoun.
Stormers, who won the competition in 2022, will be aiming to reclaim their title after losing last year's final at home to Munster.
Glasgow will also be looking to go further than last season. They too were eliminated by Munster in 2023, losing 5-14 in the quarter-finals.
Friday, June 7
QF1: (1st) Munster v (8th) Ospreys
Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Kick-off: 19:35 (UK& IREe) / 20:35 (ITA & SA)
Broadcasters: RTE, S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport & URC.tv
Saturday, June 8
QF2: (2nd) Vodacom Bulls v (7th) Benetton
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 14:30 (UK & IRE) / 15:30 (ITA & SA)
Broadcasters: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Sky Italia, TG4 & URC.tv
QF3: (3rd) Leinster v (6th) Ulster
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 17:00 (UK & IRE) / 18:00 (ITA & SA)
Broadcasters: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport & URC.tv
QF4: (4th) Glasgow Warriors v (5th) DHL Stormers
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: 19:35 (UK & IRE) / 20:35 (ITA & SA)
Broadcasters: Premier Sports, SuperSport & URC.tv
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