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Ben James

The fight to be the best Welsh region and what each team has left to play for

With a disastrous Six Nations finally behind us, attention now turns to the final stretch of a season that has produced far more drama off the pitch than it has managed on it.

With all the uncertainty going on in Welsh rugby, as it stumbles from one crisis to the next, it's easy to get distracted by what is left to play for.

With three rounds left of the United Rugby Championship, the Welsh Shield is up for grabs, while there's still the chance of a Welsh side reaching the top eight and, with it, securing a play-off place. Of course, all are still involved in the European knockout stages - meaning each of their campaigns could go on a little longer.

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So what's the situation for each of the four sides and what do each of them have left to go at in the closing weeks of the season?

Looking at the URC table as a whole, it doesn't make for brilliant reading for any of the Welsh sides. A testing campaign has seen all four stuck in the bottom-half.

The Dragons are 15th on 19 points, the Scarlets are 14th on 29 points, the Ospreys are 13th on 30 points and then Cardiff sit highest in 10th on 34 points.

With three games left, 15 points separate the four sides. Crucially, there's just a five point difference between the Scarlets, Ospreys and Cardiff.

Technically, the Dragons could match Cardiff's total, but it would require three bonus point wins and the other Welsh sides not picking anything up. But the real race is to be the highest-placed Welsh side and secure Champions Cup rugby - with Cardiff currently in pole position in the Welsh Shield stakes.

Welsh team's remaining fixtures

Cardiff: Zebre (A), Connacht (A), Ospreys (A - Principality Stadium)

Dragons: Ospreys (A), Ulster (A), Scarlets (H - Principality Stadium)

Ospreys: Dragons (H), Edinburgh (A), Cardiff (H - Principality Stadium)

Scarlets: Sharks (H), Glasgow Warriors (A), Dragons (A - Principality Stadium)

Looking at their run-ins, Dai Young's side head to basement side Zebre before another road trip to take on Connacht. They then finish up against their nearest Welsh challenger, the Ospreys, at Judgement Day in the Principality Stadium.

As for the Ospreys, they host the Dragons this weekend before heading to Edinburgh ahead of the Judgement Day clash with Cardiff.

Former Ospreys wing Shane Williams believes that Toby Booth's side might have the easier run-in as he noted how important it is to secure Champions Cup rugby for next year.

"Cardiff are all in pole position at the moment, but it's all to play for," said Williams. "You only have to look at the Ospreys' performances in Europe this year.

"The win up at Leicester was their best of the season. It's a massive competition and you're playing against the best teams in Europe. If you can take scalps in that, that builds your confidence.

"There's not a massive gulf between the regions so it's all to play for in Wales. All of them want to end on a positive.

"The Ospreys are more than capable of doing it. They had a little slip up against Benetton at home but they've got the better run-in.

"It just means these Welsh sides have something to play for in the final weeks of the season. Certainly, winning the Welsh Shield and being able to play in Europe has made a difference to the Ospreys.

"Some of their best performances have come in Europe. They'll want the same again next year. So will Cardiff and the Scarlets. It's been a tough season for everyone in Welsh rugby and they'll all want to finish on a high. It keeps everyone on the edge of their seats."

The Scarlets aren't out of the running just yet either, having hit a strong patch of form in the new year. However, a clash against a Sharks side loaded with Springboks will make matters tough, as does a trip to Glasgow in the penultimate round.

A Judgement Day clash with the Dragons will give Dwayne Peel's side a chance to finish strongly. The Dragons head to Ulster in between their Welsh derbies against the Ospreys and Scarlets.

In terms of any of the Welsh sides chasing a play-off spot, Cardiff currently sit five points behind the team in eighth, Connacht. As such, their meeting in the penultimate round on April 15 could prove crucial to the Arms Park side's hopes of catching the Galway outfit.

Of course, Benetton currently sit in ninth between the two sides - although three matches against South African opposition, two of which are away, is a tough end to the season.

Were the Ospreys or Scarlets to mount a challenge for the top-half of the table, there's a couple more teams for them to worry about - with the Lions and Edinburgh stationed between them and Cardiff.

Play-off contenders' remaining fixtures

Munster (5th - 47 points): Glasgow Warriors (H), Stormers (A), Sharks (A)

Bulls (6th - 43 points): Ulster (A), Zebre (H), Leinster (H)

Sharks (7th - 41 points): Scarlets (A), Benetton (H), Munster (H)

Connacht (8th - 39 points): Edinburgh (H), Cardiff (H), Glasgow Warriors (A)

Benetton (9th - 38 points): Lions (H), Sharks (A), Stormers (A)

Lions (11th - 33 points): Benetton (A), Leinster (H), Zebre (H)

Edinburgh (12th - 32 points): Connacht (A), Ospreys (H), Ulster (A)

The fact of the matter is that it seems more likely than not that a Welsh side won't reach the top eight for the second season in a row. Unfortunately, Williams believes, that's just the level our sides are at.

"We're a million miles away from the Leinsters and Munsters unfortunately," he said. "The likes of Glasgow and the South African sides seem to be more organised and have more depth.

"They seem to win more away from home, which is a crunch factor. The regions have struggled to do that. The table is a true reflection of where they are.

"The Welsh sides can win a big game at home and then go away and have 40 points put on them. They haven't got the consistency of the other sides. There's still a chance mathematically, but it probably won't be far off what it is right now.

"It's about putting some pride and positive spin back in the game in Wales. It's a negative thing to be talking about, Welsh rugby. We talk about Welsh football with a smile on our face.

"But we mention rugby and we get a bit negative. Players will want to put smiles back on the faces of supporters and get this season out of the way, with all the politics and negativity that it has brought."

The other thing that could bring some smiles is the European fixtures left for each side to play. The Ospreys saw off Montpellier home and away before beating Leicester at Welford Road to set up a Champions Cup Round of 16 clash with Saracens.

Meanwhile, in the Challenge Cup's Round of 16, Scarlets host Brive, the Dragons travel to Glasgow and Cardiff welcome Sale to the Welsh capital.

  • Wales’ record try scorer Shane Williams is part of the Viaplay TV team bringing every game live from the BKT United Rugby Championship throughout the season including all the knock-out stages and the grand final. This Saturday Shane Williams will be joined by Ross Harries, Tom Shanklin, Rhys Ap Williams and Lauren Smith for live and exclusive UK coverage of Ospreys v Dragons from Swansea.com stadium with all the build-up from 12.30pm (with a 1pm kick off). Visit www.viaplay.com for more information. Viaplay is available on Sky, Virgin TV, Amazon Prime and online through the Viaplay App.

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