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Pro12 top four all-but decided after Ospreys defeat Ulster

Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar

Ospreys are all-but assured of their place in the Pro12 play-offs after Saturday’s 24-10 victory over fellow contenders Ulster.

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The two sides came into the meeting separated by just one point, Ospreys occupying the fourth and final qualification place ahead of their visitors.

But after this victory, Ospreys are five clear and with a vastly superior points difference heading into the final weekend, only a heavy defeat at Scarlets combined with Ulster thrashing leaders Leinster would deny the Welsh side.

Much of Ospreys’ hard work was done in the first half at the Liberty Stadium as tries from Tom Habberfield and Tyler Ardron gave them a 17-3 lead.

It remained that way until the final two minutes, Brendon Leonard going over for Ospreys – whose celebrations were hardly dampened by Jacob Stockdale’s subsequent consolation.

Scarlets made sure of their place in the play-offs with a convincing 30-8 win at Connacht. The visitors scored five times – two of those by Steff Evans, meaning they and Ospreys will meet to decide third and fourth next week.

One of them will face Munster, who secured a home semi-final as they ran in five tries for a bonus-point 34-14 success at second-from-bottom Treviso, including a brace for Darren Sweetnam.

Watch every game of the Lions Tour of NZ streaming live on rugbypass.com, home of the best online rugby coverage including news, highlights, previews & reviews, live scores, and more!

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J
JG 1 hour ago
Springboks' No.1 status in world rankings coming under increased threat

Well said RugCs. These rankings never have and never will be of any significance to the Springboks. Our team plays to win for its country and its people. How many times do Rassie and Siya need to repeat that before it sinks in. Speak to Razor Robertson and I suspect he will tell you the same thing. Our countries will not allow their rugby success to be measured by an illogical, mathematically complicated concoction of a ranking system, dreamt up by some disgruntled and status-starved Northern Hemisphere lackeys of World Rugby in an attempt to score themselves some desperate international recognition as being the “best of world rugby”. What absolute hogwash!!

As with any of the other major team sports that compete for World Cup glory, a nation’s success is measured by its ability to win the “holy grail” of the sport - the World Cup!!!

Between them, the world's undisputed best two teams, South Africa and New Zealand hold 7 of the 10 World Cup Champions titles won thus far in Rugby's history. Until such time as any other nation surpasses that, you can bring along as many ranking systems as you like - you will NOT change that status quo.

AND here’s the irony. These two true champion rugby nations, neither of whom have the highest regard for World Rugby's “plastic ranking system” - quite coincidentally happen to be the top two teams on that very ranking table. Now, isn’t that hilarious.

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