Leinster suffered a shock defeat as a Jacob Umaga penalty with the clock in the red put Benetton ahead 29-26.
Leinster have dropped from third in the table before kick-off to fourth. They are level on points with the Lions in third, but are only two points ahead of Munster in fifth. Leinster play the Lions next and finish against the Ospreys. The game against the Lions in particular will be crucial for where Leinster finish up.
Possible outcomes for the URC places
The key positions in the URC table are the top eight, the top four and the top two. Currently, there are nine teams able to finish inside the top eight and top four with two games to go.
The top eight is most important as this books a place in the playoffs and also a place in the Champions Cup for next season, a huge financial incentive for clubs. This also puts them in with the elites in European club rugby.
The top four can be a little bit of a cherry on top as this would give the team a home playoff quarterfinal. The top two go even further and would guarantee this team a home quarter and semi-final if they progress.
Leinster’s away record
Journalist, Caolan Scully, pointed out that while Leinster’s away record is ok, it is worrying when you discount interpro matches.
They have only won one away match that isn’t against an Irish province, and therefore, if they drop out of the top four and have an away quarter-final, they could struggle to progress. That away win came against the Dragons, who currently sit 14th out of the 16 teams in the URC.
The good thing for Leinster is that there are three Irish provinces that could end up as their opposition. They have won all three away interpros.
Two wins at the end of the season would set them up for a home match in the playoffs.
