And don’t forget that the top two, Ulster and Llanelli Scarlets, have to meet on the final weekend at Stradey Park. It really couldn’t be any tighter.
Table toppers Ulster were the only team in the top four to lose over the weekend as they came up short against Cardiff. Even so, an away bonus point was enough to take them back to the top on points difference over the Scarlets.
But don’t run away with the idea that the title chase is merely a shoot-out between Celtic Cup winners Ulster and Heineken Cup quarter-finalists the Scarlets. Just keep an eye on new Wales coach Mike Ruddock’s Dragons in third place.
Their away win in Edinburgh at the weekend, while the Scarlets were taking a full-house of points at The Borders, kept them within two points of the top two.
That victory at Meadowbank was the Dragons’ 13th of the season – the most in the league and one more than both Ulster and the Scarlets. The only unbeaten team on home soil, they have only been found wanting in the bonus points department where they have the second lowest total of the 12 teams – six less than Ulster and four less than the Scarlets.
But Ruddock’s men will be buoyed by the fact they have two games still to play at Rodney Parade, against Cardiff Blues and The Borders, and two trips to Ireland to meet Connacht and Leinster Lions. Having beaten all four teams already this season they will be fearing nothing.
As for Ulster, they have to host their Irish rivals Connacht and Leinster Lions at Ravenhill and travel to The Borders and then Llanelli Scarlets. They will be seeking revenge in the league over both Connacht and the Lions, although they sneaked past the Lions in the quarter-finals of the Celtic Cup on try count after drawing 23-23 at Donnybrook.
The Lions will have a big say in who wins the title as they play all of the top three teams in their run-in to the end of the season. As well as travelling to Ulster and hosting the Dragons, they are due to be one of the three home games for the Scarlets in their final four outings.
As well as the Lions, the west Walians will host Glasgow at The Racecourse, Wrexham, and Ulster at Stradey Park. Their other game is an away trip to St Helen’s, Swansea for the derby match with the Ospreys.
And don’t think the only battle is for the Celtic League title. The pressure is mounting on the five Welsh regions as they battle it out for the four places in next season’s Heineken Cup.
The Blues are currently three points behind the Ospreys, who in turn are three points adrift of the Warriors. The Blues and the Warriors are due to meet in the final month, while Martyn Williams’ Cardiff-based side also have to travel to Rodney Parade to meet The Dragons.
And there is still all to play for in Scotland, where The Borders have to make up four points on Glasgow to keep a grip on their Heineken Cup place. The three Scottish sides are currently occupying the three basement spots in the league, but they will have to keep going right to the death.
The Borders could be helped by the fact that Edinburgh host Glasgow in the Scots’ ‘Inter-City’ challenge.
