United Rugby Championship Round 12: All you need to know

As we approach the two-thirds mark of the regular season, the contenders and pretenders in the BKT United Rugby Championship are beginning to make themselves known.

The last of the interprovincial games may be in the rear-view mirror, but the same points are on offer this weekend, particularly for Munster and Connacht, who are looking to stay in touch, or even just get back in touch, with the playoff spots before the Champions Cup break.

After last week's dramatic win against Ulster, Munster are delicately placed in the table. A win against the Emirates Lions on Friday night will move them back into the Champions Cup places - for the time being at least - and finally bring their record back to 50% for the season. However, a defeat would undo all the good work of last week in Belfast. Plenty on the line in Cork.

It's an equally important week for Connacht, who desperately need a win against the Cell C Sharks, having fallen eight points back from the playoffs in recent weeks.

After four defeats in five games, Ulster face a tricky Saturday afternoon trip to Benetton, who picked up consecutive wins against Zebre over Christmas, while Leinster will be looking for a 14th win in a row in all competitions when they face the Ospreys in Swansea.

TV Connacht v Sharks (Saturday, 5.15pm) is live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, with Munster v Lions (Friday, 7.35pm) and Ospreys v Leinster (Saturday, 7.35pm) live on TG4. Benetton v Ulster (Saturday, 1pm) is live on Premier Sport.

All games are live on URC TV.

RADIO Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 will have reaction from this weekend's games.

ONLINE Follow our live blogs on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app with match reports and reaction from around the grounds.

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