Unbeaten Scottish pair set the pace as Shield rivalries return
Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors remain the only unbeaten teams after four rounds, with the Scottish pair separated by a single point at the top of the table. Edinburgh carry a perfect 4-0 record into Treviso, while Glasgow return to Scotstoun after a dramatic comeback win over Benetton.
Round 5 also brings two Shield contests: Connacht host Leinster in Galway and Ospreys welcome Cardiff to St Helen's. In South Africa, DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls look to build on top-four starts, while Hollywoodbets Sharks travel to Thomond Park after ending a five-match URC losing run on the road.
Round At A Glance
Edinburgh are the only team with four wins from four; Glasgow Warriors are the only other unbeaten side and sit one point behind.
Only 18 of the opening 32 matches have been won by the home side - 56.25%.
Round 4 produced 456 points and 69 tries across eight matches, averages of 57 points and 8.6 tries per game.
Ospreys marked their return to St Helen's with a bonus-point win over Dragons RFC, their third successive first-team victory.
Leinster climbed to sixth after overturning an eight-point half-time deficit to beat Munster at Aviva Stadium.
Milestone Watch
Ryan Elias (Scarlets) is one appearance short of 150 in the URC.
Morgan Morris (Ospreys) is one appearance short of 100.
Jarrod Evans (Cardiff), James Ratti (Ospreys) and Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls) are two appearances short of 100.
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff), Ciaran Frawley (Connacht) and Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) are three apps short of 100.
Click Below For Match Previews
After an exciting weekend of the United Rugby Championship, URC StatMaster has identified the top players from R4 along with the overall top team and player performances from the league so far.
Click Below To View URC Player Stats
Click Below To View URC Team Stats
Top Players From R4
Carries: 25 Magnus Bradley (Edinburgh Rugby)
Defenders Beaten: 12 Taine Basham (Cardiff Rugby)
Line-outs Won: 8 Francke Horn (10bet Lions)
Metres: 224 Blair Murray (Scarlets)
Passes: 88 Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby)
Tackles: 27 Scott Penny (Leinster Rugby)
Overall Top Players After R4
Carries: 66 Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby)/Taine Basham (Cardiff Rugby)
Defenders Beaten: 24 Taine Basham (Cardiff Rugby)
Kicks in Play: 50 Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby)
Line-out Steals: 6 Glen Young (Edinburgh Rugby)/Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby)
Line-outs Won: 25 Francke Horn (10bet Lions)
Metres: 379 Blair Murray (Scarlets)
Passes: 362 Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby)
Tackles: 70 Josh Macleod (Scarlets)
Tries: 5 Elliot Dee (Dragons RFC)
Turnover Won: 8 Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby)
Overall Top Team Season Totals
Carries: 637 Edinburgh Rugby
Defenders Beaten: 118 Ulster Rugby
Kicks in Play: 108 DHL Stormers
Metres: 2105 Vodacom Bulls
Points: 160 Vodacom Bulls
Tackles: 717 Munster Rugby
Tries: 23 Vodacom Bulls
Turnover Won: 35 10bet Lions
Visits To 22: 55 Vodacom Bulls
Fixtures
FRIDAY
Connacht Rugby v Leinster Rugby
Dexcom Stadium, Galway – KO 7.45pm IRE & UK/8.45pm ITA/9.45pm SA
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 31st league game)
AR 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU) AR 2: Keane Davison (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Glasgow Warriors v 10bet Lions
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 7.45pm IRE & UK/8.45pm ITA/9.45pm SA
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 63rd league game)
AR 1: Mike Adamson (SRU) AR 2: David Sutherland (SRU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
SATURDAY
DHL Stormers v Ulster Rugby
DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 12.450m IRE & UK/1.45pm ITA/2.45pm SA
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 65th league game)
AR 1: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU) AR 2: Sean Muller (SARU)
TMO: Ru Campbell (SRU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – KO 3pm IRE & UK/4pm ITA/5pm SA
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 42nd league game)
AR 1: Christopher Allison (SARU) AR 2: Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Benetton v Edinburgh Rugby
Stadio Monigo, Treviso – KO 3pm IRE & UK/4pm ITA/5pm SA
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU, 4th league game)
AR 1: Fillipo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Manuel Bottino (FIR)
TMO: Egon Seconds (SARU)
Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Munster Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 5.30pm IRE & UK/6.30pm ITA/7.30pm SA
Referee: Ben Connor (WRU, 9th league game)
AR 1: Peter Martin (IRFU) AR 2: Kevin Beakey (IRFU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Dragons RFC v Zebre Parma
Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 5.30pm IRE & UK/6.30pm ITA/7.30pm SA
Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU, 14th league game)
AR 1: Craig Evans (WRU) AR 2: Gareth Newman (WRU)
TMO: Colin Brett (SARU)
Live on: Premier Sports, Sky Italia, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby
St. Helens, Swansea – KO 7.45pm IRE & UK/8.45pm ITA/9.45pm SA
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 23rd league game)
AR 1: Carwyn Sion (WRU) AR 2: Marc Caudle (WRU)
TMO: Jenny Davies (WRU)
Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
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