The Guinness PRO14 Final Series looms ever larger on the horizon as the 2018-19 season reaches its climax. Six teams will graduate from the Guinness PRO14’s two conferences to battle it out for a shot at glory at Celtic Park in May – and Munster are one of those sides still very much in the hunt. As the business end of the season approaches, we’ve taken a look at the Munstermen’s chances of reaching the Guinness PRO14 Final series. What does their remaining schedule look like? With three rounds of action to go and the battle to reach the end of season achingly tight, Munster could secure their spot as early as this weekend. Should they win or even draw at Irish Independent Park when the Cardiff Blues visit then a place in the Finals Series will be theirs. Munster are also trying to keep pace with Glasgow Warriors at the top of Conference A though, and should they leapfrog their rivals they could secure a semi-final spot. Last year they had to come through the quarter-finals against Edinburgh and then lost at the RDS, so this time around their final two games, away to Benetton Rugby and home to Connacht who are both chasing a Finals Series spot, will have plenty riding on them. Munster’s run-in: R19: Cardiff Blues (H), Friday April 5, 19:35 R20: Benetton Rugby (A), Friday April 12, 19:00 R21: Connacht (H), Saturday April 27, 19:35 Who are going to be the difference-makers if Munster can reach the Guinness PRO14 Final Series? Munster proved their match sharpness last weekend when they downed Edinburgh in the European quarter-finals, the 14th time in their history they have made the semi-finals in Europe’s top tier. Keith Earls was the hero with two tries in the victory and after an impressive Guinness Six Nations with Ireland is hitting top form at the business end of the season. Conor Murray at scrum-half is also working his way back to his best while Tadhg Beirne and Joey Carbery have returned to fitness in time for the run in. Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander are tireless in the back row and will have a huge say on whether Munster can re-claim the league crown they last won back in 2011. Can Munster go all the way if they reach the Guinness PRO14 Final series? It has been eight long years since Munster lifted the league title – too long for a club of their stature. But Johann van Graan’s side are getting close, they lost in the final to Scarlets two seasons ago and the semi-finals to Leinster last year. Both times, their conquerors went on to win it all, and Munster will be hoping it is them this time around. A huge part of that will come down to whether they can catch Glasgow Warriors in Conference A over the final three rounds, they currently trail them by three points. Should they manage it, they will get a bye to a home semi-final and then will be just 80 minutes from Celtic Park.
