Benetton’s shock 33-7 victory over Glasgow on Saturday eliminated the Lions from the race for the Vodacom URC quarter-finals.

The Italian club’s bonus-point win in Treviso moved them up to sixth on the log with 46 points.

Seventh-placed Munster (who beat Ulster 38-20 in Limerick) and eighth-placed Cardiff (who lost 45-21 to the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus) also have 46 points.

RECAP: Bulls trample Cardiff at Loftus

The Lions are 13th with 35 points, and two bonus-point wins from their remaining home fixtures (against the Scarlets and Ospreys) wouldn’t be enough to break into the top eight.

The other three South African sides have already secured their place in the playoffs, with the Vodacom Bulls having leapfrogged Glasgow into second, the fourth-placed Sharks now eyeing third, and the Stormers fifth.

RECAP: Stormers douse Dragons fire

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