Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl is preparing his side for a playoff rematch with the Stormers in Cape Town after their dramatic victory over the South African side. The Welsh side outscored their opponents 4 tries to 1 in the first leg but struggled in the set-piece battle. Van Zyl acknowledged the physical challenge his team faced, particularly in the scrum where they were outmuscled by the visitors.

Despite the defeat, Cardiff showed resilience with a dynamic defensive performance that limited the Stormers to just one try. Van Zyl pinpointed the scrum as the key area for improvement ahead of the decisive second leg. The head coach recognised the motivation factor, knowing John Dobson's men will be desperate to avenge their 4-1 try deficit. Knockout rugby demands consistency across all phases, especially when playing away from home.

Glasgow claimed the top seed with a victory over Ulster, earning potential home advantage through the playoff stages including the final. Leinster secured second place with a comfortable win against Ospreys, adding pressure on other contenders. The playoff structure creates compelling matchups as teams balance revenge motives with advancement ambitions. Cardiff's ability to address set-piece vulnerabilities while maintaining defensive intensity will determine their playoff progression.