Sports After Dark

The Super 14 heads into the final round with the top half of the table still in contention for a semi final spot.

Fourteen teams started this competition back in February with dreams of glory, those dreams are still alive for seven teams going into this weekend, after which only four teams will remain. The semi final picture is far from clear, especially with the top teams stumbling at this late stage. Even the locations of the semi finals are up for grabs, the top two qualifiers will host a semi final, but there are still four teams who are able to claim those spots.

A solitary bonus point for the Crusaders will secure them a home semi final, while a bonus point win would also give them an unassailable lead and a chance of a home final. However, the Sharks are a mere one point behind the Crusaders on 40, and the Blues and Bulls are both on 37, so depending on results even the fourth placed Bulls could finish top of the table. The Chiefs and Brumbies sit just outside the top four, while the Force could sneak in if results go their way.

Crusaders vs Chiefs
The round opens with a game that has huge semi finals implications. The Chiefs sit just one point outside the top four and will be desperate for a win, while the Crusaders will be looking to secure top spot. Last weekend the Chiefs ground out an ugly win in Sydney against the Waratahs, while the Crusaders lost to the Brumbies in Canberra without really firing a shot. However, the Crusaders have a home winning streak that goes back more than two seasons, and situations like this tends to bring out the best in them. The Chiefs have made great strides since their horror opening to the season, but unfortunately their season will end on Friday night.

Force vs Blues
The Force got their season off to a great start and have kept in touch with the top four all year, but their recent outing against front runners has greatly exposed them. If they are somehow able to lift themselves, a win against the faltering Blues could catapult them into the semi finals. Three weeks ago the Blues looked on track to take out the top qualifying spot, but three consecutive losses now leaves them fighting to stay alive. Expect a tight, low scoring affair, culminating in a Force win, leaving the Blues to wonder where it all went wrong.

Highlanders vs Brumbies
What little glimmer of hope the Highlanders had of making the semi finals was extinguished last weekend by the Hurricanes. In contrast to that, the Brumbies managed to keep in touch with the top four by winning a tryless match against the Crusaders. A bonus point win is essential if the Brumbies are to have any chance of staying alive, but scoring four tries against the Highlanders in Dunedin is a tough job. This match will also be the last in a Highlanders’ jersey for captain Josh Blackie and prop Carl Heyman, both of whom are leaving to take up contracts in the Northern Hemisphere. With two bona fide Otago legends leaving, the Highlanders will lift their performance greatly, and while they will likely lose this game, they will deny the Brumbies a bonus point, and thus make their semi finals hopes rest on other results.

Hurricanes vs Waratahs
The “Cardiac ‘Canes” versus the “Woeful Waratahs” is hardly an appetizing prospect in the prime time Saturday night game. Both teams have been hugely disappointing for their fans and have failed to live up to all pre-season expectations. The Hurricanes were beaten in last year’s final, and despite having few personnel changes this year, have been rooted in the second half of the table for most of the year. The Waratahs had a good away win in Week One, then went on a winless streak that was finally snapped in Week Twelve. With nothing but pride to play for, the Hurricanes should come away with a win, but both teams will have a lot of work to do before next year.

Lions vs Cheetahs
Another match involving two disappointing teams, this time both from South Africa. The Lions certainly had their moments during the season, particularly the win over the Crusaders, but a series of away losses has left them near the bottom of the table. The Cheetahs also played some excellent rugby in patches, but were too inconsistent and failed to convert chances into point too often. The loser of this match will get the South African wooden spoon, an indignity that no South African team wants. Both teams come into this match on the back of several poor outing and the only thing that really separates them is home advantage which goes to the Lions.

Stormers vs Sharks
The Sharks have had one of the easiest draws of this year’s Super 14, opening with a long home stand and playing most of the other top teams in Durban. But any suggestions that the Sharks were not contenders for the Super 14 title were dispatched in Week Eleven when they trounced the Blues. Now they must travel to Cape Town and face an out of form Stormers team. Even though the Stormers have several Springboks on their roster, they have struggled throughout the season. The Sharks will win this one and in the process secure a home semi final.

Bulls vs Reds
Of all the semi final contenders, the Bulls will have the easiest match this weekend. A loss by either the Shark or Crusaders will also open the door for them to claim a home semi final spot. The Reds this year have been plain awful, managing a win in Week One and losing every game since. Their misery will continue this weekend too, as the Bulls will launch themselves into the semi finals with a bonus point win.

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The Super 14 Week 14 Preview by Hamish McBrearty, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.