With seven teams still alive, the Super 14 goes down to the wire
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on May 14th, 2008
As the Super 14 heads into its final round, only the Crusaders are guaranteed a semi final appearance, while six other teams are fighting it out for the remaining three spots.
Sitting pretty on the top of the table with 52 points, the Crusaders have a 12 point lead over second place and will finish top regardless of this weekend’s results. First place ensures there will be a semi final in Christchurch next weekend, and a victory there will see the final in Christchurch too.
Below the Crusaders is where the hunt gets very interesting, with two games this weekend determining the fates of contenders.
The round opens with the Blues hosting the Hurricanes, with both teams still in the running for a semi. A win to the Hurricanes would secure them second place and a home semi final, but a loss could see them miss out altogether, such is the log jam on the table.
The Blues can keep their slim hopes alive with a win, but will need three other contenders, the Waratahs, Stormers and Sharks to trip up if they are to make the top four.
Making the long trip back from South Africa where they managed a draw and a loss, the Waratahs head to Brisbane to take on their arch rivals, the Reds. The formula for the Waratahs is the same as for the Hurricanes: win and they are in, lose and they could be leap frogged by the chasing pack.
They may be fourth, but the Stormers probably have the easiest game to secure their semi final appearance, taking on the last placed Lions. However, a bonus point win will be vital if they are to stay ahead of the Sharks.
In fact the most interesting battle could well be between the Stormers and Sharks as both teams sit on 37 points, with the Stormers’ slightly better points differential putting them just ahead.
The Sharks may have an advantage by playing the last game of the round, and will take the field knowing exactly what they need to do to keep their season alive. And with their points differential just nine points worse than the Stormers, they will be hoping for a close game in Johannesburg.
Finally the injury ravaged Chiefs have not yet been mathematically eliminated from the semi final hunt, they need to score a bonus point win over the Sharks and hope that the Stormers or Waratahs lose.
With so many possibilities going into the final round, it looks like the 2008 Super 14 will keep everyone guessing, and provide excitement right down to the final minute.
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The With seven teams still alive, the Super 14 goes down to the wire by Hamish McBrearty, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
