Power Rankings: The road to the semis

With just one round remaining there are seven teams still in the hunt for just four semi final spots. Applying Sports After Dark’s two ranking formulas reveals who is going to fight another day, and who will be planning for 2010 this time next week.

Here’s how I’m predicting the table to look, without any bonus points, next Monday:

The Sharks, who just two weeks ago were predicted to be in the semis, have now been supplanted by the Crusaders and look set to miss out after dropping three of their last four games. Even a bonus point win over the Bulls may not be enough to make the semi finals if other results do not go their way.

This year’s title race could be decided by bonus points, although the current top four do have their own destinies in hand. Bonus point wins to the Crusaders and Hurricanes, which are very achievable, will see them secure their semi final places, while the Chiefs and Bulls can make the semi finals even if they lose their finals game, but that would require other results to go in their favour.

The other thing that I find interesting is this is the first time all season that both ranking models have agreed on all seven results.

Similar Posts:

• Power Ranking Super 14 Semi finals predictions
• Power Rankings: Who will make the top four?
• Inside The Numbers Week 12: Bonus Points
• Inside The Numbers Week 13: Attack and Defence
• Super 14 semi final picture coming into focus

The Power Rankings: The road to the semis by Hamish McBrearty, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.