The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Week 14 Super Rugby movers and shakers

Roar Guru
18th May, 2015
Advertisement
Henry Speight for the Brumbies. (photo: John Youngs photography)
Roar Guru
18th May, 2015
17
1200 Reads

It was another fantastic week of rugby. It started with the Blues, despite being undermanned, showing how tough a nut they are to crack at Eden Park.

Next up were the Reds with their new coach.

After the first 15 minutes it looked like the Rebels by a lot but the Reds suddenly found their mojo and destroyed the Melbourne side.

Saturday started with the Hurricanes winning in controversial circumstances over a brave and undermanned Chiefs outfit. Even without the controversy at the end, their kicking let them down much like it did against the Rebels. It cost them a win yet again.

Then, the Waratahs and the referee defeated the Sharks. The end margin was extremely flattering to the Waratahs who had the run of the whistle in what was a 50-50 game otherwise.

The South African games were crackers. The Brumbies looked back to their brilliant best and their win over the Lions has put them back in the box seat for the Australian Conference. They frustrated the Lions all night with their aggressive defence.

Rounding out an awful weekend for the South Africans was the Highlanders who demolished the Cheetahs. The margin should have been 40 except for the Highlanders relaxing in the last 10 minutes of the contest and letting three cheap tries in.

So what does this mean in the grand scheme of things? Well the Hurricanes with 52 points are 13 points clear at the top with four rounds remaining.

Advertisement

Barring a complete self destruction by them and a brilliant finish by one of their three main rivals they will win the New Zealand conference and finish top overall.

They square off against the Blues at Eden Park. That game will not be easy and they will have to bring their best game. A loss here could give the Chiefs and Highlanders some hope of top spot.

Chiefs and Highlanders are sitting next on 39. The Chiefs are at home to the Bulls and they should have too much class, particularly in the backline, with the likes of Sonny Bill Williams returning.

The Highlanders face a tough one against an improving Force in Perth but will go into the game as favourite and have a better than even chance of winning if their backline continues to roll. Wins by both of these sides and a loss by the Waratahs could see them put a nice two game gap of the chasers with just three rounds remaining.

Sitting atop of the Australian Conference are the Brumbies on 38. The Brumbies have a bye this week so they will have a keen eye on results, particularly the Waratahs-Crusaders clash. They do look the pick of the Australian teams. They are two points clear of the Waratahs but I wonder how much they would like to have the penalty back against the Waratahs in the final minute where they went for the win instead of the draw.

A draw that night would have them five points clear with two home games to come.

The Waratahs on 36 points come next. Their form in the last month has been well off their 2014 form and they come up against a resurgent Crusaders team who are well rested, back in form and playing for the lives.

Advertisement

It will be a massive game for both teams. Crusaders lose its all over red rover for them. Waratahs lose and the Brumbies will be sitting in the box seat, with a nice run home.

The Bulls on 35 points come up against a Chiefs team who should have SBW back and possibly Brodie Retallick for the game. They will need to pull off the upset to maintain top spot in the South Africa conference but that will be a tough ask to a Chiefs side hungry for the fourth spot with the Highlanders.

The Stormers sit on 34 points and rested and at home to the Rebels they should get the job done. The Rebels, after looking so impressive on defence this year, were cut to shreds by the Reds.

While the Stormers won’t do that as it is not their game style, home advantage should get them the win in what will likely be a low scoring defence orientated contest.

Lions and Crusaders are next on 31 points. The Lions are away against the Cheetahs. Not much separated them last time in a free flowing open affair and it is a must win for the Lions.

They lose and they are finished. There is a slight possibility the Lions might even move to the top of the South Africa conference with a four try win, if the Bulls and Stormers lose. The Crusaders will be in Sydney in a do or die match.

They are the last team anyone wants to be playing in this scenario and the Waratahs have been well down on form. Both sides will need to bring their best because their season relies upon it. If this was played in Christchurch I would have the Crusaders as a lock but the Waratahs’ home ground factor makes it a 50-50 contest.

Advertisement

Rebels on 30 points are in the same scenario, needing a win on the road against the Stormers. They were expected to get full points from the Reds game but came away empty handed. I think this will be too much of a hurdle and they will be the first team to drop out the finals race, leaving just nine sides remaining fighting for the final six.

The match of the round next week will be Waratahs versus Crusaders. The Chiefs versus Bulls along with Stormers against the Rebels are the other top team clashes of note.

Only the Reds and Sharks game has no relevance to the finals, and that being said it will probably be the best spectacle, especially if both teams bring last week’s free flowing rugby.

close