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Super Rugby quarter-finals - who plays who, when and where

Can the Lions finally claim their elusive first Super Rugby championship? (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
16th July, 2017
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The fixtures for the 2017 Super Rugby quarter-finals have been officially confirmed, and are as follows.

Friday July 21
QF4 – Brumbies vs Hurricanes, GIO Stadium, 7:45pm AEST

Saturday July 22
QF2 – Crusaders vs Highlanders, AMI Stadium, 5:35pm AEST
QF1 – Lions vs Sharks, Emirates Airlines Park, 10:30pm AEST

Sunday July 23
QF3 – Stormers vs Chiefs, DHL Newlands, 1am AEST

The Brumbies will try to become the first Australian team to defeat a New Zealand team this season when they host the Hurricanes on Friday night.

It doesn’t seem likely though – despite being made to travel due to the conference system, the ‘Canes are short-priced $1.26 favourites.

Just a week after copping their first Super Rugby loss of the year the Crusaders will find themselves in an all-New Zealand tussle with the Highlanders.

Meanwhile the Lions, who have finished as first seed thanks to the Saders’ stumble, are heavy favourites to do away with the Sharks.

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The fixture will actually mean those two sides meet twice in two weeks – the Lions defeated the Sharks 27-10 on Sunday to close out their season.

Lastly, the Chiefs go in as narrow favourites against the Stormers, but will have to overcome the travel factor to get a win.

The winner of QF1 (Lions vs Sharks) will play the winner of QF4 (Brumbies vs Hurricanes) in the semi-finals, and the winner of QF2 (Crusaders vs Highlanders) will play the winner of QF3 (Stormers vs Chiefs), with the highest-ranked team to host in both matches.

The winners of the semis will then play off in the final for the 2017 Super Rugby championship, again with the highest-ranked team to host.

The Lions, having swooped in to take top spot in the standings in the last round, have a clear path to a home final and potentially a first Super Rugby title.

Odds are they will have to beat both the Hurricanes and the Crusaders to do it, but they’ll have a home crowd on their side in both battles if so.

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