One round of pool play remains before we decide which teams make it to the semis. Last year’s winner, the Bulls from Pretoria, have already stamped their place in the semis and now there are five teams battling for the remaining three spots.
The Stormers, who the punters thought would be playing in the grand-final against the Bulls, have slumped once again. They have only made the semi-finals twice in the last 14 years (1999, 2004) and last weekend their performance against the Crusaders was probably the highlight of their season but alas this weekend a lowly ranked Sharks brought them down to earth.
This was the Stormers’ first defeat at the hands of a South African team this season and their place in the semis is not yet secured since there are five more teams capable of taking the remaining three spots. The Stormers also have the least points scored against them this season and allowing only 16 tries. They are by far the best defensive team in the competition and next weekend, they play table toppers, the Bulls, a game which decides if the Stormers have what it takes to be the best because you need to beat the best to be the best.
The Waratahs, who are 3rd on the leaderboard had their ups and downs this season but stood tall. They lost four of the seven away matches but managed to win all their home matches. They play a fifth-ranked Hurricanes in the final round who are just behind a point and they have home advantage which would make the game even more interesting since the winner will progress to the semis and the loser would be sent home packing.
The Brumbies, who are on 4th place won their last two matches convincingly against the Reds and the Highlanders to make it into contention for a semis spot. Their season has been marred by injury to their highest point scorer and Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock, who has recently signed a contract with the new Melbourne Rebels.
The Brumbies were thrashed by the Bulls in round 2 but they managed to win the next three matches against their other South African counterparts. The Brumbies will need to depend a lot on the boots of Matt Giteau when they play the Crusaders at Christchurch because a game between these two giants may not be decided on the tries scored but by the boots of the two king pins, Dan Carter and Matt Giteau.
The Hurricanes, who are 5th, had no chance of making the top 4 because even though they started well by winning their first three games, they lost the next four. After they drew with the Crusaders in round 8, their luck seems to have changed because they won their next four games convincingly and are now the favorite of most NZ punters. This weekend they play 3rd place Waratahs and only by winning can they stamp a semi-final spot.
The Crusaders, once the undisputed champs of Super rugby, are now fighting just to make it to the semis. After their loss in round 2 to the Reds, they have never been the same even though they won the next four games, they lacked the flair and prowess which made them the most defensive team in the competition a few years in a row.
Though their defence is still strong and they have only allowed in only 21 tries, they still seem weak on defence. They have lost their last 3 games and are looking less likely to make the semis.
They play the 4th placed Brumbies at home which may be to their advantage because they have won all their home matches this season and a bonus point win could guarantee them a semi-final spot.
These are the five teams vying for the three remaining spots. The team that plays their best and gives in 100% and is strong on attack as well as defense will stand victorious this weekend.
This is the final round and in this round you either make it or break it.
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