Whilst South Africa was embroiled in a pre-World Cup pool tournament, the All Blacks were hosting the French, and the British and Irish Lions tour is still rolling, there is still a little matter of settling the Super XV.
Although this year’s Super rugby competition can be compared to that of a student having to study for his exams before his summer break, only to put his books away and then commence his exams on the first day back at his tertiary education institution, the realities are that one had little choice in doing a mix and match Southern Hemisphere season for 2013.
Be that as it may, this past weekend, the Super XV gathered momentum with round 18. Whilst some teams looked like they have put their boots and balls away for a while, it was business as usual for the most part.
The Chiefs managed a bonus point victory over the Hurricanes in an impressive display by their All Black Fly Half Aaron Cruden to win by 34-22.
It was then the turn of the Crusaders, who admittedly struggled to break free from the Highlanders during a first half, which only provided them a six-point half time lead; but as the second half started, it did not take long before the Dan Carter master class provided the spark for the Crusaders to romp home with a victory of 40-12 over an increasingly unfortunate Highlanders team.
Hosea Gear, who ran on for his 100th Super Rugby cap, would not have envisioned that he would celebrate this milestone.
The show then moved to Durban, where the Sharks managed to score a last-minute try over an ever-dangerous Blues team to win 22-20. The Sharks may have had the lion’s share of possession and territory in this match, but it was the Blues who excelled in open play, scoring three very well-executed tries. It must be said though, Patrick Lambie had one of his worst kicking performances of the season, missing four penalty kicks and a conversion.
The Bulls did not have it all their own way in beating the Kings in what looks like a comfortable scoreline of 48-18.
The upset of the weekend was when a spirited Stormers team, without their captain Jean De Villiers, dismissed an uninterested and flat Cheetahs team by 28-3. It was surely the worst performance of the Cheetahs in 2013, and a win here would have secured them the final playoff spot for the season.
As things stand now, the Blues are still in with a shot of making the playoffs; and looking at their ability to attack from virtually anywhere on the field, it is a definite possibility.
There are only 12 matches left before the playoffs. The top five teams have been decided. It is up to one final showdown between the Cheetahs and the Blues in Bloemfontein next weekend in deciding whether the Cheetahs may progress to the playoffs, or whether they will have to wait and see whether the Blues can topple the Chiefs in Auckland to ensure they, rather than the Cheetahs, go through.
Who will make the home semi-finals?
There are realistically only three teams within shouting distance of a home semi-final – the Brumbies who have one match left against the Force in Melbourne, which could theoretically put them on a maximum of 64 log points (including those silly little bye points), the Bulls, who still face the Sharks at Loftus and the Stormers at Newlands, and the Chiefs.
The Bulls need only 6 log points to finish above the Brumbies to secure a home semi-final, but would need to at least win both matches in a hope of ending top of the log.
The Chiefs are sitting on top of the heap, but having to face the Crusaders in Canterbury and the Blues in Auckland; this means that they need to end their season with two away wins to secure top spot. If they lose even one of those matches, the Bulls might just go past them at the final hurdle.
As for the three wildcards, the Crusaders will need to gain two bonus point wins over the Chiefs and Hurricanes to overtake the Chiefs in the NZ conference, which is a bit of a long shot; but it is safe to say the Crusaders will once again be a dangerous team as they enter the playoff stage.
The Reds, after a season which has been impressive in some parts, but never really provided any real signs of dominance, will make it through to the playoffs even if they lose their final match against the Waratahs.
So it comes down to the Cheetahs vs Blues match – the big decider; everything else becomes semantics.
If the Cheetahs win, they are through; if they lose, they have to wait and see whether the Blues can overturn the Chiefs.
atlas
Guest
Today's match. Crusaders (currently 5th, 51 points) at home to the Chiefs (1st, 61 points) Can't bring myself to cheer for Crusaders so this afternoon I'll be a Chiefs man. Next week Crusaders have another home game, v Hurricanes, while Chiefs travel to Auckland for the Blues, and is on to the Top 6. Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Tom Marshall, Ryan Crotty, Tom Taylor, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (c), Matt Todd, George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Tom Donnelly, Luke Whitelock, Willi Heinz, Tyler Bleyendaal, Telusa Veainu. Chiefs: Robbie Robinson, Patrick Osborne, Charlie Ngatai, Bundee Aki, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Matt Vant Leven, Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Craig Clarke (c), Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Mahonri Schwalger, Ben Afeaki, Michael Fitzgerald, Tanerau Latimer, Augustine Pulu, Andrew Horrell, Tim Nanai-Williams. and others this weekend, Cheetahs/Blues and Bulls/Sharks results will have impact on Top 6, other two games just for table points Hurricanes v Highlanders Cheetahs v Blues Kings v Stormers Bulls v Sharks
Lord Bledisloe
Guest
I do have a huge amount of respect for south african rugby. it's just that i dont think your teams are playing an attractive brand of rugby that is capable of winning the competition. get back to me after the crusaders win the title in a few weeks lads!
Loftus
Guest
The only difference is that the Bulls are much better than last year, and the Stormers are, well, 10th!
Ash
Guest
Hmmm just goes to show the dodgy result between the Saders and Tahs is now had a big effect on who goes through and in what position
atlas
Guest
bye points I have a friend, Reds supporter who only now (almost) accepts his team do NOT get 8 bye points for last/this weekend, No amount of reasoning, examples or common sense would work - and now he's in the 'it's not fair' state of mind.
felix
Guest
I reckon more S15 supporters are hoping for a cheetahs loss this weekend then a win for them,Sharks & Stormers can then only blame themselves for not qualifieng but its up to the cheetahs to allow or deny them that opportunity,Bulls have been unbeatable at home lately but if there is a team that can beat them its the Stormers,last year we beat the bulls in both matches,what a rough year this year has been.
Hi SP, firstly let me say I see your team is making a late charge, a shame they won't make the play offs, but they ending the season on a positive at least. I pretty much agree with your summation of a Chiefs vs Bulls final, just not yet sure where it will take place though. Three very important matches for me coming up. Bulls need to beat the Stormers at Newlands, it will be a tough one. Cheetahs must beat the Blues, based on last weekend's performances by both teams, I agree with you Crusaders must beat the Chiefs. Possible.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Excellent work as always Biltong. I think the Cheetahs will lose the weekend, but I can't see Blues beating the Chiefs either. Not after travelling all the way back over there. My top six is. 1. Bulls 2. Chiefs 3. Brumbies 4. Crusaders 5. Reds 6. Cheetahs Brumbies will beat the Cheetahs Crusaders will beat Reds Then it will be Chiefs V Brumbies at home. Bulls V Crusaders at home. It's anyone's game really, these have been the top four teams. But home ground advantage counts for a lot
Emuarse
Guest
Hey Rob from BC, Don't count your chickens before they hatch. it just might be the Reds host the Crusaders. And the Cheetahs on their day can toss any team.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Compared to who are SA lagging LB. Top 2 or three forever playing their own game. Have some respect. You rub shoulders with the wrong supporters. Stop reading Keo. Celebrate the differences. Appreciate for example the differences in culture in SA over the last 20 years. Accept that change is exciting. BTW the Aussies play the worst, everyone knows that. And your poo stinks too! Lighten up.
Yeah me too, but every time I write an article ignoring the bye points it causes confusion and upsets a few, so I thought I will humour everyone by writing this one including the bye points, and still it causes confusion.
borris
Guest
I hate the bye points!!!! I keep a log of my own without bye points so I know what really is going on
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
"Cheetahs – 46 – Blues (H) – 47 or 50" Cheetahs will finish on a minimum of 50 points......they still have a bye in hand. So Waratahs are definitely out.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Harry, unless the Reds beat the 'Tahs by more than 100 points, the Brumbies already have top spot in the Australian conference sewn up, even if they do lose to the Force.
Lord Bledisloe, I am going to counter you with the following results over the three years that the Super XV has been running. Top 6 teams by win percentage. Reds 72.3% Stormers 71.7% Crusaders 68.5% Bulls 67.4% Chiefs 64.1% Sharks 59.8% Top 6 teams by cross conference wins. Reds 17 Crusaders 17 Chiefs 17 Stormers 16 Bulls 16 Sharks 13 Cheetahs 13 That my friend shows that in the past three years, SA has definitely not been playing the worst rugby n the Super XV. ;)
Lord Bledisloe
Guest
The Bulls are playing well and are realisticly the only contenders for a super title from SA this year. SA rugby supporters think their own poo doesnt stink when in fact it does stink, a hell of a lot actually. Your rugby has been lagging since 2007 and you give the impression that the world owes you something. if SA want to branch off and do their own thing then Sa rugby would stink out the bathroom even more than it does at the mo my main man bitongbek
Harry it was just a poor showing by the Cheetahs, I am sure they will be up for it this coming weekend, but it seems the lay off did not do them any good.
Rassie, I am not happy about the significant loss of importance of the Currie Cup. To me the solution is to combine the Currie Cup into the Super XV. Have a closed conference pool setup which doubles up as the Currie Cup/ITM Cup/ Australia Cup and then have the top trams go through to play a super 6 or 9. As far as splitting the money, hopefully SARU will be more astute with the next negotations.
We're playing the worst rugby of all three countries? By what do you measure that?
Felix, maybe I should have said an upset performance by the Ceetahs, eh? ;)