What a weekend we had and for good measure a major surprise! The Western Force’s stunning win in Perth ensured the seven-time champion Crusaders now have their work cut out just to stay in play-off race.
Article Courtesy of Rugby 365 editor Jan de Koning
However, as was the case last week, the front-runners still have it all in their own hands, even though some made life a little more unpleasant for themselves.
The Reds remain not only the most improved team this year, but a good bet for a home semifinal if you look at their run-in.
The defending champion Bulls are back on top of the table, but with games against the Sharks, Crusaders and Stormers they know they are in for a rough ride.
The Stormers, courtesy of the Force’s victory, moved up a place to second, but they have to beat the Crusaders, Sharks and Bulls in the coming weeks.
For both the South African teams it is three murderous weeks that await.
One defeat for the Crusaders in the next fortnight and they may well kiss their play-off hopes goodbye, but you never bet against anything in the Super 14 … certainly not this year.
The Reds certainly look to have the easiest of the run-ins by the top teams – the struggling Brumbies, the erratic Hurricanes and the lowly Highlanders. On current form you have to pencil in three wins for them and 12 (not counting possible bonus) points may be enough to see then finish top of the table for the first time since 1999.
Of the chasing pack only the Waratahs inspire any confidence – with games against the Highlanders, Chiefs and Hurricanes to come.
What price on two Aussie and two South African teams in the play-offs?
Here then is rugby365.com‘s Road to the play-offs!
Bulls:
Current position: First (last week – second)
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: 10th
Current form (last six games): W W L W L W
Remaining fixtures:
1 May: v Sharks, home
7 May: v Crusaders, home
15 May: v Stormers, away
Stormers:
Current position: Second (last week – third)
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: 10th
Current form (last six games): W W L W W L
Remaining fixtures:
30 April: v Crusaders, home
8 May: v Sharks, away
15 May: v Bulls, home
Crusaders:
Current position: Third (last week – first)
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: 10th
Current form (last six games): W W D W W L
Remaining fixtures:
30 April: v Stormers, away
7 May: v Bulls, away
14 May: v Brumbies, home
Reds:
Current position: Fourth (last week – fourth)
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: 10th
Current form (last six games): W W L W W W
Remaining fixtures:
1 May: v Brumbies, away
7 May: v Hurricanes, away
15 May: v Highlanders, home
Waratahs:
Current position: Fifth (last week – fifth)
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: 10th
Current form (last six games): W W W W L W
Remaining fixtures:
30 April: v Highlanders, away
8 May: v Chiefs, away
14 May: v Hurricanes, home
Brumbies:
Current position: Sixth (last week – sixth)
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: 12th
Current form (last six games): W L W W L L
Remaining fixtures:
1 May: v Reds, home
8 May: v Highlanders, home
14 May: v Crusaders, away
Hurricanes:
Current position: Seventh (last week – eighth)
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: 12th
Current form (last six games): L L L D W W
Remaining fixtures:
1 May: v Chiefs, home
7 May: v Reds, home
14 May: v Waratahs, away
Blues:
Current position: Eighth (last week – seventh)
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: 13th
Current form (last six games): W L W L W L
Remaining fixtures:
1 May: v Cheetahs, away
8 May: v Lions, away
15 May: v Chiefs, home
Sharks:
Current position: Ninth (last week – ninth)
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: 13th
Current form (last six games): L W W W W W
Remaining fixtures:
1 May: v Bulls, away
8 May: v Stormers, home
14 May: v Western Force, home
Chiefs:
Current position: 10th (last week – 10th)
Best possible finish: Second
Worst possible finish: 13th
Current form (last six games): L L W L L D
Remaining fixtures:
1 May: v Hurricanes, away
8 May: v Waratahs, home
15 May: v Blues, away
Force:
Current position: 11th (last week – 12th)
Best possible finish: Sixth
Worst possible finish: 14th
Current form (last six games): L L W W L W
Remaining fixtures:
1 May: v Lions, away
8 May: v Cheetahs, away
14 May: v Sharks, away
Highlanders:
Current position: 12th (last week – 11th)
Best possible finish: Sixth
Worst possible finish: 14th
Current form (last six games): L L W L L L
Remaining fixtures:
30 April: v Waratahs, home
8 May: v Brumbies, away
15 May: v Reds, away
Cheetahs:
Current position: 13th (last week – 13th)
Best possible finish: Eighth
Worst possible finish: 14th
Current form (last six games): L L L L L D
Remaining fixtures:
1 May: v Blues, home
8 May: v Western Force, home
15 May: v Lions, home
Lions:
Current position: 14th (last week – 14th)
Best possible finish: 11th
Worst possible finish: 14th
Current form (last six games): L L L L L L
Remaining fixtures:
1 May: v Western Force, home
8 May: v Blues, home
15 May: v Cheetahs, away
Article Courtesy of Rugby 365 editor Jan de Koning
Tweet
Go Stormers!!!!!!!!!!
Bulls have
1 May: v Sharks, home
7 May: v Crusaders, home
15 May: v Stormers, away
Stormers have
30 April: v Crusaders, home
8 May: v Sharks, away
15 May: v Bulls, home
TOUGH to decide which has the harder run in. 😆 🙄
Well if its one team that i would love to see the finals win if sharks don’t make it 😳 and that is the STORMERS i think they played hard to get where they are 😆
What price on two Aussie and two South African teams in the play-offs?
Actually a VERY possible scenario.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) : why won’t my new pic show me did press ctrl & F5 but nothing 😳
@Chaz (Comment 5) :
You’ve done something wrong.
It was showing on my side, gone now
@Chaz (Comment 5) :
Have just received a new request. and it has been approved.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : i deleleted and put it back on 😳
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : thanks but it won’t show 😕 do everything but nil 😕
@Chaz (Comment 9) :
Showing on my side again. Restart your PC and have a look see if it shows then.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 10) : ok give me sometime
@KSA Shark © (Comment 10) : nothing what do i do now 😥
I just don’t think the Reds are going to have it easy away to the Brumbies and Hurricanes….. both will fancy their chances, especially if they are still in the mix with the Top Sides beating each other.
…..the Highlanders at home
………well that’s another story for another day. 😳
…..Stormers v Crusaders is a huge match this weekend…..the loser is under huge pressure to make the Semi’s 😯
….would need to win their remaining two matches… and the Bulls is one of the opponents. 😯
Tahs……another that is in for a bumby road against under achieving NZ sides. 😥
My Top 4 Now….
1.Bulls
2. Crusaders
3. Reds
4. Blues
@Chaz (Comment 12) :
No idea. we can all see it. i have checked from 2 different PCs. so it is a problem with your PC somehow. 😳 it has been loaded on the site.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 14) :
Those three teams are going to hurt each other’s chances majorly.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 16) :
Will be decided after this weekend i think.
Stormers to win this weekend. all but knocking Crusaders out.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : I’ll go the other way around 😎
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 16) : Blues? 😯 Not going to happen I’m afraid. 😈
Stormers, Bulls, Reds, A.N. Other
In no specific Order could well be Crusaders but i think they will come away woth zero wins in SA
HA I have moved up from 9th to 7th on the JustRugby Fantasy league 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) :
My Captain Steyn scored 99 points for me. 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 22) : I agrees.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 20) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) :
You are 30th. 391 points behind. But the Semnis and Finals are still to come and i only have one trade left to put finalists in my squad.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) : My FL looks well and truely over
….i banked on the Brumbies and Saders making the semis
….and thats not going to happen ….so game over for me 😳
……to be honest have never really looked like it.
…..what’s the next comp …i can enter….i need a CUP.
….do you do a similar Tri Nations Comp….or something else
@McLovin (Comment 21) : @McLovin (Comment 25) : I still think that the final semi finalist may sneak in with 40 points
….. and for me that keeps the Blues chances alive.
….but to be honest ….who knows 😎
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 27) :
We run a LMS and FL for the Currie Cup.
We also run the Superbru competitions, there will be Tri-Nations and Currie Cup pools
I need to check with Rob whther he will be giving away Trophies for the NON Rugby Superbru Comps. There is F1 at the moment and the Cricket World Cup as well
@KSA Shark © (Comment 29) : Where do i find a Super Bru Comp. ❓
Cricket sounds interesting
…i don’t think Rob will be that generous….this is a rugby site.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 30) : When the cricket is on I take over and Sharksworld becomes Proteasworld. Rob hates it. 😈 Blackcaps are my second favourite team. McCullum FTW. 😎
PS Thanks a lot for nothing with the Canes this weekend. 🙄
Okay here is my log and the reasoning
1 Reds 34 now, ending on 48 (6 behind on PD now but will rack up the scores in the closing games to be above the Bulls on PD)
Brumbies, away (5)
Hurricanes, away (4)
Highlanders, home (5)
2 Bulls 39 now ending on 48
Sharks, home (4)
Crusaders, home (4)
Stormers, away (1)
3 Stormers 34 now, ending on 46
Crusaders, home (4)
Sharks, away (4) ?????????
Bulls, home (4)
4 Waratahs 33 now, ending on 43
Highlanders, away (5)
Chiefs, away (1)
Hurricanes, home (4)
FYI. Crusaders 34 now, ending on 41
Stormers, away (1)
Bulls, away (1)
Brumbies, home (5)
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 30) :
http://www.superbru.com
We have a pool going for the T20 World Cup. Get on over and join.
Poolname : Sharksworld
Poolcode : dripgird
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 28) : Very difficult to predict. My crystal ball reckons 40 points will get you 6th place.
But I have been wrong before. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 10) : well sorry but still not working must me pick another one 😕
@Chaz (Comment 35) :
The problem is not with the picture. Something on your side doesn’t want to show your pic.
i believe everyone else can see your pic.
HH, Mc, can you guys see Chaz’s new pic?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : Lips?
@McLovin (Comment 34) :
I agree, 40 will be the guys just behind the Saders, and there will be a few of them.
@klempie (Comment 37) :
Yip, that is correct thanks.
@Chaz (Comment 35) :
are you pressing Ctrl and F5 at the SAME time? 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : Yip.
@McLovin (Comment 41) :
Thanks
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : Thanks did press the broken page at the top of the adress thing and at the sametime pressed the ctrl and f5 and gee those lips do look great maybe the others didn’t press them altogther
eeeaaaahhhh
@KSA Shark © (Comment 40) : maybe we should tell puma to do the same if it works for me then it should work for him 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 33) : would love to join this one but me still learning the Rugby rules if me can get them on the internet just to much for me brain 😳
@Chaz (Comment 43) :
No worries now it is all sorted. 😎
I’m going to get some stick for this. 🙁
My SB picks for the coming weekend.
Game 71: Highlanders v Waratahs: Waratahs by 10
Game 72: Stormers v Crusaders: Stormers by 5
Game 73: Hurricanes v Chiefs: Chiefs by 6
Game 74: Brumbies v Reds: Reds by 13
Game 75: Cheetahs v Blues: Blues by 21
Game 76: Lions v Force: Lions by 10
Game 77: Bulls v Sharks: Bulls by 6
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 28) : who do you have still to pick in the last 3 rounds 😳
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) : thats SB what about the LMS me and Rob got the same left and me just don’t know 😕 😉
@Chaz (Comment 49) :
I’m dead on LMS. 🙁
Who do you have left?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 50) : Force, snoils & Cheetahs 😳
@Chaz (Comment 51) :
Ouch!!!!!!!!! I can’t help you there. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 52) : 😳 i know but sometime me got to go and do it for meself so my gut feeling says go for home teams because me lost me lifeline on the round one with the sharks game and been lucking in the long run but sometime soon me will join you reniek and the rest 😳 and not even with a wheel or bit of a cup 😥 😕
@KSA Shark © (Comment 52) : are you still around me friend ❓
I still have my lifeline on LMS. Kan julle dit glo?? 😈
@Chaz (Comment 54) :
YIP just busy wrapping up for bed.
@wpw (Comment 55) :
Skaars!!!!!!!!! 😛
@wpw (Comment 55) : oh my so you are in to win before HH 😆
@Chaz (Comment 58) :
Hydras is going to win before both of them 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 56) : need to ask but don’t want to be a bit 😈 person i need to know what happened to my pen and paper when i change my pic the second time it was gone and nobody seem to know where 😳
Can you help please 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 59) : now who is he 😳
Hey KSA Shark
Well done to the Sharks!! Will u be supporting the Stormers when we play you guys?? 😀
@wpw (Comment 62) : now thats one thing i would lv to know what team are you surpporting 1st i thought it was the Stormers then me heard it was the Sharks now please tell me what team are you talking about 😕
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) : well me too and gee for the first time ahead of war1 for me thats a good
Well looks like evrybody has gone to bed 😥
its ok 😉
me must too 🙂
and good night everyone
till 2 morrow
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 30) : that’s a safe bet 🙂
Go Sharks!
GO SHARKS !!!
@Chaz (Comment 63) :
I support the Stormers!!! 😉
2nd Team = Sharks
I’m a bit worried that you didnt know who I supported!! 😯
@wpw (Comment 69) : Ek laaiks dai 2nd team 😈
😈
So Sharks should not just aim at sneaking into the play-offs but for the home semi & final 😆
amazing how still wide open the competition is.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 32) :
1 Reds 34 now, ending on 48 (6 behind on PD now but will rack up the scores in the closing games to be above the Bulls on PD)
Brumbies, away (5) HH (0)
Hurricanes, away (4) HH (0)
Highlanders, home (5) HH (5)
HH’s Reds Total Points 39
2 Bulls 39 now ending on 48
Sharks, home (4) HH (4)
Crusaders, home (4) HH (4)
Stormers, away (1) HH (4)
HH’s Bulls Toatal Points 51
3 Stormers 34 now, ending on 46
Crusaders, home (4) HH (0)
Sharks, away (4) ????????? HH (1)
Bulls, home (4) HH (0)
HH’s Stormers Toatal Points 35
4 Waratahs 33 now, ending on 43
Highlanders, away (5) HH (1)
Chiefs, away (1) HH (4)
Hurricanes, home (4) HH (4)
HH’s Tah’s Total Points 42
FYI. Crusaders 34 now, ending on 41
Stormers, away (1) HH (4)
Bulls, away (1) HH (0)
Brumbies, home (5) (4)
HH’s Crusaders Total Points 42
HH Final Standing’s
Bulls 51
Saders 42
Tahs 42
Blues 40
Reds 39
Canes 36
Brumbies 36
Stormers 35
@wpw (Comment 69) : well that what i thought but somehow got muddle up 😳
@Charlie (Comment 70) : me too charlie the best for us don’t you think