News

Three spots still up for grabs in S14

Tuesday 13th May 2008

When it rains it pours: The Waratahs can still lose out on a place in the last four

After thirteen weeks of Super 14 action, the all-conquering Crusaders have secured top spot with a week to spare - but beneath them things are not so certain.

The stage is set for a thrilling final round with no less than six teams - the Hurricanes (40), Waratahs (39), Stormers (37), Sharks (37), Blues (36) and Chiefs (34) - all vying for three positions.

Such is the congestion at the top of the ladder with one round to go, that while one semi-final will be played in Christchurch, the other will be in either Wellington, Sydney, Cape Town, Durban or Auckland.

The Hurricanes can all but secure second place and a home semi with a win over the Blues - courtesy of their superior points differential over the Waratahs - while a loss puts them in jeopardy of tumbling out of the top four completely.

The Blues, however, need an unlikely bonus point triumph as well as a bit of luck in order to extend David Nucifora's tenure in Auckland for at least another week.

A Waratahs win over the Reds would guarantee them a finals spot, and they would then rely on either bonus points or the Hurricanes faltering at Eden Park to ensure a home semi at the Sydney Football Stadium on May 24.

Australia's only remaining candidate for a tilt at the title surrendered second spot after their hard-fought 13-13 draw in Round Thirteen (spooky?) with the Stormers in Cape Town.

The Waratahs now head to Suncorp Stadium needing victory over an in-form Reds outfit who would love nothing more than to end their arch rival's campaign in bitter disappointment.

On paper, the Stormers face the easiest final round assignment against the cellar-dwelling Lions, but fresh from their upset win over the Chiefs the men from Johannesburg could yet have a big say in the final wash-up.

The Sharks face a tough task against the unpredictable Chiefs but will have the advantage of knowing what they need to do in order to qualify.

If the Hurricanes and Waratahs both lose the equation is simple - win and the Sharks live to fight another day.

But if the Hurricanes and Waratahs win - and the Stormers gain a bonus point victory - the Sharks will need maximum points against the Chiefs in order to surpass the Stormers, who head into the final round with a marginally superior (nine points) for-and-against ratio.

Put simply the Chiefs' hopes hang by a thread, with a win by either the Stormers or Blues enough to end their semi-final dreams before they even take the field in Durban.

All to play for in Round Fourteen:

Crusaders:
Current position: 1st
Best possible finish: 1st
Worst possible finish: 1st
Highest possible points: 57

Hurricanes:
Current position: 2nd
Best possible finish: 2nd
Worst possible finish: 6th
Highest possible points: 45

Waratahs:
Current position: 3rd
Best possible finish: 2nd
Worst possible finish: 6th
Highest possible points: 44

Stormers:
Current position: 4th
Best possible finish: 2nd
Worst possible finish: 7th
Highest possible points: 42

Sharks:
Current position: 5th
Best possible finish: 2nd
Worst possible finish: 7th
Highest possible points: 47

Blues:
Current position: 6th
Best possible finish: 2nd
Worst possible finish: 7th
Highest possible points: 41

Chiefs:
Current position: 7th
Best possible finish: 3rd
Worst possible finish: 7th
Highest possible points: 39

Brumbies:
Current position: 8th
Best possible finish: 7th
Worst possible finish: 10th
Highest possible points: 33

Western Force:
Current position: 9th
Best possible finish: 7th
Worst possible finish: 10th
Highest possible points: 33

Bulls:
Current position: 10th
Best possible finish: 8th
Worst possible finish: 10th
Highest possible points: 28

Reds:
Current position: 11th
Best possible finish: 11th
Worst possible finish: 14th
Highest possible points: 22

Highlanders:
Current position: 12th
Best possible finish: 11th
Worst possible finish: 14th
Highest possible points: 20

Cheetahs:
Current position: 13th
Best possible finish: 11th
Worst possible finish: 14th
Highest possible points: 18

Lions:
Current position: 14th
Best possible finish: 11th
Worst possible finish: 14th
Highest possible points: 17