Here we are then, at the final regular round of the 2015 Super Rugby season. It’s been the proverbial roller-coaster of a campaign, but how will it end? For seven teams this is where they get off the ride – for six others it continues for another few nail-biting weeks.
Blues vs Highlanders
The Blues have packed half of their team off to the U20 World Championships, and several of their more experience campaigners are injured. They were demolished by the Crusaders last weekend and the Hurricanes before that as a result, and it would be quite a shock if they didn’t receive more of the same treatment in their final outing this season. The Landers’ decision to rest several key players against the Canes suggests they were always targeting this game, and five points could see them leapfrog the Chiefs and get a crucial home play-off.
The Highlanders will welcome back their All Blacks and should hand the Blues one last pummelling to put an end to their miserable season. Highlanders by 25.
Rebels vs Force
It’s been a case of contrasting stories for these two Australian franchises this season – the Rebels have had their most successful campaign since their inception into Super Rugby, while the Force have categorically failed to build on what was a breakthrough season in 2014. Instead, they have managed fewer wins than any other side in the tournament this year.
The Rebels, bolstered by their smash and grab win over the Bulls last weekend, should finish the season on a high. Rebels by 10.
Brumbies vs Crusaders
For the first time since 2002, the Crusaders will not part of the Super Rugby end-of-season jamboree. They have been severely hampered by a baffling inconsistency – they have been either sublime or shocking, but rarely anything in between. The Brumbies will be hoping for the latter incarnation of the visitors to show up – a win, and a good one, could be enough to bag them a home play-off and even direct passage to the semi-finals.
Although they have a poor record against the men from Christchurch (just two wins in their last eight) the fact that this game has some actual relevance for the hosts should see them through. Brumbies by 6.
Chiefs vs Hurricanes
Without seeing teamsheets this is quite a difficult game to predict. The Hurricanes may take the opportunity to rest some of the guys that have been so consistently excellent this season, or they may play as strong a team as they can in the hope of making the Chiefs’ play-off passage as treacherous as possible. I suspect the latter is more likely, in which case this will be a belter of a game. The Chiefs need a win and, in all likelihood, five points; the Hurricanes have been the season’s great entertainers. It should be another classic Kiwi derby.
The Hurricanes have top spot sewn up and have a poor record in Waikato (no wins there since 2007). The Chiefs need this more and that should get them to victory. Chiefs by 5.
Waratahs vs Reds
It’s been another terrible season for the Reds, although there have been seeds of resurgence recently with the return of Quade Cooper, reinvigorating Will Genia in the process. The Waratahs will know what they need to do to top the Aussie conference by the time this game comes round, and expect them to play a similarly expansive game that saw them rip the Cheetahs to shreds last weekend, against what could well be a similarly accommodating Queensland defence.
This is a fierce rivalry but there has only been one side in it in recent years – the last three margins of victory for the Tahs read 18, 31 and 27. Expect something similar here. Waratahs by 25.
Bulls vs Cheetahs
There’s nothing riding on this game other than pride and, of course, the chance to impress the international selectors one last time before the biggest international season for some time gets underway. Given the disappointing campaigns both these sides have had, the latter is likely to inspire the players much more then the former.
The Cheetahs have a terrible record against the Bulls and have never won at Loftus Versfeld in the Super Rugby era. Bulls by 15.
Sharks vs Stormers
The Stormers will be ruing a missed chance to win against the Lions last weekend which has left them unlikely to break into the top two and thus avoid a play-off game. They are guaranteed conference winners, so will be at home for that play-off, but barring a miracle happening and both the Brumbies and Waratahs losing, they will be on the road for any semi-final, should they get that far.
The rivalry between these two has been a close-fought one in recent years, but with the Sharks able to welcome back several of their bigger names into the forwards and with the emotion surrounding the occasion given that several of them are leaving the club after this, they could take a surprise win here. Sharks by 3.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43