2013 Super XV decided this weekend ?

Whoever takes out this weekends clash of the titans between the Chiefs and Crusaders will undoubtedly gain the psychological advantage and leverage that may allow them to carry on and take out the comp .

The Chiefs will still be the top team on points regardless but playing the Crusaders will be the ultimate litmus test of how good they really are.

Some great individual matchups also with players vying for AB selection will look to lift their game. 

Will Cruden outshine Carter?

  Kerr Barlow and Ellis also needing big games to impress Hansen.

Friday night football - don't ya just love it.

Chiefs are not real contenders this year in my book. After the loss to the Waratahs, they let the Sharks back into the game, barely beat the Rebels and Force and struggled against the Hurricanes.

I expect the Crusaders to handle them much like they did the Blues.

Bulls will come out with #1 overall seed and host the Crusaders at Loftus. Epic final.

48pts chiefs - crusaders, bye, hurricanes, crusaders, blues
46pts bulls - sharks, cheetahs, kings, sharks, stormers
46pts brumbies - blues, hurricanes, rebels, force
44pts reds - stormers, rebels,bye, waratahs
42pts crusaders - chiefs, waratahs, highlanders chiefs, hurricanes

here are IMO the 5 teams with the most realistic chance of finishing on top of the overall conference.

the psychological edge that steiny speaks of between the crusaders would prob be better defined in their second mtach up in round 19.
but u cant forget the crusaders/chiefs match last year in round17 where the crusaders beat the chiefs only to lose to them in the semis later on.
chiefs just arent the same team this year, injuries to key players throughout their season and losing the likes of SBW, trymalolo and kane thomoson has had a signifcant impact.
then u look at the crusaders and its like the exact oppoisite, their key players are all returning, thier forward pack is starting to live up to its rep as one of the best in the comp, all highlighted in their last two games where they made the blues and brumbies look so ordinary and those teams are in good form and both have been in the top 6 for most of the season.
i get the feeling the crusaders will roll the cheifs this week and all their oppoistions from here till the end to finish on top.

bulls have hit some primo form too, but with 4 of their 5 matches against the cheetahs, stormers and the sharks twice, i cant shake the feeling they will drop one of those games, mainly one of the shark battles which will see the crusaders surpass them on points.
should the bulls go win the rest of their matches, then the smart money says they will top the comp.

Good point regarding the schedule. Don't forget McCaw is probably also coming back  - I can't see him staying away. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out. Sharks took another blow with the news JP is out. Unless Bulls have an off game I think they will handle them. Cheetahs may give them a good run.

Think youve been drinking too much of your piss tasting beer kiwi...hahaahah

dreaming if you think comp decided by 2 kiwi teams - theyve both been owned by aussie teams this year and only scraped through on the back of cheating refs a number of time - cruds v brumies exception.

Cheetahs for me a the darkhorse and all round look like a good tough team won the hard games and obviously have good culture - bulls boring game would win them against most @ loftus so home final really the telling point here.

Also with Lions games Aussie conference could be tipped on its head... liklihood of injuries and other offshoots will change this - watch out for the Tahs too - if they can win all their remaining games and brumbies conitnue their spiral they can be a team to watch too.

Kiwi team have to be cruds as all others have shown that they dont like to tackle.... funny that QC doesnt like to tackle either much....!!!!! hahahahaah kiwis......