Super Rugby Playoff's Confirmed: Planet Rugby

The Crusaders home semi-final has been confirmed following the Sharks' failure to score four tries and win by 35 points against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

By finishing the season as the competition's two highest-ranked conference winners, the Waratahs (58 points, 12 wins) and the Crusaders (51 points, 11 wins) have earned the week off and progress straight to the Super Rugby Semi Finals.

The Sharks therefore will host New Zealand franchise the Highlanders next weekend in Durban in the battle between 3rd and 6th place, while the other playoff fixture will see the Brumbies host the 2012 and 2013 champions the Chiefs in Canberra.

Victory in the final round against the Force and Blues respectively has put the two familiar combatants on a post-season collision course in the Australian capital.

Although comprehensively winning the South African Conference, the Sharks finished as the third-ranked conference winner and are subsequently thrust into a home qualifier against the sixth-ranked Highlanders, who go into the Finals Series on the back of successive defeats to the Waratahs and Crusaders; Super Rugby's two Semi-Finalists.

Interestingly, these match-ups also occurred on the same day of the 2014 regular season with Brumbies defeating the Chiefs 41-23 and the Highlanders upsetting the Sharks 34-18 on the road in Round 11.

Jake White's Sharks may be left to regret last week's defeat to the Cheetahs away in Bloemfontein, who were thrashed by the Lions 60-25 on Saturday.

Corey Flynn's bonus point try for the Crusaders earlier in the day in the end was the difference in deciding the battle between themselves and the Sharks for that second spot, while the Waratahs - who had already secured first place - made it seven wins in a row with their heavy win over the Reds.

Super Rugby Qualifiers, Saturday July 19

Brumbies v Chiefs
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kickoff: 19:40 (local, 7:40 GMT)

Sharks v Highlanders
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kickoff: 17:05 (local, 15:40 GMT)

 

ETA: Here is how the final standing's for the regular season finished

 

Super Rugby TablePosTeamPPts1Waratahs15532Crusaders15463Sharks15464Brumbies16455Chiefs16446Highlanders15427Hurricanes16418Western Force16409Blues163710Bulls153311Stormers153212Reds152813Lions152614Cheetahs152415Melbourne Rebels1521

Australian Conference

Super Rugby TablePosTeamPPts1Waratahs15532Brumbies15403Western Force15404Reds15285Melbourne Rebels1521

New Zealand Conference

Super Rugby TablePosTeamPPts1Crusaders15462Chiefs16443Highlanders15424Hurricanes15415Blues1637

South African Conference

Super Rugby TablePosTeamPPts1Sharks15462Bulls15333Stormers15324Lions15265Cheetahs1524

 Crusaders are the best chance for NZ, Chiefs have looked to inconsistent over the last few stages. Crusaders haven't convinced me they can take out another title either but can grind out a win. Highlanders, just amazed they made it this far and will be lucky to beat the Sharks even though they already have, Sharks wont let it happen again although they haven't looked the same since the international break in June.
Waratahs are above the rest this Wallaby riddled side have all the momentum and confidence to clean up..... But this is knock out rugby and can go down to any of the top teams if they have a good day.
Chiefs don't look as solid as last year with weakness in their mid-field and their back-line attack just doesn't seem as potent. Brumbies are starting to sharpen up again at the right time. But anything could happen, just cross ya fingers.

Seems strange that the Chiefs made it in with indifferent performances & draws along the way but here they are in the finals. Go Chiefs (maybe SBW can take a couple of weekends off from League & help out the Chiefs, lol).