Super Rugby Table Rankings

Overall Super Rugby LogTeamPos.PWLDPFPAPDBP TBP -7BPTtlCrusaders (NZC1)114140052227225070763Lions (AF2)214131056325830590961Stormers (AF1)313850397388920234Brumbies (AC1)4136702902355536933Hurricanes (WC)5141130565250315911054Chiefs (WC)614112140528212361753Highlanders (WC)7141040448291157426 46 Sharks (WC)8149413822968613442Blues9147614043436143737Jaguares1013580332330214525Southern Kings1113580340419-7912323Waratahs1213490358442-8412319Bulls1313490276387-11103319Force1413490242371-12901117Reds15133100288424-13614517Cheetahs16143110374531-15714517Rebels17131111185506-3210228Sunwolves18131120252598-3460337

Wow, look at the impact of the conference system, e.g. stormers 8 and 5 and they are third; brumbies 6 and 7 and they are 4th. Other teams such as the mighty Chiefs are 11 and 2 and they are 6th.

From what I can see (from the total mess format of SuperRugby), the Lions and the Crusaders only have one game left each.
The Lions and Crusaders are assured of 1 and 2 spots- regardless what happens in the last match. 

Crusaders play the Hurricanes (away). The Lions play the Sharks (away). 
If the Crusaders lose, then the Lions just need to win to finish first in the overall standings- and get home ground for the rest of tournament. 
I think the Lions must start as strong favourites against the Sharks. 
The Crusaders should be favourites against the Hurricanes- but perhaps only marginal. Crusaders have to play the 2nd or 3rd best team in the tournament away- combined with being a local derby, as well as national selections up for grabs.

 Remember last year when the Lions rested some of their starters and lost. That meant they lost home field advantage also. I doubt they will do that again.

True JW, they will be playing the 1st choice players like Jantjies against the Sharks. The Sharks looked somewhat brainless of late, so I don't think they will put off much of a threat. Sharks will be relying on the evener of local derbies. 

The Lions made lots of early subs last weekend, surely a planned move after halftime.

 
It's an absurd format and needs to be changed pronto.

 Yep, this whole format has been a farce. How can the Jaguars and Wolves even contemplate that they are in the same competition. I do think that they have been handed a hard draw in having to travel 4 X more than any other team. 
Then you have the whole play-offs structure which is a complete joke.
Australia should definitely not have a team in the play-offs. It has made them lazy and they know as long as they are top of their league they can get automatic qualification. 
The NZ teams are looking really good because of poor Aussie teams that they play. 
Same can be said of the Lions, their points tally looks amazing, but they did the same last year against New Zealand position. So it is not a complete fluke that they are 2nd. 
I wished they would seed the teams and split them into 2 conferences and go back to strength vs strength. Put meaning in all games and introduce promotion and relegation. 
We know that this whole expansion is about broadcast rights, but the Japs are simply not putting their best players out. 
Guarantee 3 teams between SA, NZ and Aus but the rest open to promotion and relegation. 
Reduce it back to 12 team league, with Semi and Finals. All wrapped up by the time the June tours arrive.