Rugby weekend to savour

For all its faults, the Super 14 is set for a rousing finale, and much depends on this penultimate weekend of round-robin play.

The only games that don't count are the Reds v Crusaders game in Brisbane, the Crusaders having already secured enough points to host a semi-final, and probably the Bulls v the Brumbies, although given the nature of the competition this year, even that cannot be discounted.

However, it is so far down the list of necessary results that a Brumbies team in the semis is highly unlikely.

As the weekend progresses, it will be a case of ticking off those who have fallen out of the race, or left themselves with a big hurdle to climb in the last week.

First off are the Hurricanes. Sitting in third place on 36 points they face the ninth-placed Force who have 28 points.

Realistically the Hurricanes need a bonus point win to maintain their hopes of a home semi-final. Whether they get that may well be determined by…the weather.

Stormy conditions have been forecast for much of New Zealand on Friday and into Saturday. It could be a grunt fest at Westpac Stadium, and the Hurricanes can't even afford to think about a bonus point win because they still have to win over a highly-competitive, even if injury-plagued, Force side.

Then on Saturday evening, the seventh-placed Blues head to Dunedin to play the Highlanders in another contest that is a must-score five points for the Blues.

They too may find it a battle in the wet conditions. Given their penchant for free-flowing rugby, the Blues could struggle to keep the ball in hand.

But the two games that could have most effect on the nature of the semi-finals make-up will be in South African.

The Stormers and Waratahs play last this weekend, at 5.10am on Sunday morning NZ time.

The Waratahs are in second place and need a bonus point win this weekend and next to assure themselves of a home semi-final. Should the Hurricanes lose to the Force, then their task will be easier.

However, the Stormers are in fourth place only two points behind, and if they can win with a bonus point then they are in with a semi-final chance.

They have probably the best last round draw with an away game in Johannesburg against the last-placed Lions.

The Waratahs have to travel to Brisbane to meet the 11th placed Reds, but a side which ranks any contest with its New South Wales neighbours as a test of its manliness. There will be little margin for error in this game.

The Sharks face a sticky one in Bloemfontein as well against the Cheetahs. Winning here has been a tough one for the Sharks who are in sixth place and in need of a comprehensive five-point win to keep slim hopes alive.

And then there are the Chiefs, sitting in fifth place on 33 points, betwixt and between, needing to come out of a weekend of upsets, and a bonus point win of their own over the Lions to be in the hunt.

They face probably the most difficult task next week should they win, however, as they play the Sharks in Durban.