There are still 7 teams in the running for the semi finals in this year’s Super 14 competition. After this past weekend’s action, the Vodacom Bulls have reclaimed top spot in the log, defending champions the Crusaders and the Brumbies have strengthened their playoff ambitions, the Sharks and Waratahs’ chances are “touch-and-go”, while the Western Force and the Blues have both fallen out of contention.

The Bulls earned a valuable bonus point four scoring four tries in their hard-fought 29-20 win over a brave Vodacom Cheetahs team at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday to move past the Chiefs and the Hurricanes. The decisive try was scored by Springbok wing Bryan Habana, who intercepted a long pass by Meyer Bosman as the Cheetahs tried to play attacking rugby inside their own 22 metre area in the dying minutes of the match. As a result, the Bulls now have a one point lead on the Vodacom Super 14 log and in an interesting twist in the tale, must defeat the Sharks in Durban next week if they are to host one of the semi-finals. The Bulls’ last visit to the Absa Stadium was for the 2007 final which they ultimately won 20-19 after a dramatic last-minute try by Habana.

The Sharks chances of making the last four took a serious knock when they went down 12-16 to the Waratahs at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Saturday. The defeat, in which they were able to gain a bonus point, leaves them in sixth place and needing five points against the Bulls to stand a chance of making the playoffs. Despite the win, the Waratahs remain in seventh place and will have to get five points from their final match against the Auto & General Lions in Johannesburg next week to retain a slender hope in the playoff race.

Earlier on Saturday, the Chiefs boosted their chances of hosting a semi-final when they beat the Hurricanes 16-8 in a pulsating clash in Hamilton. The Chiefs are now in second place, two points ahead of the Hurricanes. They will still need to beat the Brumbies in their final match to be certain of a playoff spot as the Hurricanes’ chances of getting five points in their final match against the Reds are also very good.
A Brumbies victory though over the Chiefs could see the Australian team also qualify for the final-four. They kept themselves in the hunt with a 37-15 win over the Blues on Saturday and are now in fifth place. The defeat eliminated the Blues, who are six points adrift of the fourth-placed Crusaders.

The defending champions are also still in contention after their 32-12 win over the Reds on Friday. The Crusaders are currently in fourth place, five points off the leaders and must beat the Blues in Auckland next week to stand a chance of qualifying.

While at Newlands, the Vodacom Stormers put paid to the Western Force’s hopes of making the semi-finals with a tense 25-24 win on Saturday. The Force fought bravely but the Cape side held out for the win when fullback Joe Pietersen crossed the try line for his second try nine minutes from time to give the Stormers an eight-point cushion. Matt Giteau though scored a consolation try with four minutes to play.

The Lions also beat the Highlanders 27-22 in their penultimate match at Coca-Cola Park on Friday. They trailed 5-22 with 30 minutes to play but created three spectacular tries to seal a great comeback.

Source: sarugby.com

Pic: sarugby.co.za

Tags: super 14 results, super 14 roundup