Jack Goodhue of the Crusaders makes a break. Photo / Getty

Nigel Yalden: Run to the Super Rugby Playoffs

Opinion

Author: Nigel Yalden,
Publish Date: Mon, 22 May 2017, 2:56PM

Four rounds left in Super Rugby and four of the five New Zealand franchises will make the playoffs for a second successive year under the controversial conference format.

Radio Sport Rugby Editor Nigel Yalden has been gazing into his crystal ball to see how the final month of the regular season will play out for the kiwi teams.

CRUSADERS - Played 12 Won 12 Lost 0 – 54 points

Maximum Possible Points - 69

Remaining Matches:

Saturday 27 May vs. Rebels @ AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday 3 June vs. Highlanders @ AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday 15 July vs. Hurricanes @ Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Prediction

The Crusaders will roll through their supposed bogey team with a bonus point win over the Rebels this weekend before defending the castle with a tight win over their Southern neighbours a week later. After the international window, Razor’s men will suffer their only loss of the regular season, earning one competition point as the Hurricanes get them in the return leg of their two-game set this season

Finishing Points – 64

Likely Qualifying Final Opponent: Highlanders in Christchurch

NB - The Lions will score bonus points wins over Kings and Sunwolves before beating Sharks in Durban to finish with 65 points, thus gaining home field advantage through the playoffs … sorry.

HURRICANES - Played 11 Won 9 Lost 2 – 43 points

Maximum Possible Points - 63

Remaining Matches:

Saturday 27 May vs. Bulls @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday 3 June vs. Force @ nib Stadium, Perth
Friday 9 June vs. Chiefs @ Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Saturday 15 July vs. Crusaders @ Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Prediction

The defending champions will return from their road trip ten points better off than when they left before they exact revenge for a round 3 loss in Hamilton by thumping the Chiefs for a third consecutive bonus point win in a row then get the square up win in their two game series with the Crusaders to finish round robin play

Finishing Points – 62

Likely Qualifying Final Opponent: Brumbies in Canberra

CHIEFS - Played 11 Won 9 Lost 2 – 43 points

Maximum Possible Points - 63

Remaining Matches:

Friday 26 May vs. Blues @ Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday 3 June vs. Waratahs @ FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Friday 9 June vs. Chiefs @ Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Saturday 15 July vs. Brumbies @ FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

Prediction

The Chiefs will go win, loss, win, loss to finish the regular season. They will nab a bonus point in a loss to the desperate Blues this Friday night, before unloading on the Waratahs in Hamilton a fortnight later. They’ll cop it like a chook in Wellington before the break, then beat the Brumbies in the Tron and continue Dave Rennie’s impressive streak of making the playoffs in every year during his coaching tenure at Ruakura.

Finishing Points – 54

Likely Qualifying Final Opponent: Stormers in Cape Town

HIGHLANDERS - Played 12 Won 9 Lost 3 – 41 points

Maximum Possible Points - 56

Remaining Matches:

Saturday 27 May vs. Waratahs @ Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Saturday 3 June vs. Crusaders @ AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Friday 14 July vs. Reds @ Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Prediction

After easily accounting for the Waratahs in Dunedin, the Highlanders will head up State Highway 1 for a rare afternoon game against the Crusaders, in which both sides will be superb but with the home side getting the chocolates; the poor old Reds will be destroyed after the break.

Finishing Points - 52

Likely Qualifying Final Opponent: Crusaders in Christchurch

BLUES - Played 12 Won 6 Lost 6 – 31 points

Maximum Possible Points - 46

Remaining Matches: