 |
|
Blues players celebrate after win against Hurricanes
|
May 16, 2008, 14:15
South Africa's Super 14 semifinal hopes were significantly boosted today when the Hurricanes were upstaged by the Blues in the first of this weekend's final round of Super 14 league matches.
The Hurricanes' 19-17 defeat in today's clash means that both the Stormers and the Sharks have a realistic chance of securing a semifinal place, even though the Hurricanes picked up a bonus point for losing by less than seven points. The victory propels the Blues into third slot on the latest log, but like the Hurricanes, they will have to wait until the final match (Sharks versus Chiefs) of the weekend to know their fate.
After this New Zealand derby today the leading log positions are as follows: 1 Crusaders (52 points), 2 Hurricanes (41), 3 Blues (40), 4 Waratahs (39), 5 Stormers (37), 6 Sharks (37), 7 Chiefs (34). The situation could have been slightly different if the Blues had had better luck against the Hurricanes. Three times in the second half the NZ referee Bryce Lawrence had to call on the television match official to make calls on Blues tries, and each time the tries were disallowed.
Bonus point
Had at least two of the three tries been awarded the Blues would have bagged a bonus point, and the Hurricanes would not have picked the bonus point, for losing by seven or less points. If the Stormers and the Sharks record wins tomorrow, with or without a bonus point, they could rely on a superior points difference to edge out both the Hurricanes and the Blues in the play-off zone. However, if both Stormers and Sharks collect bonus points wins they will finish in the top four.
Today's other clash, an all-Australian affair between the Western Force and the Brumbies in Perth, will not have a bearing on the jostle for semifinals places. However, the next match of great significance to SA Super 14 hopes will be tomorrow's Reds versus Waratahs fixture in Brisbane. The South African sides will be wishing for a Reds victory and if that materialises the scramble for semifinals places will be blown wide open.
At best, it could raise realistic hopes of one SA team securing a home semifinal, or even a Stormers-Sharks semifinal in South Africa. Should the Waratahs win, the SA sides could be challenging for the remaining two semifinal berths but whatever the outcome the two local sides will at least have the benefit of a clearer picture by the time the match ends tomorrow. If the Waratahs lose, they will be joining the list of teams alongside the Blues and Hurricanes who no longer have a say in their 2008 Super 14 destiny. They will be glued to their TV sets for the later Stormers and Sharks fixtures, making for a most intriguing end to the final round of league. - Sapa
|
|
