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Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Blues on the edge as Super Rugby playoff race goes down to the wire
SYDNEY, May 29 (Reuters) - The most competitive Super Rugby season for many years goes down to the wire this weekend when three teams, including the defending champion Auckland Blues, battle it out for the last remaining playoff spot. The final order of the top three in the standings will only be decided on Friday night when the table-topping Waikato Chiefs visit the Otago Highlanders and the Canterbury Crusaders and ACT Brumbies, who are second and third, clash in Canberra. The top two are guaranteed home advantage in the first two weeks of the knockouts and table positions carry extra importance this year with the highest-ranked losers in the first playoff round going through to the semi-finals. The Brumbies host the 12-times champion Crusaders knowing that victory would make them the first Australian team to finish in the top two since 2015 and could still secure them top spot if the Chiefs slip up against the bottom-ranked Highlanders. "We know that if we can finish top two ... it would put you in a better position to get to the final," said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham, who has overseen semi-final exits on the road in the last two seasons. "The Crusaders are very dangerous with their scrum and their maul. They're kind of what you'd expect to see from teams at top of the competition, good all round." Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio returns from injury to run the Brumbies backline but crucially they will be without their totemic tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa because of a calf injury. The Wellington Hurricanes and Queensland Reds in fourth and fifth are already assured of post-season play, leaving Moana Pasifika and the New South Wales Waratahs vying with the Blues for the last place. The Blues have improved since their poor start to the season but they will need to beat the Waratahs in Saturday's early game and hope the Hurricanes down Moana later in the day to sneak into the playoffs. Moana, who are level on points with the Blues, were thrashed 85-7 by the Chiefs last week and face another in-form New Zealand team in the Hurricanes, who are unbeaten in their last five games. Ardie Savea, the Moana skipper, and his brother Julian, who plays at inside centre, can be assured of putting in whole-hearted efforts against their former club as they look for another first in what has been the team's breakout season. A bonus point win in Wellington will earn Moana the playoff spot because they will have more wins than the Blues, the first of the tiebreak criteria. The Waratahs, who trail the Blues and Moana by two points, have the most daunting path to the playoffs, not least because they have won only once at Auckland's Eden Park in the 30 seasons of Super Rugby.
The Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Blues on the edge as Super Rugby playoff race goes down to the wire
SYDNEY (Reuters) - The most competitive Super Rugby season for many years goes down to the wire this weekend when three teams, including the defending champion Auckland Blues, battle it out for the last remaining playoff spot. The final order of the top three in the standings will only be decided on Friday night when the table-topping Waikato Chiefs visit the Otago Highlanders and the Canterbury Crusaders and ACT Brumbies, who are second and third, clash in Canberra. The top two are guaranteed home advantage in the first two weeks of the knockouts and table positions carry extra importance this year with the highest-ranked losers in the first playoff round going through to the semi-finals. The Brumbies host the 12-times champion Crusaders knowing that victory would make them the first Australian team to finish in the top two since 2015 and could still secure them top spot if the Chiefs slip up against the bottom-ranked Highlanders. "We know that if we can finish top two ... it would put you in a better position to get to the final," said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham, who has overseen semi-final exits on the road in the last two seasons. "The Crusaders are very dangerous with their scrum and their maul. They're kind of what you'd expect to see from teams at top of the competition, good all round." Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio returns from injury to run the Brumbies backline but crucially they will be without their totemic tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa because of a calf injury. The Wellington Hurricanes and Queensland Reds in fourth and fifth are already assured of post-season play, leaving Moana Pasifika and the New South Wales Waratahs vying with the Blues for the last place. The Blues have improved since their poor start to the season but they will need to beat the Waratahs in Saturday's early game and hope the Hurricanes down Moana later in the day to sneak into the playoffs. Moana, who are level on points with the Blues, were thrashed 85-7 by the Chiefs last week and face another in-form New Zealand team in the Hurricanes, who are unbeaten in their last five games. Ardie Savea, the Moana skipper, and his brother Julian, who plays at inside centre, can be assured of putting in whole-hearted efforts against their former club as they look for another first in what has been the team's breakout season. A bonus point win in Wellington will earn Moana the playoff spot because they will have more wins than the Blues, the first of the tiebreak criteria. The Waratahs, who trail the Blues and Moana by two points, have the most daunting path to the playoffs, not least because they have won only once at Auckland's Eden Park in the 30 seasons of Super Rugby. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Blues on the edge as Super Rugby playoff race goes down to the wire
Blues on the edge as Super Rugby playoff race goes down to the wire SYDNEY - The most competitive Super Rugby season for many years goes down to the wire this weekend when three teams, including the defending champion Auckland Blues, battle it out for the last remaining playoff spot. The final order of the top three in the standings will only be decided on Friday night when the table-topping Waikato Chiefs visit the Otago Highlanders and the Canterbury Crusaders and ACT Brumbies, who are second and third, clash in Canberra. The top two are guaranteed home advantage in the first two weeks of the knockouts and table positions carry extra importance this year with the highest-ranked losers in the first playoff round going through to the semi-finals. The Brumbies host the 12-times champion Crusaders knowing that victory would make them the first Australian team to finish in the top two since 2015 and could still secure them top spot if the Chiefs slip up against the bottom-ranked Highlanders. "We know that if we can finish top two ... it would put you in a better position to get to the final," said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham, who has overseen semi-final exits on the road in the last two seasons. "The Crusaders are very dangerous with their scrum and their maul. They're kind of what you'd expect to see from teams at top of the competition, good all round." Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio returns from injury to run the Brumbies backline but crucially they will be without their totemic tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa because of a calf injury. The Wellington Hurricanes and Queensland Reds in fourth and fifth are already assured of post-season play, leaving Moana Pasifika and the New South Wales Waratahs vying with the Blues for the last place. The Blues have improved since their poor start to the season but they will need to beat the Waratahs in Saturday's early game and hope the Hurricanes down Moana later in the day to sneak into the playoffs. Moana, who are level on points with the Blues, were thrashed 85-7 by the Chiefs last week and face another in-form New Zealand team in the Hurricanes, who are unbeaten in their last five games. Ardie Savea, the Moana skipper, and his brother Julian, who plays at inside centre, can be assured of putting in whole-hearted efforts against their former club as they look for another first in what has been the team's breakout season. A bonus point win in Wellington will earn Moana the playoff spot because they will have more wins than the Blues, the first of the tiebreak criteria. The Waratahs, who trail the Blues and Moana by two points, have the most daunting path to the playoffs, not least because they have won only once at Auckland's Eden Park in the 30 seasons of Super Rugby. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Brumbies regain key star for crucial Super Rugby clash
A "confident" Noah Lolesio has ticked all the boxes after his serious back injury, with the Wallabies playmaker suiting up for the Brumbies in their critical Super Rugby Pacific match against the Crusaders. Queensland also have Josh Flook returning to face Fijian Drua in the final round, with the Wallabies centre not playing since injuring his hamstring in round three, while the Waratahs will head to Auckland without skipper Jake Gordon. Chasing their first top-two finish since 2004, the Brumbies and Crusaders are both in the mix heading into their clash in Canberra on Friday night. The Chiefs are on top of the ladder with 46 points, followed by the Crusaders (45) and the Brumbies (43), with four points on offer for a win. A top-two finish is rewarded with a home qualifying final and most like a home semi-final. Lolesio was stretchered from the field earlier this month in a neck brace with initial fears he had suffered a spinal injury but Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said the 25-year-old was raring to go. James O'Connor has been included on the Crusaders bench, with both players looking to impress ahead of Wallabies selection for the upcoming Lions series. "Noah responded extremely positively to treatment," Larkham said. "He got through his rehab and trained really well the back end of last week. He's confident heading into this weekend and it's great to have him back in the side." In other Brumbies line-up changes for the GIO Stadium match, prop Feao Fotuaika and Tuaina Taii Tualima come into the starting line-up, with Tom Hooper moving to the second row to accommodate the latter at No.8. Flook is looking to celebrate a contract extension with a Reds victory over the Drua on Saturday night, with the home side getting an extra dose of strikepower with Tim Ryan starting on the wing. The Reds have selected an unchanged pack, with Seru Uru, who also signed a new one-year deal this week, still sidelined with a knee injury. With a finals berth secured, Queensland could finish as high as fourth if they win and the Hurricanes, who play Moana Pasifika, lose. The NSW Waratahs' hopes of snapping a 16-year losing streak at Eden Park suffered a blow with halfback Gordon unable to recover from a hamstring strain. Hard-working flanker Charlie Gamble (calf) has been replaced by Jamie Adamson while Test winger Andrew Kellaway has recovered from illness to relegate Darby Lancaster to the bench. The Waratahs need the win, and other results to fall their way, to sneak into the finals and will have to rely on a rookie halves pairing. Coach Dan McKellar has opted for Jack Bowen ahead of Tane Edmed to partner No.9 Teddy Wilson. "Jack, along with Teddy Wilson, had a huge impact last week under pressure with his calm, direction and vision in attack," McKellar said. "He has earned this start with his consistent hard work throughout the season in both training and his game time off the bench. "This is a big game with a lot at stake. He is ready for a big game opportunity like this." The Western Force have the final-round bye.
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The 29-year finals curse Australian sides must overcome to win Super Rugby
The Brumbies will welcome back Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio to start against the Crusaders on Friday, as they push for a first top-two finish in Super Rugby in 21 years. They'll also be hoping to avoid a familiar fate – no Australian team has ever won a finals match in New Zealand since the competition began in 1996. Lolesio returns to start for the Brumbies at five-eighth, two weeks after leaving the field on a stretcher in a neck brace after sustaining a back injury against the Force. The Brumbies are Australia's most successful side after winning two Super Rugby titles in 2001 and 2004, finishing at the top of the ladder both times. This season, Super Rugby has reduced the number of teams in the finals from eight to six, including the highest-ranked lucky loser from the qualifying finals, who will have another chance to play in the semi-finals. If the Brumbies beat the Crusaders and the top-placed Chiefs defeat the bottom-placed Highlanders, the ACT will finish second in the table, which would give them a qualifying final and a potential semi-final in Canberra. There is also a slim chance the Brumbies could finish top of the ladder if the Chiefs lose to the Highlanders without a bonus point. If the ACT then finish as the highest-ranked semi-final winners, they would also host the grand final. An added motivation for the Brumbies in their quest to finish second is the fact that only two Super Rugby titles have been won by a team from outside the top two on the ladder.
