The ACT Brumbies’ chances of remaining Super 12 rugby champions could end in this weekend’s 10th round.
The injury-hit Brumbies, on a four-game losing streak and with 20 points from eight games, are tied for sixth place on a crowded championship table.
They play the fifth-place Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday in the New Zealand capital, and a loss will all but rule them out of a top four semifinal berth.
The first-place New South Wales Waratahs could clinch a semifinal if they take maximum points from their match against the third-placed Otago Highlanders at Carisbrook, also on Saturday.
A win and bonus point will take the Waratahs to 36 points, making them unlikely to be displaced in the top four if the Hurricanes fail to take a bonus point from the Brumbies.
The Canterbury Crusaders, on 30 points, will almost make safe a play-off place if they take five points from their match on Friday against South Africa’s Sharks.
The Auckland Blues, with a fourth-place total of 26 points, take on the Bulls in Pretoria on Friday. The Hurricanes lie in fifth place with 25 points, and behind them are the Brumbies and South Africa’s Bulls on 20.
The Waratahs, 6-2 with seven bonus points, face the Queensland Reds and Auckland in the final two rounds, all difficult assignments. The Crusaders will play the Highlanders and Hurricanes after this weekend.
The Highlanders, surprise contenders after a six-game winning streak, face the Crusaders and Chiefs, while the Blues meet the Hurricanes and Waratahs in the final two rounds.
The Brumbies’ season has been complicated by injuries. They will face the Hurricanes without halfback George Gregan, flyhalf Stephen Larkham and winger Clyde Rathbone.
”There are seven sides all with a good chance of making [the finals], and looking at everybody playing each other, it’s a hard road,” Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher said this week.
”Any dropped game now for any team puts them in an enviable position. With us, it would certainly end our season in terms of finals, so the pressure is on us.”
The Brumbies have been forced to pair Matt Henjak and Matt Giteau in the halves on Saturday — players who haven’t combined in those positions since their schoolboy days.
”We basically grew up together, so our understanding on the field shouldn’t be a problem,” Henjak said.
The Waratahs, hoping to celebrate captain Chris Whittaker’s 100th Super 12 appearance, will provide the sternest test to the Highlanders’ winning streak.
”We know our defence will have to be well-organised, because this game will be the game where we will be stretched the most,” said Highlanders coach Greg Cooper. ”Looking across the park, it’s a very, very strong side, who deserve to be where they are.”
An injury to flyhalf Tasesa Lavea and the three-week suspension of centre Rua Tipoki have forced the Blues to reshuffle their backline for Saturday’s match with the Bulls.
Luke McAlister moves into the flyhalf role and Sam Tuitupou returns at centre inside his All Blacks teammate Mils Muliaina. Isa Nacewa comes off the bench to replace Muliaina at fullback.
In other 10th-round matches, the Reds play the Cats at Brisbane on Friday and the Stormers meet the Waikato Chiefs at Cape Town on Saturday. All four teams are out of semifinal contention. — Sapa-AP