Because sport broadcasting these days is so ubiquitous it is easy to forget what happened in the week prior to the teams emerging from the tunnel.
The Auckland Blues and Canterbury Crusaders will attempt to become the first teams since 1999 to win Super Rugby semifinals on foreign soil.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says Conrad Jantjes is a better choice over Gio Aplon for Saturday’s Super Rugby semifinal against the Crusaders.
The Queensland Reds and Stormers, having rested their bodies, will have the confidence of favourites looking forward to next week’s semifinals.
The team from Durban will have to repeat the heroics of their win over the Bulls last weekend if they are to defeat the Crusaders in New Zealand.
The Blues and injury-ravaged Waratahs are due to launch Super Rugby’s extended play-offs series 78 days before the Rugby World Cup begins.
The Queensland Reds and the Stormers will have to lie in wait for the two survivors of this weekend’s first Super Rugby play-offs round.
Super Rugby matches in the three-week play-offs starting this weekend will be decided by penalty shoot-outs if teams are deadlocked after extra time.
The Stormers secured second place in the Super rugby table, and a home semifinal in the play-offs, when they beat the Cheetahs 44-34.
Wing Lwazi Mvovo’s 74th-minute try and faultless kicking from Frederic Michalak carried the Sharks to an upset 26-23 win over the Bulls on Saturday.
The New South Wales Waratahs hit their stride to reach the Super rugby play-offs with a convincing 41-7 victory over the ACT Brumbies on Saturday.
The Queensland Reds secured top spot in the Super rugby standings with a controlled 19-11 victory over the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday.
Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie will be forced to look to local club rugby to bolster his play-offs-bound squad.
The Auckland Blues head into the final round of matches on a four-match losing streak and need to beat the Otago Highlanders next Friday.
The Canterbury Crusaders seized control of the New Zealand conference when two tries by Zac Guildford cemented a 23-16 win over the Auckland Blues.
All bets are off on the remaining fixtures as the Super Rugby tournament has created constantly changing fortunes.
Ma’a Nonu’s shock sacking by the Wellington Hurricanes followed a campaign to undermine coach Mark Hammett, media reports have said.
The Crusaders could be without skipper Richie McCaw for the rest of their Super Rugby campaign after his troublesome foot injury flared up again.
The Melbourne Rebels have lifted Danny Cipriani’s suspension and the former England flyhalf will be available for selection this weekend.
The Canterbury Crusaders, who rested this weekend while their rivals faltered, are determined to secure a top-two finish.
The Sharks secured a 23-18 victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday to move back into contention for a place in the play-offs.
Centre Ma’a Nonu scored one try and made two for his fellow All Black Hosea Gear as the Hurricanes came from behind to beat the Lions 38-27.
The Stormers have overpowered the Melbourne Rebels 40-3 to march into the Super 15 top two in Melbourne.
The Cheetahs and Sharks will be involved in a season defying Super Rugby battle with the Sharks looking to keep their play-off aspirations alive.
The Bulls and Australia’s Waratahs face a potentially season-defining showdown as they both look to stay in the race for June’s top-six playoffs.
Highlanders winger Siale Piutau has been cited for striking Lions’ Michael Rhodes twice in the head after the flanker pulled him out of ruck.
Queensland Reds will have faced a major test of their Super Rugby title credentials with a showdown against seven-time champions Canterbury Crusaders.
The New South Wales Waratahs responded to a lambasting at a fan forum this week with a rampaging five-try first-half performance.
Dan Carter celebrated his new All Blacks contract by kicking 20 points as the Canterbury Crusaders stifled the Waikato Chiefs 25-19 on Saturday.
The Blues will try to nullify the Stormers’ imposing rolling maul in the showdown of the Super 15’s SA and NZ conference leaders on Friday.
The Cheetahs caused the upset of the weekend with a 33-20 win over the Crusaders in their Super Rugby clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Chiefs overcame a 17-point half-time deficit and capitalised on a controversial penalty try and yellow card to upset the Stormers on Saturday.