Choose your top eight: Looking at the finals make-up for Super Rugby Pacific

Thu, May 19, 2022, 5:49 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
The Reds travelled to Auckland to face the the ladder leading Blues.

With two weeks remaining in the regular season of Super Rugby Pacific, there are still plenty of positions up for grabs.

From minor premiers to those fighting for the top eight, each game has major significance heading into this week.

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Rugby.com.au looks at the fight for top spot, top four and the finals of Super Rugby Pacific. Predict your top eight at the end of the article!

Minor Premiership

1st - Blues (50 points), 2nd - Crusaders (43), 3rd - Brumbies (43)

The race for top spot is a battle of three as the Super Rugby Aotearoa finalists Blues and Crusaders as well as the Brumbies battle it out for home-field advantage across the finals.

The Crusaders' win over the Brumbies last week vaulted them into second place on points difference.

In this race, Saturday's match-up at GIO Stadium serves as the match of the round and a potential decider.

A Blues win puts them seven points clear regardless of what the Crusaders can do against the Fijian Drua, whilst a Brumbies victory would likely see all three teams separated by less than three points heading into the final round.

All three teams will enter their matches as favourites, however, there are no easy games in Super Rugby Pacific as the Crusaders take on the Reds, whilst both the Blues and Brumbies face daunting trips to face Moana Pasifika and the NSW Waratahs.

Top Four

3rd - Brumbies (43 points), 4th - Chiefs (36), 5th - Hurricanes (33), 6th - Waratahs (33), 7th - Reds (31)

The Brumbies will face a tough match-up against the Blues, but they should defeat Moana Pasifika to lock in third.

As for fourth? That's an interesting battle as four fight for one spot.

The Chiefs' 80th-minute escape against the Melbourne Rebels looks set to be pivotal, kicking them clear by three.

They face the Western Force and Fijian Drua in Fiji, with Clayton McMillan's men confident they can finish with two victories.

If they fall, there's a trio of teams waiting to strike as the Reds will fancy their chances against Moana Pasifika whilst the Hurricanes enter as favourites against the Rebels. As for the Waratahs, a win against the Highlanders keeps them in the fight, as well as opening the door for a number of other teams...

The fight for eighth

8th - Highlanders (22 points), 9th - Rebels (16), 10th - Western Force (14)* - game in hand

The Waratahs will have plenty of fans from the west and south as they travel to Dunedin to face the Highlanders.

A win for the hosts on Sunday locks up the eight. However, a loss and a Rebels win sets up a thrilling final game of the regular season as the two teams face off at AAMI Park.

The Western Force remains the dark horses, even if they have three games in seven days.

If they can win out and the Highlanders and or/Rebels drop either game, Tim Sampson's men will sneak into the final spot.

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