Louis de Villiers
Cape Town - The topsy-turvy nature of this year’s Super 14 is demonstrated by the fact that only two games in the last round will not have a bearing on deciding semi-final places.
Seven teams can still advance, with the key games probably between the Sharks and Bulls on Saturday, and the one in Hamilton between the Chiefs and Brumbies on Friday.
The Bulls and Chiefs should reach safety with a bonus point or two, while one would expect the Hurricanes to gain five log points against the Reds and remain strongly in the picture.
The Bulls, who top the log, can ensure a possible final at Loftus by scoring a bonus point victory, but that would mean the end of the Sharks.
It is a certainty that the Bulls will host a semi-final at home if they beat the Sharks.
Should the Bulls win without a bonus point, and the Chiefs manage a victory with a bonus point, the New Zealand side will top the log by virtue of a superior points difference.
If the Bulls lose to the Sharks, but get a bonus point, they can still finish second. However, the Hurricanes would then have to lose to the Reds.
For people still dreaming about an all South African final, the Sharks must gain a five-point haul against the Bulls, the Chiefs have to beat the Brumbies, the Lions must beat the Waratahs and the Crusaders have to lose to the Blues.
However, the Bulls are looking good and the Sharks are in trouble. It’s also a brave man that will bet on the Blues winning. However, this Super 14 has delivered one surprise after the other.