By Roger Childs

Getting through their two-game Super Rugby Pacific visit to Australia with two wins and a bonus point against the Rebels on Friday set the Blues up for their top-of-the-table clash with the Hurricanes on Saturday. –Lynn McConnell, Action Press, 6 May 2024

The race to be in the top eight

With just four matches to go, all 12 teams have something to play for. In the top half of the table franchises are battling to get a quarter final spot. Teams need to be in the top four to get the crucial home advantage. Over the weekend the four leaders all won comfortably with only the Brumbies, with a close 28-20 win over the Fijian Drua, being unconvincing.

As things stand, the Hurricanes, Blues, Brumbies and Chiefs will probably get a home quarter-final, however, at the other end of the table there is a real battle to make up the remaining four in the top eight.

All in with a chance

Theoretically any of the “bottom” eight could make the finals, but realistically for the Australian teams the Reds and Rebels will qualify, but the Waratahs and Western Force won’t. Moana Pasifika is unlikely to make it, and the enigmatic Crusaders, last year’s champions, would need a major improvement in form to have any chance.

On Saturday the red and blacks blew their chance to move up a place on the table losing to the Reds at home. In the last four matches they should beat Moana Pasifika and possibly account for the Highlanders. But they will not beat the Brumbies or Blues. As is always the case, all teams are at the mercy of the results of other matches. Realistically the Crusaders are destined to miss out.

Top of the table clash

There is great interest in who will top the table and that will likely be decided next weekend. The number one team, the Hurricanes, have been playing attractive rugby all season as have their nearest the rivals the Blues. The two meet at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday and with home advantage the Blues could be favoured.

The Hurricanes have lost their number one half back Cam Roygard and top hooker Asafo Aumua to injury, however the team has shown that it is quite capable of winning on the road.

The last four round-robin games

In the last four rounds all teams have everything to play for, and know that upsets can happen. However, the New Zealand three – Hurricanes, Blues and Chiefs, plus the Queensland Reds – will almost certainly host the quarter-finals, but who their opponents will be is a lottery.

One thing is certain, the final four rounds will provide plenty of fascinating rugby.