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All five Australian Super teams chasing play-offs in the last round

Jed Holloway of the Waratahs and Trevor Hosea of the Rebels scuffle during the round 12 Super Rugby Pacific match between NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels at Allianz Stadium, on May 13, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Australia will have at least two teams playing Super Rugby Pacific finals with a third spot still up for grabs heading into the last round of the regular season.

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The Chiefs have locked down top spot but there’s still plenty of jostling for the finals-bound top eight, with Australia tipped to have three teams led by the Brumbies.

After their 31-21 loss to the Hamilton-based Chiefs, the Brumbies sit in fourth place with the top four teams hosting the next four in week one of play-offs.

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Certain of finishing sixth, the NSW Waratahs are also assured of a spot but will be sweating on the Brumbies snatching third position from the Blues to avoid a dreaded trip across the Tasman.

No Australian side has ever won a finals match in New Zealand but that would be the Waratahs’ mountain-sized challenge to keep their season alive if the Blues finish third.

The fourth-placed Brumbies can leapfrog the Blues – and host the Waratahs in a sudden-death quarter-final – with a bonus-point victory over the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra on Friday night and the Auckland-based outfit fail to post a bonus-point win over the Highlanders.

Coach Stephen Larkham is remaining upbeat despite his side conceding three soft tries against the Chiefs to suffer their second straight defeat.

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“It’s one that slipped away from us … we’ve got to build on this game,” Larkham said.

Queensland, the Western Force and even the 11th-placed Rebels are all still a finals chance.

Melbourne need plenty to fall their way but after trouncing the Force 52-14 and only losing to the Brumbies 33-26 in round 11, coach Kevin Foote fancies their chances of an upset.

“We’ve had some crackers in Canberra so I love the challenge and we’ll be right up for it,” Foote said.

The Waratahs’ four-game win streak came to a shuddering halt with a 42-18 loss in Christchurch against the Crusaders, who sit second on the ladder.

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The good news for the Tahs is that they can’t be dislodged from sixth spot regardless of their result against last-placed Moana Pasifika on Saturday.

Limping towards the finals with some serious injuries, Queensland could finish anywhere from seventh to 11th.

They face a tough trip to Fjii to face the Drua, who are 10th but also still in the finals hunt, and the Reds will be without flanker Conner Vest, who fractured his neck in their last-gasp loss to the Highlanders.

Liam Wright’s season is over after he dislocated his shoulder while his fellow co-captain Tate McDermott is in major doubt through concussion.

Coach Brad Thorn acknowledged the Fiji clash as an early elimination match.

“It’s finals come early, which is good, it’s an easy one to sell,” Thorn said.

The Force did themselves no favours leaving Melbourne without even a bonus point to sit in ninth spot, trailing the Highlanders by one point.

However they may get a reprieve with the Chiefs likely to rest many of their stars from the trip to Perth, where the Force are unbeaten this season.

Coach Simon Cron said his team was eager to make amends for their performance against the Rebels and could even climb to seventh on the back of other results.

“The Chiefs are a great rugby side and I think any side in Super Rugby on their day can go at each other, but it’s about what we do,” Cron said.

“I’d like it to be tomorrow, rather than wait after a performance we’re not happy with.

“We go home, the boys love it there and we get to go to work.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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