SUPER 14 - ROUND 12

Team Pl Pts
Waratahs 11 42
Crusaders 11 42
Hurricanes 11 39
Brumbies 11 37
Bulls 11 33
Sharks 11 29
Chiefs 11 27
Blues 11 27
Stormers 11 22
Highlanders 11 22
Cheetahs 11 22
Reds 11 17
Cats 11 9
Force 11 7

RESULTS:

28 Apr Highlanders v Waratahs, 3-20
28 Apr Cats v Force, 34-34
29 Apr Hurricanes v Chiefs, 35-10
29 Apr Brumbies v Reds, 36-0
29 Apr Cheetahs v Blues, 33-34
29 Apr Bulls v Sharks, 34-27
29 Apr Stormers v Crusaders, 28-17

ROUND UP:

The Highlanders blew their slim playoff hopes when they were comprehensively beaten by the inform Waratahs. The Tah's moved to the top of the table and look certain to get a home semi-final. The weather played its part, with the Tah's coping with the really wet conditions far better then the Highlanders.

The Hurricanes pretty much ended the Chiefs hopes of a semi-final spot, with Andrew Hore the first hooker to score a hatrick in super rugby. With conditions not made for running rugby the Cane's tried to run everything and as a result turned the ball over on numerous occasions, with smarter rugby it could of been a lot worse for the Chiefs.

The Blues managed a nailbiting 34-33 win over the Cheetahs in a thrilling Super 14 match at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein on Saturday. It ended the Cheetahs last desperate hopes of a place in the play-offs. The Cheetahs outscored the Blues by five tries to four, but fell short by a single point when Springbok Meyer Bosman's attempted conversion drifted horribly wide, after Tiaan Liebenberg had scored a try several minutes into injury time.

The Stormers ended the Crusaders' unbeaten run in the inaugural Super 14 competition when they recorded a 28-17 win at Newlands on Saturday night. That left the 'Red and Blacks' in second place on the standings and facing an uphill battle to secure home ground advantage in the play-offs. They really have to show their class if they are going to turn the Bulls over in the next round.

MY TEAM OF THE WEEK:

15. Peter Hewat(Waratahs)
14. Rico Gear(Crusaders)
13. Stirling Mortlock(Brumbies)
12. Tana Umaga(Hurricanes)
11. Jaque Fourie(Cats)
10. Luke MacAlister(Blues)
9. Chris Wittaker(Waratahs)
8. Mose Tuiali'i(Crusaders)
7. Marty Holah(Chiefs)
6. Luke Watson(Stormers)
5. Dan Vickernam(Waratahs)
4. Bakkies Botha(Bulls)
3. Carl Hayman(Highlanders)
2. Andrew Hore(Hurricanes)
1. Gareth Hardy(Force)