With the Super Rugby playoffs some six weeks off, the Hurricanes and the Chiefs are already guaranteed quarterfinals away from home, and the clash at Westpac Stadium tomorrow is instead just about jostling for the better scheduling come the sudden‑death stages.
The Crusaders, Lions, Stormers and Brumbies will host the quarterfinals, with the Chiefs and Hurricanes battling it out to finish second in the New Zealand conference, with their final regular season game to come after the international break.
The ‘Canes sit on 53 points, then host the Crusaders who are sitting on 63 in the final round, and can finish fifth or sixth overall. With the Chiefs on 49 points, and hosting the Brumbies in their last game, they can end up anywhere between fifth and eighth.
So this contest in Wellington is effectively a shootout for fifth, which is likely to mean a quarterfinal trip to Australia instead of the long‑haul to South Africa.
The Hurricanes will face the Chiefs at 7.35pm tomorrow.
Source: stuff.co.nz
