Graham
04-05-2009, 06:52
Craig Ray Published:May 04, 2009
The Sunday Times
Failure to score bonus points could end both teams’ home semifinal quest
FAILURE to secure home bonus points at the weekend could be the undoing of the Bulls and the Sharks in their quest for home semifinals, as the Super 14 season draws to a close.
With two rounds to go before the play-offs, the Bulls and the Sharks occupy third and fourth place respectively on the standings, but they meet in the final weekend of league matches during which one of them will lose ground.
The Bulls have 37 points but trail the second-placed Chiefs on points difference, while the Hurricanes top the standings with 39 points. The Sharks hold on to fourth place with 35 points, but have a testing two weeks to come.
The Sharks beat the Highlanders 23-15 in Durban at the weekend, arresting a two-match losing streak, but failed to gain a vital extra point.
Much like last season, the Sharks have battled to win by big margins and could pay the price. In 2008 a total of four bonus points — the lowest in the competition — meant they qualified in third place despite winning nine matches.
They host the Waratahs in Durban next week. The Sharks will be desperate for five points, but in a campaign in which they have secured only three bonus points, it seems unlikely they will change that statistic.
The Waratahs occupy fifth place on the standings, have the best defensive record in the tournament and are still in with a chance of making the semifinals. They won’t be giving away any soft tries.
In the final round, the Bulls arrive in Durban and, depending on how they go against the Cheetahs this weekend, only one place in the play-offs could be riding on the match.
Fortunately, from a South African perspective, the Chiefs meet the Hurricanes in Hamilton this weekend. One of those sides is going to lose some ground, which is where bonus points might come in.
The Hurricanes and Chiefs are both capable of scoring four tries while losing. The Hurrican es have scored seven bonus points, and the Chiefs nine bonus points this season. The Bulls have only five bonus points and the Sharks three (including one earned for losing by fewer than seven points against the Crusaders.)
It’s impossible for the Bulls and the Sharks to both win their remaining two matches, so they need to both gain a maximum haul in their penultimate games of the season , before their May 16 clash in Durban.
The permutations are vast with the Crusaders, Brumbies and Blues still in with slim chances of making the last four. But, quite simply, the Bulls and the Sharks need five points each this weekend.
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The Sunday Times
Failure to score bonus points could end both teams’ home semifinal quest
FAILURE to secure home bonus points at the weekend could be the undoing of the Bulls and the Sharks in their quest for home semifinals, as the Super 14 season draws to a close.
With two rounds to go before the play-offs, the Bulls and the Sharks occupy third and fourth place respectively on the standings, but they meet in the final weekend of league matches during which one of them will lose ground.
The Bulls have 37 points but trail the second-placed Chiefs on points difference, while the Hurricanes top the standings with 39 points. The Sharks hold on to fourth place with 35 points, but have a testing two weeks to come.
The Sharks beat the Highlanders 23-15 in Durban at the weekend, arresting a two-match losing streak, but failed to gain a vital extra point.
Much like last season, the Sharks have battled to win by big margins and could pay the price. In 2008 a total of four bonus points — the lowest in the competition — meant they qualified in third place despite winning nine matches.
They host the Waratahs in Durban next week. The Sharks will be desperate for five points, but in a campaign in which they have secured only three bonus points, it seems unlikely they will change that statistic.
The Waratahs occupy fifth place on the standings, have the best defensive record in the tournament and are still in with a chance of making the semifinals. They won’t be giving away any soft tries.
In the final round, the Bulls arrive in Durban and, depending on how they go against the Cheetahs this weekend, only one place in the play-offs could be riding on the match.
Fortunately, from a South African perspective, the Chiefs meet the Hurricanes in Hamilton this weekend. One of those sides is going to lose some ground, which is where bonus points might come in.
The Hurricanes and Chiefs are both capable of scoring four tries while losing. The Hurrican es have scored seven bonus points, and the Chiefs nine bonus points this season. The Bulls have only five bonus points and the Sharks three (including one earned for losing by fewer than seven points against the Crusaders.)
It’s impossible for the Bulls and the Sharks to both win their remaining two matches, so they need to both gain a maximum haul in their penultimate games of the season , before their May 16 clash in Durban.
The permutations are vast with the Crusaders, Brumbies and Blues still in with slim chances of making the last four. But, quite simply, the Bulls and the Sharks need five points each this weekend.
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