Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
You have to hand it to Super Rugby Pacific. The goal this year was to make the competition more interesting, and after 15 rounds, the final weekend sees something riding on every game. There's a fight for the top spot and home ground advantage, another for a likely life in the play-offs, and a three-way battle to make it to the final six.
The most important thing here is the first tie break rule if teams finish on even points: it's the side with the most overall wins. Then it goes to points difference, then most tries, then highest difference of tries for and against. Whoever won the game between the two sides during the regular season has no bearing.
READ: Team lists and fixtures for Super Rugby Pacific round 16
Super Rugby Pacific table, round 16 Photo: Super Rugby Pacific
Here's a look at what it all means:
The Chiefs, Crusaders and Brumbies can all finish first
The Chiefs are currently first on 46 points, one ahead of the Crusaders and three ahead of the Brumbies. They are playing the Highlanders in Dunedin and can guarantee top spot with a straight win. However if the Highlanders cause an upset - and it's worth remembering they came within a penalty goal of knocking off the Hurricanes and Crusaders in the last two weeks - it will mean the Brumbies and Crusaders will being playing to decide who finishes first.
If the Chiefs win, the Brumbies and Crusaders are still playing for a likely home semi-final. The Brumbies will need the Chiefs to fail to score a bonus point in a hypothetical loss to the Highlanders, or score one themselves, though.
The Chiefs' Leroy Carter scores against the Crusaders at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch, on Saturday 10 May, 2025. Photo: Martin Hunter/ ActionPress
The Hurricanes can lock in fourth, bonus points crucial
The Canes are on 34 points, seven behind the Brumbies so therefore can't climb any higher on the ladder. However, fourth spot is far more preferable than fifth, so there's plenty of motivation for their match against Moana Pasifika in Wellington.
Being fourth will likely give the Canes a second life in the play-offs, as the new six-team format involves the highest ranked 'lucky loser' retaining their spot for the semi-finals.
Hot on their heels are the Reds, who are one point behind. They face the 10th-placed Drua in Brisbane, a game they will be very confident of winning with a bonus point. The Canes can settle the situation with a bonus point win of their own, but if both teams end up on 38 points and eight wins each it will come down to points difference, with the Canes having a +45 advantage there.
Hurricanes Fehi Fineanganofo celebrates. Photo: Patrick Hoelscher
The fight for the last spot
Moana Pasifika and the Blues are on 28 points; however Moana sit in sixth place as they have won six games to the Blues' five. The Waratahs are two points behind on 26 and play the Blues in what is a sudden death (or stay of execution) match on Saturday afternoon at Eden Park. The result of that game then sets the target for what Moana need to achieve in Wellington, which will be a win against the Canes either way. If the Waratahs beat the Blues or the Blues win without a bonus point, Moana just need a victory. If the Blues can achieve a bonus point win, then Moana will have to do the same.
Caleb Clarke of the Blues and Kyren Taumoefolau of Moana Pasifika, Moana Pasifika v Blues, round 14 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday 17 May 2025. © Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Battle at the bottom
The only team that has no role to play directly in the last weekend are the Force, who have the bye and sit ninth. Although their season is over no matter what, they will be watching the Drua and Highlanders very closely as all three teams can potentially finish last. If the Drua and Highlanders pull off upsets, the Force will carry the wooden spoon, otherwise it'll be one of the other two. If both lose and score a bonus point/fail to score a bonus point, the Highlanders will finish bottom as the Drua have four wins to the Highlanders' three.
