The Hurricanes came to Christchurch with a “C” team and paid the price.
The Crusaders whipped them 47-14 and were too good all across the park and ensured a home quarterfinal against the Blues, who got ambushed by the Chiefs.
Predictably the Reds put paid to the Fijian Drua with a comfortable 45-24 victory and take on the Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend.
The glorious Moana Pasifika boys, in the last game of their lives, then tipped up the Brumbies with a deserved 21-19 victory.
It ensures plenty will be eyeing their signatures including the Highlanders who have snapped up three of them — a winger, a No 8 and a first five.
The Blues went down to Hamilton, but that’s about all they did as the Chiefs attack was just too much for them.
They went down 59-34 and now have to travel to Christchurch and away sides don’t win playoff games there, I give you the tip.
As predicted, the Force ground out a 31-25 victory over the Waratahs in a meaningless encounter.
Well the star of all the comps this week is Liam from JK’s Engineering as he banged out a resounding 12 to lead all scorers and was the only tipster to pick the Moana Pasifika boys — well done mate, fantastic work. He jumps from 5th to 4th spot for his troubles.
Poor old Reece from RDR had an absolute shocker, only getting a paltry five and still sits a lonely 7th in the comp but is still nine points clear of Hamish at GWD’s in last spot. Coxy from Pro Storage is still 12 points clear at the top and only a memory for the rest of the field. So it’s quarterfinal time and on paper it looks clear cut. I see all four New Zealand sides making the semis with the Blues getting there as the “lucky loser”.
The Canes (13+) after resting all their players last week are the best team in the comp and will be far too strong for the inconsistent Brumbies.
The Crusaders (13+) are just warming up and Blues are not showing enough to stay with them for 80 minutes.
They just don’t lose playoff games in the village of the damned.
Then on to the high-flying Chiefs (13+) taking on the Reds in Hamilton. They have too much attacking fire power so it’s all downhill for the Reds — roll on the semis for the real action.
