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Continuing on from last week, I'll be ranking the teams based on how they've performed up to this point, and how they're likely to fare in the next few games. At a mutual venue, a higher ranked team should in theory come out on top against any lower ranked team.
1 Crusaders (+2)
Destroyed the Hurricanes in almost every aspect of the game. Had a few 50/50 decision go their way, but you make your own luck. With a couple of players still to return to full fitness (see McCaw and Carter), this team will only continue to get better. Watch out Waratahs.
2 Stormers (-1)
With their Australasian tour now almost out of the way they're in the best position to grab that top SA conference spot. They still have to play the (arguably) bottom three sides in the competition - the Lions, Force and Rebels. They dealt better with the Reds tactics this week than with the Crusaders' last week, so they are capable of learning from their mistakes.
3 Chiefs (-1)
Still making poor decisions - kicking for goal from 50 metres out when you're a point ahead with three minutes remaining is not a good move. They defend well, and have a strong attacking arsenal, but need to cut down on errors and penalties. That being said, a 3/3 tour isn't bad takings, and they're still waiting on three first XV players to return from injury in Leonard, Afeaki and Smith. Backing up against the Hurricanes this weekend will be tough.
4 Sharks (+1)
Lost, but still came close. If they can pull it together for a couple of tough games against the other South African sides they will be well placed to push ahead.
5 Bulls (-1)
Won against the Brumbies - just. It's a good thing Steyn found his kicking boots, or they could've been in for a hiding. In NZ and Australia they may not be so lucky.
6 Highlanders (+3)
Showed some attacking flair this weekend that they'd been missing in their games up till this point. Delany could be the best thing to happen to the Highlanders this season. If they can keep up the intensity they took into the game against the Blues, and cut down on some silly errors, they should be able to win 2 or 3 of their tour games coming up.
7 Waratahs (+1)
Slowly dealt to the Rebels, then did what they do best and let them back into the game come the end of the match. They look the most structured of the Australian sides, which will go a long way in winning some of the intra conference matches.
8 Reds (-2)
Have reached the point in their season where they have to start winning well, or they won't be in a position to chase that top Australian conference spot once Quade Cooper gets back. Played poorly against the Stormers - tried to use the same tactics as the Crusaders but didn't kick as well.
9 Hurricanes (-2)
Showed enough in their game against the Crusaders to give them hope that they will still knock over some strong sides. Unfortunately for them they were never going to go the full mile against the well oiled Canterbury machine. With a number of games remaining against NZ sides their chances of making the Top 6 are bleak. Knocking over the Chiefs next weekend, however, would be a good start.
10 Brumbies (+1)
Almost beat the Bulls at Loftus, which as everyone knows is no easy feat. If they can continue to attack in a similar fashion they will be dangerous once they return to Oz.
11 Cheetahs (-1)
What's with these SA training camps for potential Springboks? Pretty much every player from each First XV is being invited (and then some). Surely they aren't all up to international level. I'd love to see a team comprised of only the Cheetahs and the Lions run out against the All Blacks.
12 Blues (=)
Looked markedly better against the Highlanders in their match down in Dunedin. They have a very winnable game this weekend in the battle of the colours, against the lads from Queensland.
13 Force (=)
Have sacked their coach mid season after he'd signed a contract to move to the Reds for next year. It's the nature of professional sport to see players and coaches sort out their futures as soon possible though, this decision looks a bit hasty to me. That being said, they can't get much worse. On that note, why would the Reds want him?
14 Lions (+1)
Sponsors being incorporated into stadium names isn't unusual nowadays, but South Africa takes the cake for having the most ridiculous names of them all. AMI Stadium and Forsyth Barr Stadium are acceptable, Mr Price Kings Park Stadium and Coca-Cola Park are not.
15 Rebels (-1)
With a tour ahead of them and all the Australian sides starting to improve (albeit slowly), there isn't much hope for the Rebels. They looked best with Beale in at first five challenging the Waratahs line - perhaps something for them to consider in the future. On the plus side, they're guaranteed 4 points this weekend with the bye coming up - probably only the fourth time in their history they've ever had guaranteed points.
1 Crusaders (+2)
Destroyed the Hurricanes in almost every aspect of the game. Had a few 50/50 decision go their way, but you make your own luck. With a couple of players still to return to full fitness (see McCaw and Carter), this team will only continue to get better. Watch out Waratahs.
2 Stormers (-1)
With their Australasian tour now almost out of the way they're in the best position to grab that top SA conference spot. They still have to play the (arguably) bottom three sides in the competition - the Lions, Force and Rebels. They dealt better with the Reds tactics this week than with the Crusaders' last week, so they are capable of learning from their mistakes.
3 Chiefs (-1)
Still making poor decisions - kicking for goal from 50 metres out when you're a point ahead with three minutes remaining is not a good move. They defend well, and have a strong attacking arsenal, but need to cut down on errors and penalties. That being said, a 3/3 tour isn't bad takings, and they're still waiting on three first XV players to return from injury in Leonard, Afeaki and Smith. Backing up against the Hurricanes this weekend will be tough.
4 Sharks (+1)
Lost, but still came close. If they can pull it together for a couple of tough games against the other South African sides they will be well placed to push ahead.
5 Bulls (-1)
Won against the Brumbies - just. It's a good thing Steyn found his kicking boots, or they could've been in for a hiding. In NZ and Australia they may not be so lucky.
6 Highlanders (+3)
Showed some attacking flair this weekend that they'd been missing in their games up till this point. Delany could be the best thing to happen to the Highlanders this season. If they can keep up the intensity they took into the game against the Blues, and cut down on some silly errors, they should be able to win 2 or 3 of their tour games coming up.
7 Waratahs (+1)
Slowly dealt to the Rebels, then did what they do best and let them back into the game come the end of the match. They look the most structured of the Australian sides, which will go a long way in winning some of the intra conference matches.
8 Reds (-2)
Have reached the point in their season where they have to start winning well, or they won't be in a position to chase that top Australian conference spot once Quade Cooper gets back. Played poorly against the Stormers - tried to use the same tactics as the Crusaders but didn't kick as well.
9 Hurricanes (-2)
Showed enough in their game against the Crusaders to give them hope that they will still knock over some strong sides. Unfortunately for them they were never going to go the full mile against the well oiled Canterbury machine. With a number of games remaining against NZ sides their chances of making the Top 6 are bleak. Knocking over the Chiefs next weekend, however, would be a good start.
10 Brumbies (+1)
Almost beat the Bulls at Loftus, which as everyone knows is no easy feat. If they can continue to attack in a similar fashion they will be dangerous once they return to Oz.
11 Cheetahs (-1)
What's with these SA training camps for potential Springboks? Pretty much every player from each First XV is being invited (and then some). Surely they aren't all up to international level. I'd love to see a team comprised of only the Cheetahs and the Lions run out against the All Blacks.
12 Blues (=)
Looked markedly better against the Highlanders in their match down in Dunedin. They have a very winnable game this weekend in the battle of the colours, against the lads from Queensland.
13 Force (=)
Have sacked their coach mid season after he'd signed a contract to move to the Reds for next year. It's the nature of professional sport to see players and coaches sort out their futures as soon possible though, this decision looks a bit hasty to me. That being said, they can't get much worse. On that note, why would the Reds want him?
14 Lions (+1)
Sponsors being incorporated into stadium names isn't unusual nowadays, but South Africa takes the cake for having the most ridiculous names of them all. AMI Stadium and Forsyth Barr Stadium are acceptable, Mr Price Kings Park Stadium and Coca-Cola Park are not.
15 Rebels (-1)
With a tour ahead of them and all the Australian sides starting to improve (albeit slowly), there isn't much hope for the Rebels. They looked best with Beale in at first five challenging the Waratahs line - perhaps something for them to consider in the future. On the plus side, they're guaranteed 4 points this weekend with the bye coming up - probably only the fourth time in their history they've ever had guaranteed points.
