5 Storylines to Follow in Super Rugby Week 16

Super Rugby’s Week 16 brings the battle for the top spot in two of the three conferences into sharp focus.

While the Hurricanes have the New Zealand section sewn up, it is nip and tuck in Australia and South Africa.

The Waratahs and Brumbies are separated by just two points in the Aussie conference, while in South Africa, the Stormers lead the way by the same margin over the Lions.

It sets up this weekend’s action nicely, with both Australian contenders playing South African opponents. In the Waratahs' case, they face the Lions, who will look to use home advantage to get one over the champions.

At the other end of the table, the scrap in Perth between the Force and the Reds could decide who goes home as the worst team in the league by season’s end.

With three rounds to go, here are the stories to watch out for this weekend.

Friday sees a clash between runaway leaders Hurricanes and the battling Crusaders.

The visitors must win to keep their slim play-off hopes alive but are missing several key men, per Daniel Richardson in the New Zealand Herald: "Lock Sam Whitelock, No 8 Kieran Read and midfielder Ryan Crotty all copped head knocks last week and weren't considered for selection, while pivot Colin Slade (quad) and prop Joe Moody (foot) have also been ruled out. Fullback Israel Dagg (calf) was not available."

With that many front-line troops missing, the ‘Canes will fancy their chances of dishing out some hefty punishment to the one-time all-conquering Christchurch franchise and extinguishing their play-off hopes in the process.

Brumbies No. 7 and ex-Australia skipper David Pocock will play through the pain of a dislocated little finger this weekend.

The open-side flanker dislodged the same digit two weeks running but had last week’s bye for the Brumbies to at least give the digit some respite. He is supposed to keep it straight for six weeks, per the Sydney Morning Herald:

But rather than have time off or have it put in a cast, Pocock will push through as the former Wallabies captain chases his first finals appearance. "I've got to keep my finger straight for six weeks and it should be fine," Pocock said. "It will be all right. It's just one of those things. The white line fever kicks in. It's sore, but you're out there and don't really think about it. It's sweet."

There is no question it will be tested against the Bulls, who visit Canberra this weekend and sit just three points behind the Australians, who occupy the last wild-card spot.

Last week the return of sevens star Seabelo Senatla to the Stormers' lineup was the talk of the town, but the man who led the try count in this year’s world series was upstaged on his Super Rugby 2015 bow by fellow wing Dillyn Leyds.

The wing scored twice against the Rebels in Week 15, per John Goliath in the Cape Times, via IOL Sport:

The former Bishops star showed great anticipation when he intercepted a ball close to the Rebels’ tryline for his first five-pointer, while he finished off a move down the blindside by cutting in smartly for his second score. It was his fifth try of the season, the most by any Stormers player this season.

Another home fixture this weekend against the 12th-placed Cheetahs provides the perfect opportunity for the wide man to add to his tally and keep the Cape Town side nicely placed in third and on track for a semi-final.

Fixtures against two South African sides for the leading teams in the Australian conference this weekend could shape the end to the season.

The Waratahs travel to South Africa to challenge the Lions who sit only two points behind South African leaders the Stormers.

And while the Sydneysiders attempt to cement their position in Johannesburg, the Brumbies will be looking to down the Bulls at home to apply pressure to their Aussie rivals.

Should the reigning champions slip up on their travels, Stephen Larkham’s men will be poised to overhaul them.

Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper returns to action for the Queensland Reds on Saturday when they visit the Western Force.

The clash pits the competition’s two worst sides against each other in a bid to avoid the wooden spoon.

Cooper has made just two starts in an injury-blighted campaign, per ABC in Australia, and apart from playing a part in his side’s attempts to avoid a dead-last finish, the No. 10 is also playing to catch the eye of Australian head coach Michael Cheika as he assesses his options in the position ahead of the World Cup.

Cooper, long linked to a move to Toulon, per Beth Newman in the Sydney Morning Herald, has a lot to prove in these last three games of the season.