Super 15 Rugby

This weekend, Jake White’s Brumbies travel to Waikato with a favourable shot at redemption as they look to prevent the Chiefs from winning back-to-back Super Rugby silverware.

Last season saw the Canberra franchise miss out on the playoffs by just a single point as South African clubs claimed three places in the postseason fixtures to Australia's solitary spot.

This campaign ran a slightly different course, however. White’s side look far superior to that of a year ago, even with the notable absence of the mercurial David Pocock.

Managing to obtain a third-place finish in the table, this term saw the Brumbies impress in a way not seen by their fans for some time, unluckily missing out on a top-two placement.

Such is the impact made by White, who led South Africa to the World Cup in 2007. Upon taking over the side in 2011, the Brumbies had just come off the back of their worst Super Rugby campaign: to imagine that two years later the same side would be in the Grand Final of the competition seemed laughable.

However, White has replenished his outfit with a certain sense of belief, one lacking since their title successes in 2001 and 2004 and three unsuccessful final appearances around the same time.

It's exactly that feeling within the squad which Clyde Rathbone tweeted about following last weekend's major victory:

There are not many question marks hanging over the standard of the visitors’ squad. Packed to the rafters with international quality, the Brumbies back-row is particularly strong.

George Smith, Ben Mowen and Peter Kimlin are about as fierce a threesome as you can find in Super Rugby and will be a tough unit to overcome at the breakdown.

Factor in the talents of Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, Stephen Moore, Jesse Mogg and other Wallaby stars and the gap between them and the Chiefs begins to seem minimal.

In his coaching staff, White has recruited Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher, both of whom were part of the franchise (in different capacities) around that time of storming success.

The Australians will now look to defy the odds against their New Zealand counterparts, who only finished six points ahead of the Brumbies in the regular season.

Beating the Bulls in last-minute fashion last week showed the resilience the Brumbies possess as a team, something they’ll need to recall this weekend if they’re to pull another underdog upset out of the bag.

This fixture is somewhat of an unknown. The sides did not meet in this regular season—March 2012 was their last encounter. On that occasion, it was the Chiefs who emerged as victors before going on to secure the Super Rugby title months later.

Coincidentally enough, the last three British and Irish Lions hosts have all won the Super Rugby title of that season, per Fox Sports' Iain Payten: Bulls (2009), Crusaders (2005), Brumbies (2001). Twelve years later and the Brumbies will hope to keep that particular tradition alive against the tournament favourites.

There’s no question that White and his men have an uphill struggle on their hands—but last week’s meeting in Pretoria shows what this Brumbies side have in their locker when it comes to overcoming the odds.

The Waikato Chiefs produced a brilliant late fightback to defeat the ACT Brumbies 27-22 to secure back-to-back Super Rugby titles.

For large spells of the match, the Chiefs were on the back foot and trailed 22-12 at one stage. 

Aaron Cruden missed a string of kicks, but he nailed the telling conversion to put the Chiefs ahead with 10 minutes remaining and they held on to secure victory in front of their own fans in Hamilton.

The Brumbies, who earlier this year famously became the first provincial side to beat the British and Irish Lions since 1997, took the game to the Chiefs and Christian Leali'ifano nailed a hat-trick of penalties to put them in control.

Cruden, who was wayward at times with his kicking, did nail three penalties of his own to draw the Chiefs level, but Wallabies star Leali'ifano intercepted a pass on the stroke of half-time and scooted away for the first try of the match.

Leali'ifano converted the try and added two further penalties early in the second half to move the Brumbies into a commanding 10-point lead.

Roared on by the home crowd in the Waikato Stadium, the Chiefs came on strong in the final 15 minutes and Liam Messam snaked through for a try.

Cruden missed the conversion, but Robbie Robinson broke through the line for a try to level the scores with 11 minutes remaining.

On this occasion, Cruden held his nerve to put the Chiefs in front and he added a penalty minutes later to seal the title.

In the climax to this season’s southern hemisphere action, the Chiefs will seek to become the first team since the 2010 Bulls to win consecutive Super Rugby titles.

By contrast, the Brumbies are more of a re-emerging franchise looking to get back to the heights previously reached in the early 2000s.

However, going into Saturday’s Waikato clash, it’s the hosts who stand out as decisive favourites and appear to have the weapons necessary to tie up their third championship title.

But Dave Rennie’s men will still need to make certain things happen on the pitch, factors they’ve promoted for great stretches of this term, in order to emerge triumphant.

Attack Is The Best Form Of Defence

Having finished top of the Super Rugby table after 20 rounds, it’s no coincidence that the Chiefs were the best attacking team in the running.

Finishing the season with a total of 458 points scored, 10 ahead of the Bulls, Rennie has managed to craft an offence as fearsome as the one which operated in 2012’s successful hunt.

On the other hand, the New Zealand franchise have only the ninth-best defence across all three conferences, with Western Force conceding just two points more than the Chiefs.

It would appear that as long as his side finish as victors, Rennie cares less about how they go about it.

But defence may not be too much of an issue this weekend. Against the Crusaders in their semi-final, the Chiefs did well to hold out against one of the more imperious sides in the competition, with the loose forwards particularly impressive at the breakdown.

So the league leaders are likely to be concentrating on their attack, and it’s a good job they’re so proficient—this season the Brumbies conceded just 295 points as the second strongest defence in Super Rugby.

Familiar Territory

In pressure situations such as the final, it helps to know your surroundings and be comfortable with the occasion so it does not affect you on a mental level.

Having won last season, the Chiefs are familiar with the demands of a Super Rugby final and what’s needed to make the most of the event.

Aaron Cruden, Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam, Lelia Masaga and others were all present for 2012’s success, and will be looking to recreate that winning formula this weekend.

It was Cruden who was tweeting his preparations for the almighty clash—this time regarding his culinary skills:

Having Rennie’s experienced mind in such situations will be a boon to the New Zealand hosts too.

The New Zealand Factor

New Zealand rugby is enjoying a successful run in terms of the world’s power distribution, at club and international level.

The All Blacks are current World Cup champions and a number of 2011’s victorious squad will line up for the Chiefs on Saturday.

With the Chiefs’ standing as current Super Rugby champions, the New Zealand conference also can claim to be the current strongest of the three.

The Brumbies no doubt will put up an almighty battle, but there’s an aura of dominance around the Chiefs right now, which lends itself to their favourites tag. 

The Chiefs model themselves on that which makes New Zealand such a successful side.

With their hard running, penchant for flair, and steadfast defence, the Chiefs can win the final if they recreate the standards from Canterbury last weekend, where victory over the Crusaders established them as New Zealand's finest.

Will it be New Zealand or Australia who emerges with the bragging rights from the 2013 Super Rugby final?

The Chiefs have dominated all season, look irresistible in front of their own fans and knocked out tournament legends Crusaders in the semi-finals. The stage is set for them to reclaim their title from last year.

But to do that, they’ll have to beat the Brumbies. The visitors have enjoyed a remarkable season that has seen them topple the British and Irish Lions and reach the final for the first time since their success in 2004.

The New Zealand side are overwhelming favourites to win due to their home advantage—they’ve yet to lose at home this season—and will be slightly fresher after avoiding the playoffs by virtue of their league position.

Want to keep abreast of all the action as it unfolds on Saturday? Then here’s the information you need to stay up to date.

Who: Waikato Chiefs vs. ACT Brumbies

When: Saturday, August 3 at 8:35 a.m. (BST) or 3:35 a.m. (ET)

Where: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand

Watch (UK Viewers): Sky Sports 1 from 8 a.m. (BST)

Watch (US Viewers): Direct TV Channel 490 at 3:35 a.m. (ET)

Live streaming is also available for UK viewers via Sky Player (subscription required).

The Chiefs destroyed the Sharks 37-6 in last year’s final, but this time around, it’s expected to be far closer.

As is often the case, this match could hinge on the form of the sides’ respective kickers. The visitor’s Christian Lealiifano has been the standout performer for the Brumbies, with displays of nerveless kicking, and he’ll be up against whoever is charged with the Chiefs’ goal-kicking responsibilities—either Gareth Anscombe or Aaron Cruden.

The Chiefs’ Hosea Gear and Brumbies’ Henry Speight both have an outside chance of finishing the campaign as Super Rugby’s top try scorer, although they would have to notch two apiece to challenge Blues’ Frank Halai at the top of the charts.

If the Brumbies are to cause an upset, their best chance is to get ahead early and silence the Waikato Stadium. With the home faithful expectant of success, the hosts will undoubtedly become nervous if the scoreboard shows them trailing.

It’s going to be close, with either a moment of magic or a mistake likely to be all that separates the sides from victory or defeat when the full-time siren sounds.

It’s inevitable some players will freeze on the biggest stage. By the end of the Super Rugby final between the Waikato Chiefs and the ACT Brumbies, we won’t be talking about 30 standout performers but a handful of individuals who shaped the game.

We’ve picked out three players who must step up in the final to give their side the best shot of glory and, unsurprisingly, two of them are kickers.

Aaron Cruden, Chiefs

Kicker No. 1 is Cruden, who was shoved into the position of responsibility when Gareth Anscombe broke his foot. Although Anscombe returned to the setup in the semi-final against the Crusaders, Cruden retained kicking duties and must be prepared to fulfill the role again on Saturday.

He cut a shaky figure in the Chiefs' final league match against the Blues where he missed all four conversions despite little pressure on him to make the kicks. There’s a lot more to Cruden’s game—he's enjoyed a fantastic season and is one the game's most creative players who could open any defence with his quick hands—but if he’s asked to kick, that’s what he’ll be ultimately judged on.

A much tighter contest against the Brumbies is expected and Cruden must handle the pressure from an expectant home crowd coveting back-to-back Super Rugby titles in the knowledge that the Brumbies boast one of the game’s best kickers.

Christian Lealiifano, Brumbies

That brings us nicely onto Cruden’s kicking adversary, Lealiifano. The Australian has eclipsed the 200-point mark in this year’s tournament and is one match away from writing himself into Brumbies folklore.

His consistency propelled the Brumbies to victory during the regular season and was rewarded with his debut in the first Test between Australian and the British and Irish Lions. Although it came to a premature end after a minute, he starred in the second Test by kicking the winning penalty late on and could cap a remarkable year by leading his side to Super Rugby glory.

And just to add an extra bit of spice to proceedings, Lealiifano enters the clash intent on stealing the trophy from a side he once played for.

Henry Speight, Brumbies

It’s all very well boasting a good kicker, but if you don’t present him with any opportunities to smash one between the posts, then they’re redundant. That’s where Speight comes in.

The Brumbies' top try scorer also returns to his former side and if the visitors are going to upset the odds, they’re going to need a big performance from the winger.

His eight tries helped carry his side into the knockout phase and he will be the first to capitalise on any early Chiefs nerves. The stage is set for Speight to stake a claim for a regular position in the Australian setup by creating a try out of nothing at the Waikato Stadium.

Final time. After 22 punishing rounds of rugby just two sides remain to contest the Super 15 crown.

It’s New Zealand vs. Australia as the Waikato Chiefs meet the ACT Brumbies. Will the Chiefs make it back-to-back successes or can the Brumbies usurp them in their own backyard?

Who: Waikato Chiefs vs. ACT Brumbies

When: Saturday, August 3, at 8:35 a.m. (BST) or 3:35 a.m. (ET)

Where: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Preview

So far, so good for the Chiefs. They topped the group stage, boast a 100 percent home record in this year’s competition, and established themselves as New Zealand’s top side by beating the Canterbury Crusaders in the semi-finals.

But they will be concerned that for large portions against the Crusaders they were outfought and were fortunate to escape with victory after Super Rugby’s most successful side spurned a host of chances.

The Chiefs are chasing back-to-back titles after defeating the Sharks 37-6 in last year’s final and will welcome home advantage again against the Brumbies.

“There has been an enormous amount of hard work to get us into this position and we are excited to be playing in front of the people who mean the most to us,” said Chiefs coach Dave Rennie, as reported by the official website.

It promises to be an emotional night for the Chiefs as they bid farewell to five players—Craig Clarke, Richard Kahui, Lelia Masaga, Toby Smith and Brendon Leonard—per The Fiji Times.

Gareth Anscombe, who was restored to the side last week following a broken foot, will fight Aaron Cruden for kicking duties with the outcome of the match heavily dependent on which side can convert their chances.

The Brumbies, meanwhile, are on the verge of completing a remarkable season. Not only have they returned to the Super Rugby final for the first time in nine years, but they also became the first provincial side to beat the British and Irish Lions since 1997.         

They threatened to throw away their hard work against Western Force on the final day of the regular season, but recovered to win a tight play-off against the Cheetahs before beating the Bulls in South Africa to earn a final spot.  

Christian Lealiifano was deadly with the boot in the Brumbies' semi-final, keeping the scoreboard ticking over as they secured a famous win, and if the kicker hits top form the visitors have a great chance.

Coach Jake White told the official website: “They are the champions, they have been here before and are playing at home so for our guys to beat the Chiefs will take a huge effort.

“Our players have worked hard to get to this final and I can assure you they are not thinking of leaving here without another Brumbies championship.”          

Both sides keep faith with the XV who propelled them into the final although the hosts are sweating on the fitness of Masaga with Robbie Robinson on standby, according to The National. 

It promises to be an epic final.

Prediction: Chiefs 20 – 23 Brumbies. Brumbies to add to their Lions success by ending the Chiefs’ 100 percent home record in a nail-biting contest.

Saturday marks the pinnacle of the Super XV season as the Chiefs host the Brumbies in the 2013 Grand Final at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

Having topped the regular season table, the Chiefs are firm favourites to retain the title they won so convincingly 12 months ago.

That victory came against the Sharks and was the New Zealanders' first triumph at their second attempt in a final.

Although the Brumbies have enjoyed more success, claiming two Super Rugby titles after reaching five finals, the Australian outfit haven't reached this stage since their 2004 win over the Crusaders.

Here's a look at some last-minute predictions for the showpiece event.

Christian Lealiifano's Kicking Keeps Brumbies Close

With 200 points to his name, mostly via the boot, Christian Lealiifano has been hugely instrumental to the Brumbies' form this season.

He was third top points scorer during the regular season and the Brumbies' best hopes for the final rely on his ice-cool kicking and their forwards shutting down the Chiefs' expansive brand of attack.

To do this, they must play in their opponents' half, dominate the set-piece—especially the Chiefs' sometimes fallible lineout—and stay in position for Lealiifano to keep the scoreboard moving. 

The longer they keep this a tight, nervy affair, the greater the chance of an upset.

Chiefs Pull Away in the Second Half

There's no doubting which side possesses the greater flair and attacking nous in this final, as the statistics on SuperXV.com fully reveal. With Aaron Cruden pulling the Chiefs' strings at fly-half, his side made more clean breaks (148) by the end of the regular season than any other side.

They also scored the most tries (50) and scored more points (458) than any other team, highlighting the task facing the Brumbies this weekend.

After a cagey opening, expect the game to become more fragmented in the second period, during which the Chiefs will have more chance to express themselves.

This was the case in their semifinal, and broken play is where the likes of Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Lelia Masaga—fitness permitting—are at their most lethal, with the extra time needed to make the decisive breaks.

Chiefs to Retain Title

If the Brumbies succeed with their game plan and stifle the Chiefs until the latter stages, there are still several other factors that may prevent them crossing the line.

The Brumbies upset the Bulls in Pretoria in the semifinal, but no team has lifted the trophy after making the long journey back from South Africa. As well as the considerable physical exertions from playing the Bulls, the players will be trying to rid their body of the additional fatigue caused by this travel.

On top of that, winning the final on foreign soil has only been achieved on one occasion, by the Crusaders in 2000. If the game stays close, expect Waikato's fervent home support to prove influential.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 27-18 Brumbies

Fifteen teams started the Super Rugby season; now only four remain.

Pacesetters the Chiefs and Bulls return in the semifinals after being rewarded with a week off for their exploits in the league stage, where they face the Crusaders and Brumbies respectively.

The prize for the victors is a spot in the showpiece final and the chance to compete for the Super Rugby crown. The time for inconsistency is over as one below-par performance will send two teams packing and render a season's hard work useless.

It’s prediction time.

Waikato Chiefs vs. Canterbury Crusaders

An all-New Zealand showdown to fight for a final berth.

The hosts: defending champions looking to assert themselves as the decade’s Super Rugby force. The visitors: the most successful side in Super Rugby history desperate to add to their haul of seven titles for the first time since 2008.

The Crusaders destroyed the Reds 38-9 in the playoffs to avenge their 2011 final defeat and set up a showdown with the league toppers.

Each side have a win apiece from their two meetings this season, both emerging victorious at home, and it’s bound to be a nervy affair with the nation’s bragging rights at stake.

Although the Chiefs should be fresher, the Crusaders have still had a full week to recover from their playoff match and the euphoria from winning might actually outweigh the benefit of having extra time off.

Dan Carter was outstanding against the Reds and will need to make sure his accuracy with the boot is near-perfect if the Crusaders are going to march away from their rival’s turf with victory.

Prediction: Home advantage is huge. Chiefs to edge it by 5.

Blue Bulls vs. ACT Brumbies

Australia was agonisingly close to having no representatives in the semifinals until the Brumbies narrowly defeated the Cheetahs in the playoffs.

The Brumbies will now need to find another gear against a Bulls side unbeaten at home all season.

Much has been made of the Brumbies' recent success over the British and Irish Lions, but it will be nothing more than a side note in history if they fail to reach the Super Rugby final.

Poor temperament continues to halt their progress—they've conceded more penalties than any other side in the tournament—and if it continues in the semifinal they will be punished by Bulls' kicking sensation Morne Steyn.

Steyn is the competition’s top scorer with 230 points and will happily launch penalties at the posts if his opponents' over eagerness spills onto the Loftus Versfeld pitch.

It's likely the head to head between Steyn and Brumbies' kicker Christian Lealiifano could decide this one, with the latter still managing to rack up the points despite his side’s recent dip in form.

Prediction: Brumbies’ ill-discipline to cost them. Bulls to win by 18.  

After a long season of Super Rugby, the finals are only a few matches away. 

There are four squads looking to become the 2013 winners of the biggest rugby league in the Southern Hemisphere, and most of them have been in this position recently.

The Bulls, Chiefs and Crusaders represent the last three champions of this prestigious league, with only the Brumbies not winning a title in the last few seasons. However, the club is just as capable of pulling out a title as anyone else remaining.

Meanwhile, the Lions and Kings will battle for a chance to play for the final spot in the league next season.

There is plenty to watch in the coming days, all leading up to the Aug. 3 championship. Here is a look at what to expect in Round 22.

Note: Schedule courtesy of SuperXV.com. 

Lions vs. Kings

Match 1

When: Friday, July 26, at 5 p.m. GMT

Where: Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Watch: Sky Sports 

Match 2

When: Saturday, Aug. 3, at 12 p.m. GMT

Where: Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa

Watch: Sky Sports

This home-and-home matchup will decide which club gets to participate in Super Rugby next season.

The Kings have struggled mightily this season and were clearly the worst team in the league. They only won three of their 16 matches and have not won since a May 11 victory over the Highlanders.

They were also outscored by a total of 266 points this season, which was twice as bad as anyone else in the league.

On the other hand, the Lions have struggled throughout the years as well when in the league, most recently in 2012.

While neither side can claim to have earned a right to play in Super 15, the Kings have played against the best all year and should be more prepared for the upcoming fight. If Demetri Catrakilis and company can live up to their potential, the Kings should be able to survive this test and retain their eligibility next season. 

Chiefs vs. Crusaders

When: Saturday, July 27, at 6:35 a.m. GMT

Where: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand

Watch: Sky Sports

Although the Crusaders are coming off a dominant win over the Reds in the previous round, they will have their hands full against the top-seeded Chiefs in this one.

Not only did are the Chiefs the defending champions of the league, but they capped off an impressive year by finishing with the most points in 2013. The Crusaders have had a tough time getting beyond the fellow New Zealand club, and this time will be no different.

When these two sides battled in last year's semifinal, the Chiefs barely squeaked out a 20-17 victory. However, the eventual winners could be even better this year with a deep roster full of players who can score at any time.

While the Crusaders have a strong defense, it will be almost impossible for them to even slow down the opposing attack. 

The Chiefs have the strongest squad in the tournament and should be able to at least advance to the finals. 

Bulls vs. Brumbies

When: Saturday, July 27, at 3:05 p.m. GMT

Where: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa

Watch: Sky Sports

This is a battle between the two top scorers in the league. Morne Steyn has been among the highest scorers throughout his career and finished on top of Super Rugby this year as well. 

On the other side of the field, the Brumbies are led by Christian Lealiifano, who finished right behind Steyn for second in points scored.

Each player is extremely talented and has the ability to carry their teams with big performances in this one.

Against the Cheetahs, the Brumbies showcased their defensive ability as well in a narrow 15-13 victory. They are great tacklers and will do their best to keep the matches low scoring.

While the Bulls have one of the top offenses in the league, they have not fared as well against top opponents this season. The attack is certain to be slowed down enough to cause the match to be decided by one or two plays.

This could allow the Brumbies to pull off the upset in this one.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.

The 2013 Super 15 Rugby tournament is nearly reaching its end, with Saturday's semifinal fixtures deciding who will meet in the August 3 final.

One of the matchups features the regular-season points leaders, the Waikato Chiefs, taking on a fellow New Zealand club in the Canterbury Crusaders. In the other showdown, the Blue Bulls are slated to face the ACT Brumbies.

Below is a brief preview and predictions for each contest, where it will be interesting to see if the two top teams of the year can get the job done at home and set up an epic clash in the final.

Note: Statistics and information, unless otherwise indicated, are courtesy of SuperXV.com.

Waikato Chiefs (1) vs. Canterbury Crusaders (4)

Although they finished the season with fewer overall points, there is plenty of reason for the Crusaders to be confident. After dismantling the Queensland Reds 38-9 in the qualifier on July 20, Canterbury gets to face a foe that it has beaten in each of the past two meetings.

Just three weeks ago, the Crusaders trounced the Chiefs 45-15, keyed by a momentous try from Kieran Read right before half-time.

Superstar fly-half Dan Carter is going to be hard for the hosting Waikato side to deny, and the physicality and relentlessness of full-backs Tom Marshall and Israel Dagg have bothered the Chiefs in the past, forcing them onto their heels.

The bye the Chiefs received could possibly cause them to come out flat, but hooker Hika Elliot puts to rest any concerns on that matter. Elliot recently hinted at a more attack-oriented mentality, per SuperXV.com:

We really need to step up in terms of our set-piece and bring an edge and a physicality to our game that people haven't seen this year. If we can do that I think we've got the potential in our backline to cut some shapes up in teams.

This should be quite a tight match given the run Canterbury is on against Waikato and the feeling the Crusaders must have in pummeling their way through the qualifier.

However, the best team in rugby will find a way to elevate its game, respond to Elliot's spurring and claim victory in front of the home crowd in Hamilton.

Prediction: Chiefs 27, Crusaders 25

Blue Bulls (2) vs. ACT Brumbies (3)

As it turns out, both so-called underdogs have a great chance at keeping their title aspirations afloat. The only other encounter the Bulls and Brumbies had in 2013 was won by the latter club, 23-20.

But the two sides will know the result of the first contest before they take the pitch, and if the Crusaders win, both of these teams will be playing for home-field advantage in the championship.

Even if that doesn't happen, the stakes couldn't be much higher here. The Brumbies squeaked by the Central Cheetahs in their last match by a score of 15-13.

Ryno Benjamin took it in for a try with less than a minute remaining, and five-eighth Riaan Smit of the Cheetahs lined up a conversion attempt that could have squared things up at 15. Unfortunately, his kick hit the post and allowed the Brumbies to advance.

The Bulls benefited as much as any club could have with the off week.

Twenty-year-old phenom centre Jan Serfontein is one of the marquee players who were on the mend, but he's been cleared to play. According to SuperXV.com, Serfontein is available along with speedster Francois Hougaard and lock position stalwart Flip van der Merwe, who is an intimidating presence at 6'6" and 260 pounds.

Now that the Bulls are recharged and back to full health, look for them to avenge the prior loss to the Brumbies and lock up a spot in the final in a comfortable victory.

Prediction: Bulls 35, Brumbies 23