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Cape Town - The Stormers will face their biggest test in Super Rugby this year when they come up against the Chiefs in a Newlands playoff next weekend following a thrilling conclusion to the New Zealand conference on Saturday.
The Hurricanes caused an upset with a sensational 35-10 demolition of the Crusaders in Christchurch, which saw the Canes top the NZ conference on 53 log points due to their bonus-point victory.
The Chiefs still had a chance to top the conference as they needed just a losing bonus point against the Highlanders in Dunedin, but they were unable to do it as the home side triumphed 25-15 at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in dramatic circumstances.
Reserve loose forward Lachlan Boshier scored a try to bring the Chiefs within three points of the Highlanders at 18-15 with 10 minutes left, but fullback Damian McKenzie missed the crucial conversion.
Five minutes later, Highlanders flyhalf Lima Sopoaga dotted down in controversial fashion after centre Matt Faddes lost the ball in contact a few metres out, but referee Glen Jackson referred the incident to TMO Chris Wratt, who ruled that Faddes had had the ball knocked out of his grasp by Chiefs replacement loosehead prop Siegfried Fisiihoi and that there was no knock-on.
The ball bounced loose and Sopoaga pounced to score in the left-hand corner and then slotted the touchline conversion to hand the Highlanders a 10-point victory.
That pushed the Chiefs out of second spot in the NZ conference, with the Hurricanes on 53, Highlanders 52, Chiefs 51 and Crusaders 50. All four sides made it to the playoffs, but the fact that conference winners get to host the quarter-finals sees only the Hurricanes playing at home next weekend.
The Lions, on 52, need just a losing bonus point from their clash against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Saturday night to go past the Hurricanes as the Johannesburg team have the same amount of wins (11) and have a far superior points difference.
The Australian conference will be decided on Saturday afternoon, with the Brumbies also needing just a losing bonus point against the Force in Canberra to go past the Waratahs and host a playoff next week.
At the moment, only the Stormers vs Chiefs playoff at Newlands is confirmed. For the rest, the Hurricanes, Lions and either the Waratahs or Brumbies will definitely host a quarter-final, with the last four sides who have to play away from home being the Highlanders, Chiefs, Crusaders and Sharks.
Tickets for the Stormers vs Chiefs game at Newlands will go on sale on Monday, with prices ranging from R85 for standing room to R395 for the best seats in the grandstand. Season tickets will be valid for the match, with a kickoff time to be confirmed.
Independent Media