Stormers to travel for Crusaders semi-final?

CAPE TOWN – Sanzaar have thrown up some interesting possibilities for the semi-finals after confirming the Super Rugby playoff line-up on Sunday.

The Hurricanes’ 31-22 victory over the Crusaders has opened up the competition somewhat, and the Lions’ 27-10 win over the Sharks ensured that things worked out exactly how they wanted, with a home quarter-final for Johan Ackermann’s side and the Sharks staying in South Africa instead of undertaking a 24-hour trip to Christchurch.

But while we know what the quarter-final line-up is, let’s take a step forward and see what the last four might look like.

Sanzaar announced that the winner of quarter-final one will face the quarter-final four victors, and the other semi-final will be QF2 against QF3.

That means the Lions – most probably, as they should beat the Sharks at Ellis Park – will take on the winner of the Brumbies-Hurricanes game, likely the defending champions from Wellington.

But the other semi-final will be the winners of the Crusaders-Highlanders clash, and Stormers-Chiefs. So Robbie Fleck’s outfit may be facing a daunting trip to Christchurch, unless the Highlanders can produce an upset, which is entirely possible.

All roads, though, seemingly lead to Ellis Park, where the Lions are odds-on favourites to go one step further than last season.

But it won’t be easy, as they will probably face the Hurricanes in the semi-final and perhaps the Crusaders in the championship decider!