Hurricanes seal 1st place with a round to go in Super Rugby; Moana farewell home fans
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Wellington-based Hurricanes have secured top seeding for the Super Rugby playoffs with one round remaining in the regular season. After Saturday’s 45-28 win over the Dunedin-based Highlanders, the Hurricanes hold a nine-point lead over the Chiefs and cannot be displaced from the top of the table in next weekend’s final round. First place carries with it the valuable prize of a second chance in the playoffs, the chance to return if beaten in the first round.
The Hurricanes have an 11-2 record and lead the tournament with 84 tries, 18 more than the next best team. The rest of the top six teams that will contest the playoffs probably have been decided, though the finishing order may still change. The Queensland Reds are in sixth place, five points clear of the New South Wales Waratahs in seventh and with an identical points differential.
The Reds host the Fijian Drua and the Waratahs face the Western Force next weekend. The Auckland-based Blues in third place and ACT Brumbies in fifth place also are separated by only five points and those positions may be shuffled after next week’s matches. At this point, the Hurricanes, Chiefs and Blues look likely to host matches in the first round of the quarterfinals.
The Hurricanes end the regular season against the Christchurch-based Crusaders, currently in fourth place. The teams met in round 12 when the Hurricanes won 38-31. Head coach Clark Laidlaw said he was “delighted” with the Hurricanes’ first place finish.
“All the teams are chasing that top spot,” he said. “We know what it gives us around the second chance if you need it but more importantly, if you win, then you play at home. “The consistency the men have shown, particularly through this block of games, it’s really pleasing.