Rugby: NZ could miss out on Super 14 finals

The Crusaders are in danger of missing out on the Super 14 semifinals. Photo / Getty Images

What a weird and wacky round of Super 14. Something was not quite right from the time the Chiefs stepped out at Waikato Stadium and turned victory into a numbing stalemate against the Cheetahs.

By the time referee Mark Lawrence signalled the latest demise for the Blues in Durban yesterday, the Hurricanes stood out as the only successful New Zealand side.

But their chances of making the playoffs remain marginal and there must also be doubts whether the Crusaders will qualify after they suffered a shock loss to the Force.

The Crusaders are hanging in there, but in the next fortnight in South Africa they face challenges from the Stormers and Bulls who are ahead of them on the table.

If the seven-times champions play as moderately in those matches as they did in their 24-16 loss to the Force, every New Zealand side could miss the playoffs as they have just once before in the competition's history in 2001.

The Crusaders were looking steady with a 13-0 halftime lead in what was supposed to be the least taxing game on their tour. The Force, though, upped the tempo and with a spectacular late length-of-the-field try claimed a remarkable 24-16 victory.

Meanwhile, the Reds continued their extraordinary revival, showing they could change tactics and hang tough on a wet evening in Brisbane when they outlasted the Stormers.

There were contrasting halves at Carisbrook as the Hurricanes and Highlanders blitzed the tryline early before the scoring dried up until Ma'a Nonu clattered across to secure the Canes victory and the sole result for a New Zealand team.

The Waratahs and Brumbies had a turgid clash, punctuated by a strange performance from referee Steve Walsh. He had a running battle with Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles, denied Adam Ashley-Cooper what seemed a legitimate try and made enough other errors to suggest he needed a holiday.

In Pretoria, the winless Lions travelled to Loftus Versfeld to be the latest victim for the Bulls. Or so the theory went. It was all looking a little dodgy at the break with the Bulls in front 12-8 but without a try.

No matter. They wound into their work after whatever they give them at halftime these days and slammed on six tries for a 51-11 drubbing.

Then the Blues wobbled through their work in Durban to leave people wondering whether 2010 was going to resemble the turbulent 2001 test season.

After every New Zealand team missed the playoffs that year, the All Blacks won twin tests against the Springboks but lost two against the Wallabies. Wayne Smith was replaced as national coach and John Mitchell took the side on an unbeaten end-of-year tour to Ireland, Scotland and Argentina.