Super 14: Experts divided over semis makeup

The Crusaders and Hurricanes are the last NZ hopes for Super 14 glory. Photos / Getty Images

Rugby fans have a busy weekend ahead of them with three of the top four positions on the Super 14 table to be decided in the final round of the competition.

It's do or die for the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Brumbies and Waratahs, while the Stormers do battle for a home semifinal against the top of the table Bulls.

The Crusaders will host the fourth-placed Brumbies while the Hurricanes will travel to Sydney to play the Waratahs. The winners of both games should make the semifinals.

Former All Black captain and Wellington representative Stu Wilson is confident the 'Canes will make it through, despite the Waratahs playing well at home.

"If there's one team that can turn things around its the Hurricanes and we've seen that in the last two weeks with big performances to dig themselves out of the hole," Wilson said.

He said the 'Canes have their front row in tact while the Waratahs are missing Ben Robinson and Tatafu Polata-Nau.

"The Canes will be good enough and we'll have two in the finals," Wilson said.

He is picking the Crusaders to join the 'Canes in the semis.

Wilson said with the home advantage, the Crusaders will win against the Brumbies.

He said the suspension of halfback Kahn Fotuali'i, who was stood down for breaching team protocol following last week's loss to the Bulls, will not affect the team.

For the South African encounter, Wilson is backing the Stormers to clinch the home semifinal.

"There's a bit of an edge for them," Wilson said.

He said with the massive changes made to the Bulls, he's now picking the margin to be thirteen plus.

Asked if there was anything questionable about the changes, Wilson said New Zealand was the last country to point the finger for picking an under-strength side.

"Look at what we did. How many times have we rotated players in test matches? Test matches - not Super 14," Wilson said.

Former All Black Craig Dowd said the Crusaders will not make it past the Brumbies.

He said leaving Fotuali'i out of the Crusaders was a big call but the halfback had let the team down.

"I hope they've worked that decision through, whether or not there was another way they could discipline him, I'm not sure."

He said the travel for the Crusaders will be tough and in the back of the mind they will be thinking of the possibility of getting back on the plane to South Africa.

Dowd said while the Crusaders are dealing with that, the Brumbies will be fresh.

He is picking the Hurricanes as New Zealand's only representative side in the Super 14 semifinals.

Dowd said with their fire power in the backline - in Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith - they will prove too much for the Waratahs.

He said the 'Canes will also be playing for their coach Colin Cooper who is leaving the side after a long stint as coach.

"All the boys respect Colin and I think they will want to do the right thing by him," Dowd said.

Inga Tuigamala is also picking the 'Canes to come through with Conrad Smith giving them a real "confidence boost".

"Colin Cooper will be really pleased to see him back," Tuigamala said.

He said Cooper's retirement will be an added motivation.

"It will be a last push to celebrate the man's contribution - not just to the Hurricanes - but to New Zealand rugby," Tuigamala said.

He said the Crusaders will beat the Brumbies and praised the Christchurch-based franchise for their disciplinary stand against Fotuali'i.

"They've come through a period where they want everything and those principles stand. It doesn't matter who you are, if you're not going to tow the line then you're going to get punished."

He said the jetlag will not affect them.

"When you come from high altitude to sea level, you're buzzing."