Same old top four, barring miracles

The Waratahs will be hoping they don't get into a tangle this week against the Hurricanes like Chiefs player Anthony Tahana and Waratah Brett Sheehan. Phil Walter/ Getty Images

For much of the inaugural Super 14, the series has been about four teams - the Crusaders, Waratahs, Hurricanes and Brumbies.

They cleared out after a few rounds and have stayed ahead of the pack ever since. The only uncertainty was whether the Brumbies could be picked off in the run to the play-offs.

That remote possibility remains going into the final round. However, it would need a peculiar combination of results for the Brumbies to miss the semifinals.

They have a bonus point victory buffer ahead of the chasing Sharks and Bulls who need massive wins and the Brumbies to lose by a wide margin, if either is to make the final four.

The real drama for the Brumbies this week concerns the fate of their legendary halfback George Gregan.

Following their first defeat at home, he was cited to answer a dangerous tackle charge after being sinbinned for what looked like a spear tackle on Highlanders utility Richard Kahui.

If he is found guilty at today's judicial hearing in Canberra, Gregan could face a penalty from between two weeks to six months.

However, the chance of Gregan being banned looks as likely as the Brumbies missing the semifinals.

So the last-round intrigue will be about how the final four deal with this weekend's match-ups when they will square off again the following week in the semifinals.

The Crusaders and Hurricanes both won at the weekend while the Waratahs and Brumbies suffered ragged defeats.

For the Waratahs, the meltdown came in their defence, which had been miserly until Saturday in Hamilton against the Chiefs. That defeat will raise the hoary old debate about the Tahs and whether they will once again be champions in March but pretenders in May.

A sign of some tension showed on Saturday when Phil Waugh questioned Mat Rogers' game savvy as the Waratahs chased the game. The five-eighths took a quick tap rather than kicking to touch to set up the lineout drives which had been working for the Waratahs.

Hurricanes coaches Colin Cooper and Aussie McLean were attentive spectators in the stands at Hamilton, picking the strategies and studying the players they will meet this Saturday in Sydney.

The duo had journeyed north after their side lurched to an unconvincing win against the Reds. Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie would not have sought his worry beads after watching that performance.

The winners of the Waratahs-Hurricanes match will end up in second place at worst and with a home semifinal.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders were due back in Christchurch early today, boosted for their title defence by the way they dismembered the Bulls.

"We have a short turnaround this week but this win was very good for morale because we have rarely been convincing before in Pretoria," manager Tony Thorpe said from Sydney airport.

"We will have a full squad to pick from and this week will be all about recovering from the trip and getting our body clocks sorted."

The run home

* Crusaders (1st, 47pts) - Brumbies (h).

* Waratahs (2nd, 44pts) - Hurricanes (h).

* Hurricanes (3rd, 43pts) - Waratahs (a).

* Brumbies (4th, 38pts) - Crusaders (a)