Ben Afeaki was the forward of the week after an impressive display against the Bulls. Photo / Getty Images
Dylan Cleaver reviews the latest round of the Super 15 which saw the Chiefs pull off a a meritorious victory.
1 CHIEFS
won 28-22 v Bulls. 1st in NZC, 1st overall
It's okay to start believing now. That was a meritorious victory in a high-quality match against an extremely committed opponent. Not
to put too fine a point on it, it was the playoffs come early. Dave Rennie has a forward pack that refuses to lie down, even when they had a serious lineout malfunction. In the backs he has, in Aaron Cruden and Sonny Bill Williams, two exceptionallinebreakers. Most of all, he has a very good team. They have some tricky encounters on the run-in, but only one they should fear.
2 CRUSADERS
bye. 2nd in NZC, 5th overall
Not a bad weekend to rest up, collecting four points while watching title rivals bash seven bells out of each other. Number two might be a spot too high, but those immediately below suddenly look vulnerable and you cannot rule out this team running the Chiefs to the wire in the NZC. They host the Highlanders in Christchurch next, where they have the opportunity to enhance their own cause while dispelling any notion the visitors might have of catching them in the NZC.
3 STORMERS
lost 20-25 v Sharks. 1st in SAC, 2nd overall
Dark clouds are suddenly looming over Cape Town. Two losses at this stage of the season is an outstanding effort, but their inability to accrue four-try bonus points could hurt them when the polls close. They were outplayed by the Sharks in Durban and now have the unenviable task of travelling to Loftus to take on a Bulls team reeling from two narrow defeats. Break a habit of a lifetime and set your decoder for this clash. It could be season-defining for both of them.
4 REDS
won 13-12 v Brumbies. 2nd in AC, 8th overall
We'll call it early: the Reds will roll over the top of the Brumbies and claim the AC title. It shouldn't be enough to guarantee a week off, but they'll earn a home playoff and they showed how dangerous they are at Suncorp with their dismantling of the Chiefs. The Reds haven't been in the Fab Four since week seven and you could easily make a claim here for the Bulls or Sharks, but the defending champs havem that look about them that suggests they're got giving up their crown without a scrap.
Forward of the week
Ben Afeaki (Chiefs)
All he did was play 80 quality minutes on his comeback from a smashed forearm against one of the most combative packs in the competition. The 24-year-old tighthead was immense, with one cover tackle late in the match demonstrating his mobility. His battle for a starting spot with Ben Tameifuna will give Dave Rennie a pleasant problem.
Back of the week
Aaron Cruden (Chiefs)
Down in the capital, Beauden Barrett was nigh on unstoppable for the Hurricanes. His was a stunning performance against a team that had lost all semblance of defensive alignment. Cruden's was a more subtle masterpiece. Against a team with a very solid line, he had to run through his whole gamut of skills to find chinks of space. Terrific stuff.
Try of the week
Andre Taylor (Hurricanes)
There were plenty of choices, from Luke Morahan's piece of genius in Canberra to a couple from Waikato Stadium. Pick of a really good bunch, however, was Andre Taylor's first try at the Cake Tin. From TJ Perenara backing his way through a ruck, to his audacious reverse flick, to Tim Bateman's backing up and desperate in-pass, to Taylor's sublime pick up, this try had class all over it.
Form XV
15 Andrew Horrell - Chiefs
14 Kurt Baker - Highlanders
13 Francis Saili - Blues
12 Sonny Bill Williams - Chiefs
11 Julian Savea - Hurricanes
10 Aaron Cruden - Chiefs
9 TJ Perenara - Hurricanes
8 Victor Vito - Hurricanes
7 Luke Braid - Blues
6 Adam Thomson - Highlanders
5 Jason Eaton - Hurricanes
4 Jarrad Hoeata - Highlanders
3 Ben Afeaki - Chiefs
2 Hika Elliott - Chiefs
1 Tony Woodcock - Blues