Round 19 Super Rugby review: Waratahs and Crusaders lead charge as five of top six sides warm up for finals with wins

FIVE of the six sides that qualified for the Super Rugby finals rounded out the season with wins — read our review of the action ahead of the playoffs.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: The Brumbies celebrate after Henry Speight of the Brumbies scored a try during the round 19 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Force at Canberra Stadium on July 11, 2014 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

FIVE of the six sides that qualified for the Super Rugby finals rounded out the regular season with wins.

The top-ranked Waratahs and second-placed Crusaders recorded big victories over fierce local rivals, while the Sharks bounced back to ensure they enter the playoffs in winning form.

Last season’s grand finalists — the Chiefs and Brumbies — also triumphed ahead of their qualifying final showdown in Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

The Highlanders, crushed by the Crusaders in Christchurch, were the only finalist to suffer defeat ahead of the playoffs.

What did we learn about the six sides heading into the Super Rugby finals? Read on for our Round 19 review.

DEFENCE WINS TITLES, JUST ASK CHIEFS

So that’s why the Chiefs are called the defending champions — because they can defend, like champions.

With their season on the line the Chiefs repelled a Blues outfit that threw everything, kitchen sink included, at them at Eden Park on Friday night to slide into the top six and keep their title defence alive.

John Kirwan’s side needed to win by 38 points to qualify for the finals and they weren’t going to die wondering despite the horrendous conditions that greeted the teams in Auckland.

Dominating the early possession and territory the Blues relentlessly attacked the Chiefs’ try-line but couldn’t force their way over, thanks to the visitors’ desperate defence.

Their tenacious tackling frustrated the Blues and forced them to chance their arm more and more, and the Chiefs became the beneficiaries.

Liam Messam’s instinctive intercept try proved the decisive moment of the match, the All Blacks flanker latching on to a risky inside ball from Blues flyhalf Ihaia West and, after a juggle, charging 50m to give his side a narrow lead that they never surrendered.

The 11-8 scoreline suggests it was far from convincing but it was the kind of gritty victory that highlighted the Chiefs’ outstanding qualities.

Dave Rennie’s men will have to defy history if they’re to claim a three-peat of Super Rugby titles as no side has won the competition from outside the top two since the conference system was introduced in 2011.

But the Chiefs are in the finals, have the likes of Aaron Cruden, Brodie Retallick and Messam hitting top form and defend their title to the very end, like champions.

The Brumbies showcased their attacking potential against the Force.

BRILLIANT BRUMBIES SHOWCASE ATTACKING ARSENAL

The Chiefs can defend like champions, but they will need to step up a notch to blunt a Brumbies side that reminded everyone of its attacking brilliance.

Last season’s runners-up, who will host the Chiefs in a grand final rematch in Saturday night’s qualifying final, stormed into the playoffs with a seven-try performance that suggested they can cause more than a bit of post-season damage.

Led by the magnificent Matt Toomua, who bagged a hat-trick of tries, the Brumbies took control of their clash with Western Force from the outset and set a benchmark that their Australian conference rivals could not match.

Back from a groin injury that ruled him out of the round 17 loss to NSW, Toomua opened the scoring just six minutes in when he bobbed up on the left after starting a move on the opposite side of the field with a quick tap. He made it two tries after 26 minutes, showing brilliant awareness to attack down the right-hand side off the back of a Sam Carter bust.

“Toomua set the pace and the rhythm and also the angles at times. Two tries early on and they were away,” said Fox Sports Rugby expert Greg Martin in his post-match summary.

It wasn’t just the Toomua show. Winger Henry Speight had a field day, while fullback Jesse Mogg also had a timely return to form. When you consider that Wallaby backs Pat McCabe and Joe Tomane, who crossed for a late try, both came off the bench it’s hard to believe this is the same side that was hammered for its kick-heavy tactics earlier in the year.

The question now is can they continue in that same attacking vein against the Chiefs? The Brumbies belted the back-to-back champs 41-23 when they met in Canberra in round 11. There’s also the revenge factor, with the Brumbies out to erase some of the pain of last year’s grand final defeat in Hamilton.

“I don’t know whether you have to lose one to win one but I’m sure they would have learnt a lot from that,” Martin said.

Dan Carter is looking sharper for the Crusaders.

CLINICAL CRUSADERS IN CRUISE CONTROL

Here come the Crusaders.

The seven-time champions have been up and down at times in 2014, but look to have flicked the switch at the right time of the season — again.

The Cantabrians simply bossed their south island rivals at AMI Stadium on Saturday night, putting paid to the Highlanders’ hopes of snatching first place in the New Zealand conference with a powerful performance up front.

Three tries from forwards — a double to flanker Matt Todd and one to hooker Corey Flynn — highlighted the dominance of the Crusaders pack which also benefited from big games from Sam Whitelock and Kieran Read.

The victory — combined with the Sharks’ inability to later win by 35 points and grab a four-try bonus point — wrapped up second place for the Crusaders and set them up perfectly for a shot at an eighth title.

It all looks to be coming together for the Crusaders. Dan Carter looked better for his second start of the season at inside centre, while All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw is set to return from a rib injury for their semi-final in a fortnight.

And in Nemani Nadolo they have an X-factor player capable of breaking a close game wide open. The giant Fijian winger, who was again on the scoresheet, has crossed for 10 tries in 12 games in his debut Super Rugby season to trail only Israel Folau (12 in 11).

The Waratahs lineout is an area of concern heading into the finals.

SHAKY SET-PIECE A WORRY FOR WARATAHS

A two-try masterclass from Kurtley Beale, a record win over a fierce interstate rival and a seventh successive victory — there was plenty to crow about for NSW fans.

So why the concern about the Waratahs heading into the finals? Well, the 34-3 scoreline against the Reds masked what can only be described as a set-piece shocker.

The Tahs’ shaky scrum and leaky lineout — which in particular was exposed by Queensland on Saturday night — means coach Michael Cheika has plenty to work on between now and the semi-final in a fortnight.

“If I’m playing the Waratahs (in a fortnight), I’m punching (the ball) into the corner if I’ve got a good lineout and I’m going to put as much pressure on them as I possibly can,” former Wallaby lock Nathan Sharpe said on Fox Sports’ Rugby Central after the match.

“You saw (against the Reds) if they don’t get good secure ball from that set-piece, they find it really hard. They don’t get that front-foot ball, they don’t get Wycliff Palu over the advantage line, they don’t get Will Skelton over the advantage line. They’re constantly going behind and it’s very hard to get out of your own territory if that’s the case.

“The Crusaders have got a very, very good defensive lineout, the Brumbies have a very good defensive lineout and they’re two teams that they’re very likely to play in the finals series.

“Across a lot of areas (the Waratahs) have been the best team in the competition but that is certainly a weakness for them. And a lot of teams are going to try and exploit that come finals time.”

Still, there were obvious positives to come out of the Tahs’ first win in Brisbane since 2010.

Beale continued his blistering form, their defensive wall held firm, and fringe players like Jono Lance, Cam Crawford and Taqele Naiyaravoro stepped up. Oh, and the Waratahs ran in four tries with their star attacking weapon — Israel Folau — sitting on the sideline.

Now, to sort out that set-piece.

SHARKS BOUNCE BACK TO FORM FOR FINALS

The Sharks snapped a two-game losing run with a 34-10 victory over the Stormers but it wasn’t enough to move ahead of the Crusaders.

Needing a 35-point, four-try win the Sharks only managed three five-pointers and a 24-point margin — a result that will see them face the Highlanders in Durban in week one of the finals.

It was the visitors who struck first and made an already difficult assignment even tougher for the Sharks with backrower Nizaam Carr the beneficiary of a driving maul.

It took until the 38th minute for the Sharks to cross with Paul Jordaan winning the race to a bouncing ball behind the Stormers’ line, the centre’s try coming after Francois Steyn had sunk four penalties.

There was very little between the two sides for much of the second half while any hope of the Sharks eclipsing the Crusaders for second spot quickly evaporated as the hosts dominated possession and territory.

They were forced to settle for two tries inside the final five minutes which greatly inflated the scoreline of what had been a dour struggle.

The Sharks will be overwhelming favourites to defeat the Highlanders after the Dunedin side finished the regular season with heavy losses to both the Waratahs and Crusaders.

The Highlanders will take confidence from their round-11 victory over the Sharks in Durban but will be sweating on the fitness of star fullback Ben Smith.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

In Auckland, the Blues’ campaign was ended when they were outlasted 11-8 by the Chiefs.

In Canberra, the Western Force’s best season came to a close with a 47-25 loss to the Brumbies.

In Pretoria, the Rebels were handed the wooden spoon following a 40-7 thumping at the hands of the Bulls.

In Christchurch, the Highlanders’ hopes of leapfrogging the Crusaders into first place in the Kiwi conference came unstuck thanks to a 34-8 defeat.

In Brisbane, the Reds season of pain continued when they were held tryless in a 34-3 thumping by the Waratahs.

In Johannesburg, the Lions shocked the Cheetahs with an eight-try blitz to run out 60-25 winners.

In Cape Town, the Stormers let slip the chance to finish on level pegging at eight wins, eight losses when they lost 34-10 at home to the Sharks.

Originally published as Round 19 Super Rugby review: Waratahs and Crusaders lead charge as five of top six sides warm up for finals with wins