The run home
Rebels (a), Highlanders (h), Hurricanes (a). Kings (h), Sunwolves (h), Sharks (a). Sharks (a), Cheetahs (a), Sunwolves (h), Bulls (h). Jaguares (a), Rebels (h), Reds (a), Chiefs (a). Bulls (a), Force (a), Chiefs (h), Crusaders (h). Blues (a), Waratahs (h), Hurricanes (a), Brumbies (h). Waratahs (h), Crusaders (a), Reds (h). Stormers (h), Bulls (h), Lions (h). semifinal at Ellis Park after winning their quarter-final in Canberra.
The Chiefs will expect the Hurricanes to beat the Bulls and Force in the next two weeks, which means they have to do the same against the Blues and Waratahs and reach June 9 level or as close as they can.
The Chiefs will be wary of the Blues’ capacity to play party pooper. Now that the Blues have seen their playoff hopes all but extinguished, they may, as happened last year, play an uninhibited brand of rugby that is hard to contain.
There’s also a need to be aware that with a game in Samoa next week and then a historic clash against the British and Irish Lions, the Blues still have ample but perhaps different motivations to keep playing well.
Winning in Auckland is imperative for the Chiefs because what they want is for their clash against the Hurricanes to be definitive — to be able to get ahead of them on the table if they win.
If they do that, then they can come into their last game of the regular season against the Brumbies in Hamilton knowing they control their own destiny. Beat the Brumbies, and they will finish fifth.
The Chiefs, while they don’t want to rely on it, do at least have the secondary hope of knowing that the Hurricanes’ last match is against the Crusaders.