Blue Train Sho't Left Specials

Super 14 table

The progression of the Super 14 table through the 2010 competition.

Final league table

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1	Bulls	South Africa	13	10	3	0	436	345	91	7	47
2	Stormers	South Africa	13	9	4	0	365	171	194	8	44
3	Waratahs	Australia	13	9	4	0	385	288	97	7	43
4	Crusaders	New Zealand	13	8	4	1	388	295	93	7	41
5	Reds	Australia	13	8	5	0	366	309	57	7	39
4	Brumbies	Australia	13	8	5	0	358	291	67	5	37
5	Hurricanes	New Zealand	13	7	5	1	358	323	35	7	37
8	Blues	New Zealand	13	7	6	0	376	333	43	8	36
9	Sharks	South Africa	13	7	6	0	297	299	-2	5	33
10	Cheetahs	South Africa	13	5	7	1	316	393	-77	4	26
11	Chiefs	New Zealand	13	4	8	1	340	418	-78	8	26
12	Western Force	Australia	13	4	9	0	258	364	-106	3	19
13	Highlanders	New Zealand	13	3	10	0	297	397	-100	6	18
14	Lions	South Africa	13	0	13	0	270	585	-315	5	5

After 12th round matches

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1	Bulls	South Africa	12	10	2	0	426	307	119	7	47
2	Stormers	South Africa	12	8	4	0	327	161	163	7	39
3	Waratahs	Australia	12	8	4	0	353	272	81	6	38
4	Brumbies	Australia	12	8	4	0	336	251	85	5	37
5	Hurricanes	New Zealand	12	7	4	1	342	291	51	7	37
6	Crusaders	New Zealand	12	7	4	1	348	273	75	6	36
7	Reds	Australia	12	7	5	0	328	273	55	6	34
8	Blues	New Zealand	12	6	6	0	346	313	33	8	32
9	Sharks	South Africa	12	6	6	0	270	277	-7	5	29
10	Chiefs	New Zealand	12	4	7	1	320	388	-68	8	26
11	Cheetahs	South Africa	12	4	7	1	257	383	-126	3	21
12	Western Force	Australia	12	4	8	0	236	337	-101	2	18
13	Highlanders	New Zealand	12	3	9	0	261	359	-98	5	17
14	Lions	South Africa	12	0	12	0	260	526	-266	5	5

Table after week 12

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1	Bulls	South Africa	11	9	2	0	386	272	114	7	43
2	Stormers	South Africa	11	8	3	0	313	141	172	6	38
3	Crusaders	New Zealand	11	7	3	1	313	233	80	4	34
4	Reds	Australia	11	7	4	0	307	228	85	6	34
5	Waratahs	Australia	11	7	4	0	307	253	54	5	33
6	Hurricanes	New Zealand	11	6	4	1	298	270	28	6	32
7	Brumbies	Australia	11	7	4	0	305	248	57	4	32
8	Blues	New Zealand	11	5	6	0	290	299	-9	7	27
9	Chiefs	New Zealand	11	4	6	1	301	342	-41	7	26
10	Sharks	South Africa	11	5	6	0	250	263	-13	5	25
11	Western Force	Australia	11	4	7	0	222	308	-86	2	18
12	Highlanders	New Zealand	11	3	8	0	258	328	-102	5	17
13	Cheetahs	South Africa	11	3	7	1	228	369	-141	2	16
14	Lions	South Africa	11	0	11	0	246	470	-224	5	5

After 8th round matches

Well done for carrying the South African flag this weekend and beating the Reds. The Eden Park curse saw the Bulls going down to the Blues again. In a major upset, the Western Force beat the Stormers 16-15 with a drop-goal after full-time. The Crusaders and Hurricanes played to the first tie of the 2010 Super 14 rugby competition, with referee Jonathan Kaplan awarding the Crusaders a questionable try after full-time and ace-kicker Dan Carter missing the conversion.

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1	Waratahs	Australia	8	6	2	0	265	195	70	4	28
2	Bulls	South Africa	7	6	1	0	263	204	59	4	28
3	Crusaders	New Zealand	7	5	1	1	218	148	70	3	25
4	Stormers	South Africa	7	5	2	0	176	70	101	4	24
5	Reds	Australia	7	3	4	0	219	145	74	5	21
6	Chiefs	New Zealand	7	4	3	0	215	202	13	5	21
7	Brumbies	Australia	7	5	2	0	187	179	8	1	21
8	Blues	New Zealand	7	4	3	0	189	190	-1	4	20
9	Hurricanes	New Zealand	8	3	4	1	209	199	10	6	18
10	Sharks	South Africa	8	3	5	0	176	198	-22	4	16
11	Highlanders	New Zealand	8	2	6	0	174	244	-70	3	11
12	Cheetahs	South Africa	7	2	5	0	146	206	-60	1	9
13	Western Force	Australia	7	1	6	0	107	215	-108	1	5
14	Lions	South Africa	7	0	7	0	169	313	-144	3	3

Super 14 table after 7th round matches

After struggling in the first half, the Bulls put the Force away in the second to cement their lead at the head of the table. The Sharks did the Stormers and Bulls a favour by squeaking home with a penalty after full-time against the Hurricanes and moving them further from semi-final contention. We were hoping the Lions would win, but the last time a miracle of that magnitude occurred was 2000 years ago. In the battle for the wooden spoon the Lions went down 29-39 to the Highlanders (and there's a good chance that the Southern Kings will take their place in next year's Super 15). After raising their game for the derby match against the Stormers last weekend, the Cheetahs went down 10-31 to the revitalised Reds.

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1	Bulls	South Africa	6	6	0	0	246	172	74	4	28
2	Stormers	South Africa	6	5	1	0	161	59	102	3	23
3	Crusaders	New Zealand	6	5	1	0	192	122	70	3	23
4	Waratahs	Australia	7	5	2	0	225	178	47	3	23
5	Brumbies	Australia	7	5	2	0	187	179	8	1	21
6	Reds	Australia	6	3	3	0	191	115	76	3	19
7	Chiefs	New Zealand	6	3	3	0	188	181	7	5	17
8	Hurricanes	New Zealand	7	3	4	0	183	173	10	4	16
9	Blues	New Zealand	6	3	3	0	157	173	-16	4	16
10	Sharks	South Africa	7	2	5	0	146	170	-24	4	12
11	Highlanders	New Zealand	7	2	5	0	153	217	-64	2	10
12	Cheetahs	South Africa	6	2	4	0	129	166	-37	1	9
13	Lions	South Africa	7	0	7	0	169	313	-144	3	3
14	Western Force	Australia	6	0	6	0	91	200	-109	1	1

Super 14 table after 6th round matches

In the battle of the wooden-spoonists, the Sharks beat the travel-weary Highlanders. The Lions put up a brave fight but were outclassed by the Crusaders. The Western Force got their first point in the tournament, losing 10-14 to the Waratahs. The Bulls squeaked home against the Hurricanes, and the Stormers happily beat the Cheetahs.

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1	Bulls	South Africa	5	5	0	0	218	157	61	4	24
2	Stormers	South Africa	6	5	1	0	161	59	102	3	23
3	Crusaders	New Zealand	6	5	1	0	192	122	70	3	23
4	Waratahs	Australia	6	4	2	0	186	146	40	2	18
5	Brumbies	Australia	6	4	2	0	157	156	1	0	17
6	Chiefs	New Zealand	5	3	0	0	165	151	14	4	16
7	Reds	Australia	5	3	2	0	160	105	55	3	15
8	Hurricanes	New Zealand	6	3	3	0	157	144	13	3	15
9	Blues	New Zealand	5	3	2	0	125	134	-9	2	14
10	Cheetahs	South Africa	5	2	3	0	119	135	-16	1	9
11	Sharks	South Africa	6	1	5	0	117	144	-27	4	8
12	Highlanders	New Zealand	6	1	5	0	114	188	-74	2	6
13	Lions	South Africa	6	0	6	0	140	274	-134	2	2
14	Western Force	Australia	5	0	5	0	76	172	-96	1	1

Super 14 table after 5th round matches

How wonderful it is to see 2 South African teams topping the log. As expected the Bulls and Stormers beat the Highlanders and Hurricanes respectives, with both hauling in a bonus point. The Bulls now top the log with a game in hand. Whilst the Lions played to their form in getting thrashed by the Waratahs, the Sharks played better than expected in their loss to the Brumbies.

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1	Bulls	South Africa	4	4	0	0	199	139	60	4	20
2	Stormers	South Africa	5	4	1	0	140	51	89	3	19
3	Crusaders	New Zealand	5	4	1	0	146	103	43	2	18
4	Chiefs	New Zealand	5	3	0	0	165	151	14	4	16
5	Brumbies	Australia	5	4	1	0	123	117	6	0	16
6	Reds	Australia	5	3	2	0	160	105	55	3	15
7	Waratahs	Australia	5	3	2	0	172	136	36	2	14
8	Hurricanes	New Zealand	5	3	2	0	139	125	14	2	14
9	Cheetahs	South Africa	4	2	2	0	111	114	-3	1	9
10	Blues	New Zealand	4	2	2	0	86	100	-14	1	9
11	Highlanders	New Zealand	5	1	4	0	98	158	-60	2	6
12	Sharks	South Africa	5	0	5	0	87	128	-41	4	4
13	Lions	South Africa	5	0	5	0	121	228	-107	2	2
14	Western Force	Australia	4	0	4	0	66	158	-92	0	0

Super 14 table after 4th round matches

All South African teams played better than expected over the 4th round. Amazingly, the Bulls remain at the top of the log with a game in hand. With the Stormers whipping the Highlanders (they are the first team not to score in a 2010 Super 14 match), they have advanced to 3rd place on the log (thanks also to an against the odds win by the Cheetahs against the Hurricanes). The Sharks and Lions both played well in their losses.

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1	Bulls	South Africa	3	3	0	0	149	104	45	3	15
2	Chiefs	New Zealand	4	3	0	0	146	125	21	3	15
3	Stormers	South Africa	4	3	1	0	103	38	65	2	14
4	Hurricanes	New Zealand	4	3	1	0	126	88	42	2	14
5	Crusaders	New Zealand	4	3	1	0	120	84	36	2	14
6	Brumbies	Australia	4	3	1	0	99	95	-7	0	12
7	Reds	Australia	4	2	2	0	110	95	15	2	10
8	Cheetahs	South Africa	4	2	2	0	111	114	-3	1	9
9	Blues	New Zealand	4	2	2	0	86	100	-14	1	9
10	Waratahs	Australia	4	2	2	0	99	124	-25	1	9
11	Highlanders	New Zealand	4	1	3	0	63	108	-45	1	5
12	Sharks	South Africa	4	0	4	0	65	104	-39	3	3
13	Lions	South Africa	4	0	4	0	109	155	-46	2	2
14	Western Force	Australia	3	0	3	0	56	108	-52	0	0

Super 14 table after third round

The Bulls swept aside a brave performance by the Tahs to retain their first place on the log. The biggest upset of the weekend was the Stormers losing to the Brumbies and slipping from 4th to 5th place on the log (the Crusaders have taken their place). Crusaders moved from 6th to 4th place on the log, the Stormers slipped to 5th spot and the Reds to 8th place. The Blues climbed from 8th spot to 6th spot on the log.

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1	Bulls	South Africa	3	3	0	0	149	104	45	3	15
2	Hurricanes	New Zealand	3	3	0	0	114	60	54	2	14
3	Chiefs	New Zealand	3	3	0	0	128	102	26	2	14
4	Crusaders	New Zealand	3	2	1	0	87	64	23	2	10
5	Stormers	South Africa	3	2	1	0	70	38	32	0	9
6	Blues	New Zealand	3	2	1	0	66	67	-1	1	9
7	Brumbies	Australia	3	2	1	0	75	82	-7	0	8
8	Reds	Australia	3	1	2	0	87	77	10	2	6
9	Highlanders	New Zealand	3	1	2	0	63	75	-12	1	5
10	Cheetahs	South Africa	3	1	2	0	83	102	-19	0	5
11	Waratahs	Australia	2	1	1	0	36	55	-19	0	4
12	Sharks	South Africa	3	0	3	0	44	79	-35	2	2
13	Lions	South Africa	3	0	3	0	96	131	-35	2	2
14	Western Force	Australia	3	0	3	0	56	108	-52	0	0

Super 14 table after second round

After their "only-just" defeat in the first round to the Waratahs, the Crusaders were a massive scalp for the Queensland Reds. The Bulls are looking red hot, whilst the Stormers were impressive in their win against the Waratahs. The Sharks look a shadow of their former self, losing both their opening matches. With the otherwise poor showing of the Aussie teams, they may be stretched very thin when having to field a 5th team in the Super 15 in 2011.

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1	Bulls	South Africa	2	2	0	0	101	66	35	2	10
2	Hurricanes	New Zealand	2	2	0	0	81	59	22	1	9
3	Chiefs	New Zealand	2	2	0	0	91	83	8	1	9
4	Stormers	South Africa	2	2	0	0	53	19	34	0	8
5	Reds	Australia	2	1	1	0	69	50	19	2	6
6	Crusaders	New Zealand	2	1	0	0	52	58	-6	1	5
7	Brumbies	Australia	2	1	0	0	56	65	-9	0	4
8	Blues	New Zealand	2	1	1	0	39	49	-10	0	4
9	Cheetahs	South Africa	2	1	1	0	59	70	-11	0	4
10	Waratahs	Australia	2	1	0	0	36	55	-19	0	4
11	Sharks	South Africa	2	0	2	0	38	44	-6	2	2
12	Lions	South Africa	2	0	2	0	78	98	-20	2	2
13	Highlanders	New Zealand	2	0	2	0	32	51	-19	1	1
14	Western Force	Australia	2	0	2	0	37	71	-34	0	0

Super 14 table after first round

Biggest upset was the Sharks losing to the Chiefs in Durban, best game was the high-scoring Bulls-Cheetahs match. I'm surprised that the Reds "only-just" defeat to the Waratahs didn't improve their odds of reaching the semi-finals from 33/1. From the opening weekend it's been clear that this season the referees are far stricter on the defending team at the breakdown - tackle and don't roll away immediately and you can expect a long-arm penalty against you.

	Team	Nation	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	PD	Bp	Ttl
1.	Bulls	South Africa	1	1	0	0	51	34	17	1	5
2.	Crusaders	New Zealand	1	1	0	0	32	17	15	1	5
3.	Hurricanes	New Zealand	1	1	0	0	34	20	14	0	4
4.	Stormers	South Africa	1	1	0	0	26	13	13	0	4
5.	Brumbies	Australia	1	1	0	0	24	15	9	0	4
6.	Waratahs	Australia	1	1	0	0	30	28	2	0	4
7.	Chiefs	New Zealand	1	1	0	0	19	18	1	0	4
8.	Sharks	South Africa	1	0	1	0	18	19	-1	1	1
9.	Reds	Australia	1	0	1	0	28	30	-2	1	1
10.	Western Force	Australia	1	0	1	0	15	24	-9	0	0
11.	Lions	South Africa	1	0	1	0	13	26	-13	0	0
12.	Blues	New Zealand	1	0	1	0	20	34	-14	0	0
13.	Highlanders	New Zealand	1	0	1	0	17	32	-15	0	0
14.	Cheetahs	South Africa	1	0	1	0	34	51	-17	0	0