All to play for as Waratahs and Brumbies battle for home advantage in play-offs
Defending champions New South Wales Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies are chasing maximum points this weekend to lock down a home semi-final and an easier path to this year's Super Rugby final.
Defending champions New South Wales Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies are chasing maximum points this weekend to lock down a home semi-final and an easier path to this year's Super Rugby final.
Both teams are on 47 points heading into the 18th and final round of regular season play with the Australian conference title up for grabs – and with it direct passage to a home semi-final in the play-offs on June 26-27.
Runaway leaders Wellington Hurricanes and the second placed team after this weekend will skip next week's first stage of play-off finals.
A team with nothing to lose is sometimes the hardest team to play against
The Waratahs face lowly Queensland Reds in Sydney while the Brumbies host seven-time champions Canterbury Crusaders, both on Saturday.
Michael Cheika's Waratahs look to have the easier task against the Reds, having comfortably won their last three encounters, although there is always plenty of passion in these cross-border derbies.
The Waratahs may have hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau making his long-awaited return after five weeks out with a concussion injury.
The Brumbies, who are currently sixth and already qualified for the play-offs, often struggle against the Crusaders and have won only two of their last eight meetings.
