DEFENDING champions the Waikato Chiefs made a timely return to the top of the Super 15 standings with a bonus-point 34-22 New Zealand derby win over the Wellington Hurricanes this weekend.
The Northern Bulls, who have worn the southern hemisphere provincial crown three times, were also bonus-point winners as they scored six tries in a 48-18 romp over fellow South Africans the Southern Kings and rose to second spot.
Australian outfit the ACT Brumbies were inactive because of the Wallabies' test series against the British & Irish Lions and slipped two places to third on the combined standings.
The Chiefs (61 points), Bulls (59) and Brumbies (59) are assured of top-six slots and tickets to the knockout stage of a competition Waikato won at a canter last year with a 37-6 thumping of South African visitors the Sharks.
The top two finishers dodge the first play-off phase and secure semifinal places, and the odds favour the Chiefs and Bulls as they have two fixtures to play while the Brumbies have only one.
Former title-holders the Queensland Reds of Australia (54) are also certain to feature in the knockout stage and record seven-time champions the Canterbury Crusaders of New Zealand (51) need two points to be sure of joining them.
While the fixture-less Reds looked on, All Blacks playmaker Dan Carter gave a masterly display for the Crusaders in a 40-12 away triumph over compatriots the Otago Highlanders, who prop up the standings.
Assuming the Crusaders do not slip up - they finish with two home games - there will be one place up for grabs and it should rest between the Cheetahs of South Africa (46) and Auckland Blues of New Zealand (44).
The teams clash at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday in a match-up likely to reward the winners with a top-six finish.
Both lost this weekend, but in contrasting fashion with a late try condemning the Blues to a 22-20 defeat at Sharks while the Cheetahs surrendered without a fight in losing 28-3 at fellow South Africans the Stormers.
The Hurricanes restricted Chiefs to a 17-15 half-time lead in Hamilton, but the title-holders took control after the break and replacement prop Ben Tameifuna snatched the bonus-point fourth try.
Chiefs in Super 15 surge
DEFENDING champions the Waikato Chiefs made a timely return to the top of the Super 15 standings with a bonus-point 34-22 New Zealand derby win over the Wellington Hurricanes this weekend.
The Northern Bulls, who have worn the southern hemisphere provincial crown three times, were also bonus-point winners as they scored six tries in a 48-18 romp over fellow South Africans the Southern Kings and rose to second spot.
Australian outfit the ACT Brumbies were inactive because of the Wallabies' test series against the British & Irish Lions and slipped two places to third on the combined standings.
The Chiefs (61 points), Bulls (59) and Brumbies (59) are assured of top-six slots and tickets to the knockout stage of a competition Waikato won at a canter last year with a 37-6 thumping of South African visitors the Sharks.
The top two finishers dodge the first play-off phase and secure semifinal places, and the odds favour the Chiefs and Bulls as they have two fixtures to play while the Brumbies have only one.
Former title-holders the Queensland Reds of Australia (54) are also certain to feature in the knockout stage and record seven-time champions the Canterbury Crusaders of New Zealand (51) need two points to be sure of joining them.
While the fixture-less Reds looked on, All Blacks playmaker Dan Carter gave a masterly display for the Crusaders in a 40-12 away triumph over compatriots the Otago Highlanders, who prop up the standings.
Assuming the Crusaders do not slip up - they finish with two home games - there will be one place up for grabs and it should rest between the Cheetahs of South Africa (46) and Auckland Blues of New Zealand (44).
The teams clash at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday in a match-up likely to reward the winners with a top-six finish.
Both lost this weekend, but in contrasting fashion with a late try condemning the Blues to a 22-20 defeat at Sharks while the Cheetahs surrendered without a fight in losing 28-3 at fellow South Africans the Stormers.
The Hurricanes restricted Chiefs to a 17-15 half-time lead in Hamilton, but the title-holders took control after the break and replacement prop Ben Tameifuna snatched the bonus-point fourth try.
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