Aisle be Back: Hurricanes v Waratahs

When the Hurricanes played the Waratahs in early May last year, winning 41-12. Will it be a similar scoreline tonight? Photo: Mike Lewis Pictures.

• By Kevin McCarthy

It’s not quite halfway through the Super Rugby Pacific regular season, but some things  are becoming clearer.

Now we may have one fewer team – and two byes for each side – but the number of matches played by each is the same, at 14. Not all the sides have had their first bye round – but the Blues, Chiefs and Drua will sit out what is just a 4-game round seven this week.

It’s too early to predict confidently, but I do think it doesn’t take any genius to say the Crusaders and Chiefs will be one/two or vice versa comes finals time.

That leaves four spots to settle, with 3 and 4 being of course more desirable than 5 and 6.

What would the cutoff point be for that top 6? Based on last year (which also had 14 games per side) then you’re looking at around 30 points.

That means the Reds have to just win (setting aside BPs) three of their remaining nine matches. The Waratahs need just four.  Ditto the Brumbies – but from eight matches. The Force also needs 4 from 8.

So, if they all pull that off, we’re looking at 2 Kiwi and 4 Aussie qualifiers.

Meaning the other five sides are getting towards the pointy end. The Highlanders need 5 wins from 9 games left, the Hurricanes 5 as well, but possibly 6 from 9.

The struggling Blues need 6 wins from 8 remaining games – which is looking decidedly uphill.

The Drua and Moana Pasifika sit in the same situation, although Moana have one more game up their sleeve.

Nothing is yet set – and home advantage and derbies will all come into play – but clearly the Hurricanes need to win tonight against the visiting Waratahs. Given its grey and wet – at least the weather is coming to the Canes’ assistance.

Elsewhere, the Brumbies, Crusaders and Reds should be the winners this weekend. And then we really will be at the running point.

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Well, the curse of the doughnut struck across much of the little fantasy league I’m part of.

A doughnut is when your selected player scores zero points. It’s exciting when you see other teams sprinkled with doughnuts – as a I smugly thought after two matches had completed.

However, instead of my usual practice of logging in just before the game to catch any late changes, I misread the start time of the next game. And yes, the doughnut curse came to strike down my smugness.

This is the game equivalent of being caught napping by a quick play.

Coulda, shoulda, woulda.

Oh well, still stuck in third. I just would have enjoyed trash talking the others in our Pentagon-grade private messaging group but instead had to lamely commiserate.

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The Hurricanes are back in action tonight against the Waratahs, kick-off 7.05pm.

The Hurricanes side to play the Waratahs is below:

1. Xavier Numia

1. Asafo Aumua (Co Captain)

1. Tyrel Lomax

1. Caleb Delany

1. Zach Gallagher

1. Brayden Iose

1. Du’Plessis Kirifi (Co Captain)

1. Peter Lakai

1. Cam Roigard

1. Riley Hohepa

1. Kini Naholo

1. Bailyn Sullivan

1. Peter Umaga-Jensen

1. Ngatungane Punivai

1. Ruben Love

IMPACT

1. Jacob Devery

1. Pouri Rakete-Stones

1. Tevita Mafileo

1. Isaia Walker-Leawere

1. Brad Shields

1. Jordi Viljoen

1. Fatafehi Fineanganofo

1. Kade Banks

UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY

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