The 2015 Super Rugby Semi-finals will see the season’s four best franchises lock horns in two talent-rich fixtures between trans-Tasman rivals this weekend.
The Hurricanes have been the tournament’s benchmark all season and will host the Brumbies in Wellington on Saturday evening, while reigning champions the Waratahs will look to progress past the Highlanders and into their second-consecutive decider later that night.
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Hurricanes vs Brumbies
The Hurricanes have undoubtedly been the standouts of the 2015 Super Rugby season and comfortably entered the finals atop both the New Zealand conference and overall standings and will enter their semi-final clash at home fresh after a bye. The Brumbies produced arguably their most impressive effort all season to down South African conference champions the Stormers 39-19 away last weekend but face a monumental task in repeating the dose in Wellington on Saturday evening. History dictates it is simply too difficult to win in South Africa and make the journey back to New Zealand and win, let alone against the tournament’s best team. The Hurricanes sole weakness over the latter half of the season has been an inconsistent line-out, so if the Brumbies can capitilize on this in any way they may stand some chance of a huge upset. While boasting the league’s best defence, the Brumbies will probably be outclassed by the Hurricanes, particularly in the final 15 minutes and will not make their second Super Rugby decider in three seasons.
Waratahs vs Highlanders
In what will likely figure as the more exciting and well contested Super Rugby semi-final, Australian conference and defending champions the Waratahs host the in-form Highlanders on Saturday night, who booked their position in the final four with an impressive 24-14 win over the Chiefs last weekend. The Tahs certainly took time to find their feet this campaign but find the finals in great condition and will have also taken benefit from a week off. The Highlanders have had to take a backseat to the Hurricanes in New Zealand, but will carry great confidence into this match having already beaten the Waratahs once this campaign. The Otago-based franchise have been one of the better teams to watch this season as they have employed a lively and exciting style of play, but the finals experience and representative-rich roster boasted by the Waratahs will probably be a bit too good, particularly in Sydney.