The Bulls have won the 2010 Super 14, the last of it’s kind as it takes the form of a Super 15 next year complete with a new format. The Bulls won 25 points to 17 at Soweto’s Orlando stadium, with Morne Steyne kicking 20 points and missing just one kick. Francois Hougaard scored the Bulls only try in an impressive, individual effort. The Stormers will surely take heart from finally delivering on all their promise, and will be even better in 2011. They scored two tries, one to Enrico Januarie and the standard intercept try to Bryan Habana. Peter Grant converted both tries and kicked a penalty.

The Bulls always looked too strong and at one stage in the first half were leading 16-0. The Stormers came back to within 6 points but Morne Steyne penalty kicked the Bulls through to victory.

Morne Steyne continues his two-season dominance in Super Rugby scoring 263 Super Rugby points in 2010, a new record. In fact, he has eclipsed Crusaders fly-half Dan Carter’s record by 42 points. His epic point scoring is also an indication of just how dominant the Bulls have been this year.

It is the Bull’s third Super 14 title in four seasons. Fellow Super Rugby teams will be hoping the eventual retirements of old warriors like Victor Matfield and suspended lock partner Bakkies Botha will help bring the team back into line in the future. Australian and New Zealand teams will be hoping the same goes for many of the experienced Springboks dominating at all levels of rugby right now.

SUPER 14 GRAND FINAL FIXTURE:

Bulls v Stormers Sat 29 May 17:00 Orlando Stadium, Soweto

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Bulls v Stormers
Bulls
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Derick Kuün, 20 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22 Pedrie Wannenburg

Stormers
15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Tim Whitehead

BULLS to beat Stormers by 8

There a lot of people talking up the chances of the Stormers in this match. They have an amazing defensive record and continued that against the Waratahs. However, the Bulls are the Bulls and there is a reason they finished 8 points clear of all the other teams before the last round of the round robin. The semi final against the Crusaders also proved that Soweto can also be an intimidating place for visiting teams to come.

I’ve taken the easy way out and picked the home team. Bulls by 8.

Rugby Union Results from the semi finals of the 2010 Super 14

Bulls 39 v 24 Crusaders
Stormers 25 v 6 Waratahs

As predicted it’s an all South African semi final, with the Bulls hosting the Stormers in Soweto. They really are the two most deserving finalists, with both teams showing great form all year. No other two teams really come close.

BULLS to beat Crusaders by 5

STORMERS to beat Waratahs by 10

Two semi finals in South Africa, and I’ve picked the two South African teams to take both. The New Zealand media are talking up a Crusaders upset, but that ignores everything both the Bulls and Crusaders have shown us this season. The Crusaders have an amazing pedigree, and so an upset wouldn’t be a total shock, but you have to back the Bulls to continue their great season.

Every week I expect the Stormers’dream season to come to a crashing halt, but every week they continue to step up. It’s easier to imagine the Waratahs pulling off the upset here than the Crusaders, but this is actually the game with the highest betting odds. I’m expecting the Stormers to continue their fairy tale season one more week.

SUPER 14 SEMI FINAL FIXTURES:

Bulls v Crusaders Sat 22 May 17:00 Orlando Stadium, Soweto
Stormers v Waratahs Sat 22 May 19:10 Newlands, Cape Town

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Bulls v Crusaders

Bulls
Zane Kirchner, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Gurthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha, Werner Kruger, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield (captain), Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter, Pierre Spies.
Replacements: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Flip van der Merwe, Derick Kuun, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Stephan Dippenaar, Pedrie Wannenburg.

Crusaders
Owen Franks, Ti’i Paulo, Ben Franks, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read, Andy Ellis, Daniel Carter, Zac Guildford, Daniel Bowden, Robbie Fruean, Sean Maitland, Colin Slade.
Replacements: Daniel Perrin, Wyatt Crockett, Chris Jack, Thomas Waldrom, Kahn Fotuali’i, Tim Bateman, Jared Payne.

Stormers v Waratahs

Stormers
15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Tim Whitehead.

Waratahs
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Phil Waugh (c), 6 Patrick McCutcheon, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Dan Palmer.
Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Chris Thomson, 19 Dave Dennis, 20 Josh Holmes, 21 Daniel Halangahu, 22 Rory Sidey

Rugby Union Results from Round 14 of the 2010 Super 14

Crusaders 40 v 22 Brumbies
Waratahs 32 v 16 Hurricanes
Sharks 27 v 22 Force
Blues 30 v 20 Chiefs
Reds 38 v 36 Highlanders
Cheetahs 59 v 10 Lions
Stormers 38 v 10 Bulls

Upset of the Round: The one sided nature of the Crusdaders, Brumbies and Waratahs, Hurricanes games.
Game of the Round: Reds v Highlanders. Some fancy tricks from Quade Cooper and a gritty comeback from the Highlanders.

The Crusaders and Waratahs have convincingly won their virtual quarter finals and the Hurricanes’ and Brumbies’ seasons are over.

The Crusaders scored 40 points to the Brumbies’ 22. Sean Maitland, Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Richie McCaw and Zac Guildford scored tries for the Crusaders. Dan Carter had an off night with the boot but still kicked 4 conversions and 3 penalties. Tyrone Smith, Ben Alexander and Huia Edmonds scored tries for the Brumbies, with Matt Giteau kicking 2 conversions and 1 penalty.

In an equally comfortable game the Waratahs beat the Hurricanes 32 to 16. Conrad Smith scored the solitary try for the Hurricanes, and Piri Weepu kicked the conversion and 3 penalties. The Waratahs did everything in twos. For their bonus point win both Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell scored two tries, and Berrick Barnes kicked 2 conversions and 2 penalties.

Unless a series of mysterious events unfold and the inform Stormers lose or draw to the heavily rotated Bulls team then the final four, in order, will be the Bulls, Stormers, Waratahs and Crusaders. This would mean both the Waratahs and Crusaders will have to fly to South Africa to play the Stormers and Bulls respectively.

CRUSADERS to beat Brumbies by 8

HURRICANES to beat Waratahs by 5

SHARKS to beat Force by 15

BLUES to beat Chiefs by 13

REDS to beat Highlanders by 9

CHEETAHS to beat Lions by 20

STORMERS to beat Bulls by 31

There are two virtual quarter finals this weekend, with the winners of the Crusaders v Brumbies and Hurricanes v Waratahs games progressing to the semi finals. The Stormers will have to win to guarantee their place, but that is looking even more likely with media speculating the Bulls are to rest up to 13 of their starting lineup. The Bulls are 8 points clear on the leader board so will finish in first position and host a semi final regardless.

A Reds bonus point win and a draw in one of the ‘quarter finals’, or perhaps a record thrashing of the Stormers could see them sneak a place. In other words, their season is over, as are the seasons of the Sharks, Force, Blues, Chiefs, Highlanders, Cheetahs and Lions.

If my above picks play out the final four, in order, will be the Bulls, Stormers, Crusaders, Hurricanes. Alternatively one or both of the New Zealand teams could be replaced with their Australian opponents. Either way, both semi finals will likely be in South Africa.

HURRICANES

Victor Vito (calf). Note: Kahn Fotuali’i has been stood down this week for breaching team recovery protocol.

BLUES

Luke McAlister (quadricep).

CRUSADERS

Corey Flynn (ankle); Kade Poki (hamstring).

CHIEFS

Nathan White (rib cartilage), Callum Bruce (ankle sprain), Richard Kahui (shoulder strain), likely to be out of rugby for between 2-3 weeks, Sona Taumalolo (shoulder strain), Sione Lauaki (bruised, infected arm), Stephen Donald (calf strain), Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder), Mike Delany (shoulder), Lelia Masaga (knee), Mils Muliaina (broken thumb), James McGougan (back strain).

HIGHLANDERS

Jason Macdonald (Achilles); Nasi Manu (knee); Michael Hobbs (bruised knee), Jamie Mackintosh (turf toe), Kendrick Lynn (groin); Clint Newland (back strain)