Although, with the Lions first up once they hit Boerland, a five point win should be gined there, which will give one more burst of hope for Chiefs fans before the Sharks are met in their lair in Durban.  That is where the ride will stop, with the Sharks also needing to win for any chances of semi final action.

Chiefs are not the only team in this boat though, the above mentioned Sharks, the Stormers, and the Blues, are all sniffing around the boot straps of the top three places teams, Crusaders, Hurricanes and Waratahs, so with results going the right way, at the moment you could even have the Waratahs and the Hurricanes falling out of the top four by semi final time.  probably not for the Hurricanes, maybe for the Waratahs!

So, what's left in the lead up to the finals then?

THE CRUSADERS (47 POINTS)
Home semifinal locked down, finish with two 'easy' games the Reds (a) and the Highlanders (h).  Although the Highlanders game will be harder than expected - local derbies always are - it should set them up nicely for their semi final.

THE WARATAHS (37 POINTS)
A touch ask against the resurgent Stormers away, and then against the lowly Reds away.  The Reds game, despite their position on the table will be a tough match too.  The Waratahs / Reds game is always a battle.

THE HURRICANES (36 POINTS)
Have the Force this weekend, at home, and should bank five points, followed by the Blues away, where they should get at least another four..

THE STORMERS (35 POINTS)
Host the Waratahs, and then away to the Lions, so should be two wins for the fast finishing Stormers.  Should book a trip back to New Zealand for a Semi against the Crusaders or perhaps Hurricanes?

THE CHIEFS (33 POINTS)
God bless them, the Chiefs have fouled their own nest with their loss to the Force this weekend.  They now have the Lions next, where five points are a must, and then the Sharks, in what could almost be a quarter final match.

THE SHARKS (32 POINTS)
Have the Cheetahs first at home this weekend, where five points should be banked, followed by the Chiefs, where the winner just about could take all in terms of a semi final place.

THE BLUES (31 POINTS)
Will need five point wins away against the Highlanders and at home against the Hurricanes, and results to go their way to sneak in for a semi final place.  Don't count on it!!

Looking at that then, the final placings will be (with results in brackets, maybe)!

Crusaders 57 (WW), Hurricanes 45 (WW), Stormers 44 (WW), Waratahs 42 (LW), Sharks 41 (WW), Chiefs 39 (WL), Blues 37 (WL).

So semi finals match ups, Crusaders at home against the Waratahs, and Hurricanes facing up to the Stormers.  That sounds just about right to me, and a re match of the final that no one could see a week later, Crusaders v Hurricanes at Lancaster Park.

Oh, and drop goals - to all those out their who say the All Blacks would have won if they dropped a goal against the Frogs, I hope you saw the Chiefs v Force game, where the late drop goal that put the Chiefs in front for the first time in the game, did not win them the match.  So shove your drop goals up your arse, I say that if the All Blacks had landed a droppie, the French would have scored a try, and we would have lost anyway....