With the exception of the Australian sides who will play each other once more next week due to the later start of the British & Irish Lions series, Super Rugby has effectively paused for the international season.
For those who haven't been selected to play for their countries, it is a bit of a welcome break from the rigours of week-in week-out rugby - although there will be friendlies just before the resumption of action to ensure the players are in match fitness at the restart.
So how has this Super Rugby shaped up so far at the three-quarter mark?
The 2013 Super Rugby season has so far appeared to be split into four different races. The Brumbies, Bulls and Chiefs have been head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the teams in their conferences, while the Reds, Cheetahs and Crusaders are in the chasing pack behind - they may have to settle for wildcard places having already lost to their main rivals for the conference lead, the Brumbies, Bulls and Chiefs respectively.
Further back, the Blues have dropped back into the peloton led by the Waratahs, Hurricanes and Stormers; these teams are effectively the outsides for the wildcard spots although it looks like only one of them will be up for grabs for them - and they must rely heavily on the teams at the top losing their last couple of games.
The Sharks, Rebels, Force, Kings and Highlanders are really out of contention and just playing for pride for the rest of the season.
It is hard to tell really who has been the best side so far as none of the top 3 have played each other and probably won't play each other until the playoffs. All of them have had their ups and downs - the Bulls had an average tour of the Anzacs but have a gentle run to the end of the season and have beaten their main South African rivals this season, the reason why they're in pole position in the Republic.
The Brumbies and Chiefs have had their good and bad moments too although in my opinion, the Chiefs have shown better championship pedigree and are in control of their destiny due to the format of this season and where they stand in the table. While the Chiefs had a rotten run in the middle of the season, losing to the Reds and Waratahs in successive weeks, they have definitely bounced back and are New Zealand's best chance of Super rugby glory.
The Brumbies, on the other hand, have lost some big games to the Crusaders and Waratahs, and drew with the Reds in Brisbane, and unbelievably the Kings at home. They are a youthful side and great to watch at home, but they are still very vulnerable when the side they are playing is on the up - they concede tries and penalties far too easily when they don't have the momentum. If they did that, in the playoffs, they will be severely punished.
The other thing that may count against the Aussie sides is their involvement in the British & Irish Lions series which will surely sap the energy of the players at the completion of the series. While the Aussie sides bar the Rebels will play each other in the last rounds of the competition, one wonders if they may be dead men walking when the refreshed New Zealand and South African sides come to town.
One of those South African sides could be the Cheetahs who have been the surprise of the season. For years, the Cheetahs have been considered the minnows, easy-beats of Super Rugby. They played and continue to play the best rugby out of all the South African sides but up against the likes of the Bulls, Stormers and Sharks, they were always second-best. And then there was their form in the Anzacs.
Alas, it was that form in the Anzacs that appears to have been the catalyst to the success they've had this season. The Cheetahs only lost to the Chiefs but recovered to beat the Highlanders, Waratahs and Force. They came back to South Africa and continued their hot form, including beating the former champions, Reds at home along with the Sharks and Stormers. They suffered defeat to the Bulls before the break - but it was a credible defeat against the only South African side to win a Super Rugby title.
The Cheetahs should be in the playoffs - but the dream for John Kirwan's young Blues might just be over - having succumbed weakly to the Highlanders, they will face a tour of South Africa when the competition resumes before returning home to face the Chiefs at home in their last game. A tough ask for a Blues team that has found it tough in the last couple of weeks in what has been an impressive debut season for coach John Kirwan. The Blues are building for the future and will be back stronger next season.
The Crusaders in the meantime look set for a run at the playoffs and the break might be the thing they need to take stock and set up their typical barnstorming finish. Yes, they have had some highly unimpressive wins at home against the Rebels and Waratahs but the typical characteristics of a champion team have been evident, i.e. the ability to win games even when they have been playing poorly. They have two home games against the Chiefs and Hurricanes, and one away to the Highlanders in the last couple of games, so will back themselves to win at their fortress in Addington. While the conference title is probably out of their hands, the Crusaders want to amass as many points they can, so they can guarantee themselves a home final as the best wildcard.
Disappointments? While the Highlanders are an obvious choice after their much-vaunted off-season recruitment campaign, there have been several other big disappointments, i.e. last year's finalists Sharks have failed to repeat the impressive form they showed last year, the Stormers' inability to score tries in greater numbers has finally come to hurt them this season and even the Rebels could be considered a disappointment after a recruitment campaign equally as impressive as the Highlanders' - although their form in recent weeks has somewhat made their season's performance look a lot better on the table.
So enjoy the internationals and can't wait for Super Rugby to return at the end of the month!
