The Super Rugby semifinalists have been finalized after Riaan Smith just failed to get his last minute conversion kick over against the Brumbies to send the Cheetahs' semifinal in Canberra into overtime.
The Cheetahs' heartbreaking 15-13 loss means that the Crusaders do not have to travel to South Africa tonight - just as well as flights all over New Zealand are in chaos after today's big earthquake in the central North Island. The Brumbies will be the ones to travel to South Africa to take on the Bulls in their stronghold in Pretoria next weekend.
For a time, Australia's further involvement in this year's Super Rugby was in serious doubt with the Brumbies unable to break down the Cheetahs at home. However, it might not last beyond next weekend if the Brumbies play as badly as they did against the Bulls in Pretoria.
It appears that the poor form of Jake White's team late in the season has made the route to their first championship since 2004 much tougher and the Bulls will be no easy-beats at home and rested after their bye this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs host the Crusaders in Hamilton with the Cantabs keen to exact revenge after thier close defeat there over a month ago - the Chiefs will still have that hiding at the hands of the Crusaders in Christchurch only a few weeks ago fresh in their minds and will want to consign that to just an anomaly in a tremendous season.
The Chiefs know that victory will ensure a final at home for the second consecutive year and that would give them a great boost given their likely competitors would have had to come all the way from South Africa - just like the Sharks last season.
More details will emerge on the kickoff times shortly but the Super Rugby semifinals are as follows -
Chiefs v Crusaders
Bulls v Brumbies
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