At the beginning of the weekend there were seven Super 14 teams still in the hunt for a top-four spot. As the weekend progressed, several teams were eliminated and the semi-finals seemed set. As most New Zealanders went to bed they thought the Crusaders would finish either first or second and ensure that a semi-final would be played in New Zealand next weekend.

The only team who could overhaul the Crusaders were the Bulls, who needed to score a bonus point and beat the Reds by 72 points and that couldn't happen, could it?

Bulls 92 Reds 3
The equation for a Bulls' home semi-final seemed impossible: a bonus point win by 72 points or more. Even against one of the worst Super Rugby teams ever, nobody was giving the Bulls a chance, but in front of 50,000 fans they scored the biggest win in Super Rugby history. Running in 13 tries to none, the Bulls' performance was a complete one, while the Reds' awful season ended in total embarrassment. Bryan Habana, Wikus van Heerden, Derick Kuun and Pierre Spies all finished with two tries, while Derick Hougaard kicked 11 conversions and a penalty for 25 points.

The results from this weekend means the Sharks will host the Blues in one semi-final, and the Bulls will host the Crusaders in the other. This is the first time that both semi-finals will be held in South Africa. No South African team has ever won a Super Rugby crown, but this year marks their best chance ever.

Crusaders 24 Chiefs 30
Needing a win to keep their slim semi-final hopes alive, the Chiefs achieved just that. Two tries to flying winger Sitavini Sivivatu and an outstanding display of goal-kicking by Stephen Donald help the Chiefs inflict the first home loss on the Crusaders in 24 matches. All night long the Crusaders struggled to move forward against the rushing Chiefs defence, while the Chiefs were able to hold possession for many phases as they controlled the tempo of the game. A try in the final minutes of the game to Crusaders' captain Ritchie McCaw gave the Crusaders a vital bonus point.

Force 6 Blues 33
Both teams went into the weekend with a chance of making the semi-finals, although the Force's chances were remote. In a gritty and rugged encounter, it was the Blues who made the most of their scoring chances and secured their semi-final spot. With light rain falling, the Force dominated possession for long periods but too often dropped the slippery ball. A flurry of points towards the end of the match secured a bonus point for the Blues, effectively ending the Brumbies chances of making the top four.

Highlanders 10 Brumbies 29
To advance to the semi-finals the Brumbies needed to win and score a bonus point in this match, and then hope other results went their way. Aside from the lure of a semi-final place, there was also a great deal of pride on the line as both teams had long serving players leaving. The Brumbies showed their intentions early, turning down shots at goal in favour of scoring tries in an effort to secure a bonus point. The departing Highlanders' players seemed somewhat flat, and the rest of the team failed to really fire a shot all game. After going up 22-3 at half time, the Brumbies threatened often in the second half but failed to convert, before finally scoring their fourth try through lock Mark Chisholm, which also secured a much needed bonus point.

Hurricanes 14 Waratahs 38
Home fans filled Westpac Stadium to farewell original Hurricane Tana Umaga, but they were sorely disappointed. The Hurricanes finished their season the way they began, with an ill-disciplined loss to a team at the bottom of the table. After beginning the game well, the Waratahs looked to have spurred the Hurricanes into action and took a 13-7 lead into the half time break. However two quick tries after the break sealed the game for the Waratahs, and the Hurricanes were not able to recover.

Lions 10 Cheetahs 16
In a totally meaningless match the Cheetahs were able to end their season on a positive note with a close but error-ridden game. The ball was frequently turned over by both teams, leading to some end to end action, but for the first 60 minutes the only points came from the goal kickers. The only two tries of the match came within two minutes of each other, first from the Lions' Ashwin Willamse and then to the Cheetahs' Eddies Fredericks.

Stormers 10 Sharks 36
The Crusaders' loss on Friday night opened the door for the Sharks to claim top spot on the table, and the Sharks took full advantage of the opportunity. The five tries to one victory also gave the Sharks a clean sweep of victories over the other South African teams and also marked the first time a South African team has finished the round robin in first place. The Sharks dominated from the outset, going up by 14-0 after only 10 minutes. The Stormers tried hard throughout the match, but were out matched by a hungrier Sharks team.

Who will survive the semis to have a crack at the final? Add your comment below or write an article giving your opinion.