Super Rugby play-offs decided

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New Zealand conference champions the Crusaders have secured a home semi-final and a week off after South African conference champions the Sharks failed to claim a bonus point in their 34-10 win over the Stormers as the Super Rugby regular season drew to a close on Saturday.

The Sharks required a bonus-point victory to bump the Crusaders out of second place on the overall Super Rugby table. But the South African outfit fell one try and one point short, forcing them to settle for third place and a home qualifier against the Highlanders next week.

A Crusaders 34-8 demolition of the Highlanders saw the Canterbury side lock down the New Zealand conference while the Highlanders, who have lost four of their last six matches, sneaked into the playoffs in sixth place.

Two-time defending champions the Chiefs, who booked a third straight playoff berth with a scrappy 11-8 victory over the Blues on Friday, qualify as the fifth-placed team, and will head to Canberra to face the Brumbies in a rematch of the 2013 final. The Brumbies secured fourth place with a 47-25 hammering of the Western Force on Friday.

Australian conference champions the Waratahs, who had already secured the regular season title before the final round, have a bye into the semi-finals, where they will enjoy home-ground advantage. They crushed the Reds 34-3 in Brisbane to end the regular season on a seven-game winning streak.

The Super Rugby play-offs are as follows:

Qualifier A

Saturday, July 19 2014

19:40 local, 09:40 GMT

Brumbies v Chiefs, GIO Stadium, Canberra, Australia

Qualifier B

Saturday, July 19 2014

17:05 local, 15:05 GMT

Sharks v Highlanders, Kings Park, Durban, South Africa

Semi-final A

Saturday, July 26 2014

Crusaders v higher ranked qualifier winner, AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Semi-final B

Saturday, July 26 2014

Waratahs v lower ranked qualifier winner, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

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Article source: http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish-international/2014/0617/624402-ireland-starlet-ringrose-nominated-for-irb-gong/

Super Rugby play-offs decided