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Road to the play-offs: Mad dash

By
Monday 19 Sep 2016

The race for the remaining three places will result in a mad dash over the next fortnight.

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Five teams – Sharks, Blue Bulls, Griquas, Western Province and Golden Lions – are in the running.

It is possible, even likely, that last year's two finalists – the defending champion Golden Lions and Western Province – could fail to make the play-offs.

Not only are they currently outside the top four, but they also have to play teams above them.

The Cheetahs require just two points to secure the top spot on the standings, which brings with it home ground advantage in the semifinals and possible Final.

The Sharks and Blue Bulls – who have just one remaining league game each – along with Griquas, have their destinies in their own hands.

However, they both play away – the Bulls away to the Boland Cavaliers this coming Friday and the Sharks away to the Lions next week.

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Those will, effectively, be two 'quarterfinal' encounters.

We look at each of the nine teams' prospects!

Free State CheetahsRoad to the play-offs: Mad dash

Current position: First

Best possible finish: First

Worst possible finish: Fourth

Remaining fixtures:

v Pumas, away

v Griquas, home

Sharks

Current position: Second

Best possible finish: First

Worst possible finish: Sixth

Remaining fixture:

v Golden Lions, away

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Blue Bulls:

Current position: Third

Best possible finish: First

Worst possible finish: Sixth

Remaining fixture:

v Boland Cavaliers, away

Griquas

Current position: Fourth

Best possible finish: Second

Worst possible finish: Seventh

Remaining fixtures:

v Western Province, home

v Free State Cheetahs, away

Western Province

Current position: Fifth

Best possible finish: Second

Worst possible finish: Seventh

Remaining fixtures:

v Griquas, away

v Boland Cavaliers, home

Golden LionsRoad to the play-offs: Mad dash

Current position: Sixth

Best possible finish: Second

Worst possible finish: Seventh

Remaining fixtures:

v Eastern Province Kings, away

v Sharks, home

Boland

Current position: Seventh

Best possible finish: Fifth

Worst possible finish: Ninth

Remaining fixtures:

v Blue Bulls, home

v Western Province, away

Pumas

Current position: Eighth

Best possible finish: Seventh

Worst possible finish: Ninth

Remaining fixtures:

v Free State Cheetahs, home

v Eastern Province Kings, away

Eastern Province

Current position: Ninth

Best possible finish: Seventh

Worst possible finish: Ninth

Remaining fixtures:

v Golden Lions, home

v Pumas, home

By Jan de Koning

@king365ed

@rugby365com

Road to the play-offs: Mad dash

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