Super 14 power rankings

Stephen Samuelson | March 5, 2009

At last RugbyHeaven feels it has a grasp on the teams that will do the business in 2009 and it's those sides with strong defences that will rule. Anyone fancy the winless Chiefs for a top four spot? Last week's positions in brackets.

1. (1) Sharkshttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...harks_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 3 (Last week: 4 - 2 wins, 0 losses)
Their victory against the Chiefs last week was hardly faultless but wins on the road against tough opponents count for a lot. Lack of bonus points may yet count against them.


2. (3) NSW Waratahshttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...atahs_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 2 (Last week: 2 - 3 wins, 0 losses)
Points for: superior fitness, outstanding defence, strong set piece and self belief by the bucketloads. Points against: too scrappy and lack fluency. Conclusion: The Reds's unpredictablity may yet be their undoing.


3. (5) Bullshttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...bulls_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 1 (Last week: 1 - 3 wins, 0 losses)
The kick-and-chase frauds will beat the Stormers this weekend, but after that RugbyHeaven is convinced their top four credentials will disappear over the Indian Ocean. But first give them credit for three consecutive wins.


4. (6) Blueshttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...blues_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 5 (Last week: 5 - 2 wins, 1 loss)
RugbyHeaven has officially abandoned the Stormers as the dangerous outsiders and now warmly embraces the Blues as the team to watch. The match against the Sharks should be a beauty.



5. (9) Hurricaneshttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...canes_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 6 (Last week: 7 - 2 wins, 1 loss)
Have the Hurricances turned the corner and finally displaying championship winning potential or were the Crusaders simply rubbish last week? We lean towards the former.




6. (12) Forcehttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...force_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 4 (Last week: 8 - 2 wins, 1 loss)
The Force seem happier away from home and showed the Brumbies a clean set of heels last Saturday. Friday's game against the Chiefs will establish whether this a team that can stay in the top four.



7. (2) ACT Brumbieshttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...mbies_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 7 (Last week: 3 - 2 wins, 1 loss)
Memo to the Brumbies: last-minute escape acts are well and good but you can't consistently win while conceding four tries. They have yet to dominate for a full 80 minutes.



8. (4) Crusadershttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...aders_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 8 (Last week: 6 - 1 win, 2 losses)
Have been higher up in the rankings this season due to reputation. The loss of both Dan Carter and Robbie Deans is proving the difference and bogey team, the Highlanders, are next.



9. (7) Chiefshttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...hiefs_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 12 (Last week: 12 - 0 wins, 3 losses)
They have already played the top three teams from last year and now have a considerably easier draw than any other franchise. Achieving seven wins from the next 10 games is not beyond them.




10. (11) Redshttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo..._reds_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 9 (Last week: 14 - 1 win, 2 losses)
They had enough ball and field position to rack up 70 points against the Cheetahs but the error rate was too high. That said, RugbyHeaven loves the way they throw the ball around.



11. (10) Highlandershttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...nders_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 13 (Last week: 11 - 0 wins, 3 losses)
Yet to win a game but that may change when they host the Crusaders in Round 4. The Highlanders were a lot better against the Waratahs than the final scoreline suggested.




12. (8) Stormershttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...rmers_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 10 (Last week: 9 - 1 win, 2 losses)
After spruiking the Stormers early in the season, RugbyHeaven feels like a lover spurned and is dumping on them accordingly. But really, one win from three home games is not good enough.



13. (13) Lionshttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...lions_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 11 (Last week: 3 - 1 win, 2 losses)
They may still be at the wrong end of the ladder but this year's version of the Lions is much better than the pussycats that paraded around last year. They lack the firepower to do any real damage.



14. (14) Cheetahshttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/union/lo...etahs_logo.jpg - Ladder position: 14 (Last week: 13 - 0 wins, 3 losses)
RugbyHeaven was of the firm belief that there were no duds in this year's competition. Consider this a formal retraction.





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