Super 15 Rugby Semifinals 2013: Predictions Ahead of Crucial Clashes

Fifteen teams started the Super Rugby season; now only four remain.

Pacesetters the Chiefs and Bulls return in the semifinals after being rewarded with a week off for their exploits in the league stage, where they face the Crusaders and Brumbies respectively.

The prize for the victors is a spot in the showpiece final and the chance to compete for the Super Rugby crown. The time for inconsistency is over as one below-par performance will send two teams packing and render a season's hard work useless.

It’s prediction time.

Waikato Chiefs vs. Canterbury Crusaders

An all-New Zealand showdown to fight for a final berth.

The hosts: defending champions looking to assert themselves as the decade’s Super Rugby force. The visitors: the most successful side in Super Rugby history desperate to add to their haul of seven titles for the first time since 2008.

The Crusaders destroyed the Reds 38-9 in the playoffs to avenge their 2011 final defeat and set up a showdown with the league toppers.

Each side have a win apiece from their two meetings this season, both emerging victorious at home, and it’s bound to be a nervy affair with the nation’s bragging rights at stake.

Although the Chiefs should be fresher, the Crusaders have still had a full week to recover from their playoff match and the euphoria from winning might actually outweigh the benefit of having extra time off.

Dan Carter was outstanding against the Reds and will need to make sure his accuracy with the boot is near-perfect if the Crusaders are going to march away from their rival’s turf with victory.

Prediction: Home advantage is huge. Chiefs to edge it by 5.

Blue Bulls vs. ACT Brumbies

Australia was agonisingly close to having no representatives in the semifinals until the Brumbies narrowly defeated the Cheetahs in the playoffs.

The Brumbies will now need to find another gear against a Bulls side unbeaten at home all season.

Much has been made of the Brumbies' recent success over the British and Irish Lions, but it will be nothing more than a side note in history if they fail to reach the Super Rugby final.

Poor temperament continues to halt their progress—they've conceded more penalties than any other side in the tournament—and if it continues in the semifinal they will be punished by Bulls' kicking sensation Morne Steyn.

Steyn is the competition’s top scorer with 230 points and will happily launch penalties at the posts if his opponents' over eagerness spills onto the Loftus Versfeld pitch.

It's likely the head to head between Steyn and Brumbies' kicker Christian Lealiifano could decide this one, with the latter still managing to rack up the points despite his side’s recent dip in form.

Prediction: Brumbies’ ill-discipline to cost them. Bulls to win by 18.