Super 15 Rugby 2013 Fixtures: Top Matches to Watch in Premier Tournament

With the 20th and final round of play in the Super 15 Rugby season set to take place this weekend, rugby fans across the globe are looking forward to the knockout stage. Before that can happen, however, there is still a handful of intriguing matches left to be played.

Even though pretty much everything is settled with regard to which teams' title hopes will remain alive, Saturday's matches are important for momentum purposes. Every team wants to enter the knockout round with confidence and a win under its belt, so look for all of the teams to turn in an honest effort even if their spot is already locked up.

In addition to the full fixtures listed for Saturday's Round 20 matches, here are the top matches that you simply don't want to miss.

Round 20 Fixtures

Match	Date	Time (ET)	Time (UK)
Auckland Blues vs. Waikato Chiefs	Saturday, July 13	2:35 a.m.	8:35 a.m.
New South Wales Waratahs vs. Queensland Reds	Saturday, July 13	5:40 a.m.	10:40 a.m.
Western Force vs. ACT Brumbies	Saturday, July 13	7:45 a.m.	12:45 p.m.
Natal Sharks vs. Southern Kings	Saturday, July 13	11:05 a.m.	4:05 p.m.
Western Stormers vs. Blue Bulls	Saturday, July 13	1:10 p.m.	6:10 p.m.

Matches to Watch

Western Stormers vs. Blue Bulls

As the top team in the standings, the Bulls are safely into the knockout stage, but they must pick up four points in order to solidify a first-place finish. With the Chiefs just two points behind and the Brumbies being only four back, there is a bit of pressure on the Bulls. Their match on Saturday won't be easy, either, as the Stormers are a very dangerous team despite their seventh-place standing.

The Stormers were one of the final four teams remaining in each of the past four seasons, so even though they have yet to win a championship, the Stormers have plenty of experience in a big match. Saturday's match will essentially be the Stormers' title game this year since they won't actually be able to play for all the marbles. With that in mind, they will give the Bulls all they can handle.

The Bulls are just 8-10-1 in 19 all-time meetings with the Stormers, so history isn't necessarily on their side. The Bulls have had a fantastic season, however, so they won't allow past struggles to affect them on Saturday.

New South Wales Waratahs vs. Queensland Reds

Another intriguing Round 20 matchup will put the eighth-place Waratahs against the sixth-place Reds. While the Waratahs can't catch the Reds at this point, they will certainly be out to prove that they aren't far off from where they need to be. The Reds have developed into a marquee team, however, so they aren't going to lay down for the Waratahs.

The Reds won their first and only league title two years ago and they are hoping to add a second trophy to their mantel. The Reds will have to do it as a wild-card team this time around, which won't be easy, but a win over the Waratahs could really help their confidence level. The Waratahs want to enter next season on a high note, though, and they appear to be well prepared for the encounter, as seen on the team's official Twitter account.

The Waratahs and Reds are two of the bitterest rivals in Super 15 Rugby, so their matches are always intense regardless of what is on the line. Even though the knockout stage won't really be affected by this particular match, both teams are going to do whatever it takes to win.

Auckland Blues vs. Waikato Chiefs

As the defending league champions, the Chiefs are totally focused on winning back-to-back titles. They are currently in second place and are just two points behind the Bulls, so a win against the Blues on Saturday could potentially make them the top seed. The Blues have already been eliminated from contention, but head coach John Kirwan believes that his team will be motivated to beat the Chiefs on Saturday, according to the Blues' official Twitter account.

The Blues are one of the most successful teams in Super 15 Rugby history, as they have won three titles, so they are used to excellence. The team hasn't lived up to its lofty standards this season, but that doesn't mean that they can't compete with the Chiefs. The Chiefs could very easily be looking ahead to the knockout round, so perhaps the Blues can catch them napping.

There are plenty of reasons to be interested in this match, as it could set the tone for the Blues next season and it could also have knockout stage implications depending upon how the Chiefs fare. If they come out on top, then there will suddenly be a lot of pressure on the Bulls later in the day.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.