Results in round 9 can hand aspiring teams a hefty blow if they slip up. Falling from 2nd to 8th in only 2 weeks for example are problems some teams realisticly look at this weekend… And thats the case for most the teams.So round 9 will indeed start to seperate pretenders from contenders…

This is the view of a SportNews24 journalist.

by Gavin Rich

Last week’s results have conspired to make the ninth round of the 2010 Vodacom Super 14 one of the most interesting in the 15 year history of the competition.

There are big games that could either significantly set back some teams or else set them up everywhere you look, and there are four teams who stand a chance of leading the competition at the end of this weekend if the results go their way.

That includes the Stormers, who are fourth at the moment after being second last week. They still have the best statistics in the competition in terms of points for and against and have only lost twice, both in the dying stages of those matches.

However, the harsh reality for them is that a second successive defeat to the Blues in Auckland this weekend could see them slip to as far back as eighth on the log with five matches to play.

And the Bulls, so long in such a commanding position at the top of the log with a game in hand, could also find themselves losing significant ground in their battle for a home semifinal as they come up against a Chiefs side determined to avenge last year’s massive defeat in the tournament decider.

Home ground advantage is important for all teams, but perhaps even more so for the Bulls, who play with the advantage of altitude and one of the most intimidating crowds in world rugby when they are at Loftus.

The Chiefs will be back in the running after a three-match slump if they win against the Bulls, but they have had their chances dented somewhat by the finger injury that has ruled Mils Muliaina out of the rest of the season. The Bulls have also had their problems, with Jaco Pretorius flying home during the week.

It is hard to pinpoint which match is the big one of the weekend. The opening game on Friday morning in Hamilton is a repeat of last year’s final, but then the clash between the Crusaders and Waratahs in Christchurch on Saturday is a match-up between front-runners in the competition.

And the Blues could find themselves in the top four if they win in Auckland in the earlier match on Saturday. Even the Lions have something to play for this week for all the South African teams will be hoping they can knock back the dangerous Reds when they return to Coca-Cola Park after a miserable overseas tour. It has reportedly been a tempestuous week off the field in Lions country, so who knows…