Super Rugby power rankings: Do the Blues have an edge on the Canes?

Analysis: The Blues may have lost Rieko Ioane but they still have a huge amount of firepower for the top-of-the-table clash at Eden Park, writes Patrick McKendry.

(9 wins, 1 loss) beat Rebels 38-11

(Table position: 2)

(PR: No change)

A relatively stress-free win for the Blues in Melbourne, apart from the loss of their centre Rieko Ioane to a head injury which will likely keep him out of the upcoming blockbuster against the Hurricanes at Eden Park. The Blues didn’t need to get out of third gear against a limited Rebels and had by far the greater firepower. Mark Tele’a again suggested that, pound for pound, he is the strongest back in the competition. Certainly he’s the slipperiest. It all adds up to good things for the Blues, who may be slight favourites against the Canes on Saturday.

(7 wins, 3 losses) beat Force 56-7

(4)

(PR: up 2)

Another routine victory for the Chiefs against the worst team in the competition; albeit one that beat the Crusaders recently. Damian McKenzie again showed he’s the best No.10 in the country by far. The fourth-placed Chiefs are tracking well and still in the hunt for a potential home semifinal.

(9 wins, 1 loss) beat Waratahs 41-12

(1)

(PR: up 5)

They brushed off their defeat in Canberra with another efficient victory over the Waratahs to maintain their place at the top of the table as foreshadowed by their opening try; a scrum tighthead finished by Billy Proctor after three minutes. In Brett Cameron, not picked up by the Crusaders, the Canes have a No.10 getting better by the week. In Brandon Iose and Devan Flanders, they also have big and fast loosies that are the envy of the competition.

(5 wins, 5 losses) beat Crusaders 33-28

(5)

(PR: Up 4)

An historic win for the Reds, who were far more composed than the Crusaders in Christchurch. They bullied the Crusaders around the fringes and created a superb try for wing Tim Ryan, the little dynamo who scored a double to go with his hat-trick last weekend against the Blues. A team on the rise and probably already planning to be present in the playoffs.

(8 wins, 2 losses) beat Drua 28-20

(3)

(PR: Down 3)

A solid win after the highs of last weekend when they beat the Hurricanes. Don’t forget about the Brumbies – the best Aussie team in the competition.

(4 wins, 6 losses) beat Moana Pasifika 28-17

(7)

(PR: up 2)

The Highlanders — up 19-17 at halftime — closed out the game with three penalty goals in the second half. The conditions were atrocious, but it tells a story about the Highlanders’ attack a week after they held out the lowly Force 7-6 in Dunedin. Still, it was a win which kept them in the top eight and they won’t mind how they get them.

(4 wins, 6 losses) Lost to Brumbies 20-28

(8)

PR: (Up 2)

The Drua passed more, ran more, kicked less, and conceded fewer penalties (11-16) than the Brumbies — and yet still lost. It’s tough in Canberra.

(3 wins, 7 losses) Lost to Highlanders 17-28

(9)

(PR: up 3)

A disappointing one for Moana, who took this historic first game to Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa with real hopes of a victory over an inconsistent Highlanders. Instead, the heavens opened and the southerners coped better with the conditions.

(5 wins, 5 losses) Lost to Blues 11-38

(6)

(PR: up 3)

The Rebels, as high as fourth on the table recently, are drifting. They couldn’t match the Blues up front in Melbourne.

(2 wins, 8 losses) lost to Hurricanes 12-41

(11)

(PR: NC)

Completely out-gunned in Wellington.

(2 wins, 8 losses) Lost to Reds 28-33

(10)

(PR: Down 7)

Beaten all over the field and now possibly without the injured Scott Barrett and Ethan Blackadder. The end of the season may come as a merciful reprieve to the Crusaders’ supporters who haven’t witnessed these sorts of performances from their team since 1996. It could be all over in four weeks.

(2 wins, 8 losses) Lost to Chiefs 7-56

(12)

(PR: Down 3)

A penalty try for a collapsed maul just before the break — for which Kaylum Boshier was sinbinned — was as good as it got for the Force.