It’s advantage to South Africa with two of their teams finishing first and second and guaranteeing home advantage for the semi-finals. The away team very rarely wins in the knockout stages – since 1996, there have been only 4 away victories at this stage of the tournament.

Everything seems to be pointing towards an all-South Africa final next weekend.

However, the Bulls are not playing in Pretoria – they have handed their stadium over to FIFA for some sort of football competition, so this match will be played at Soweto which ought to benefit the Crusaders.

The Bulls rested most of their players last week having already secured top spot, which means they’ll either be rusty, or in fine fettle for a rest – that doesn’t help much, but let’s assume they’ll be slightly below par.

The Crusaders have won 9 of their 11 semi-final appearances, which is quite compelling, and given that I have points to make up, I’m backing the underdogs in this one and have picked the Crusaders by 5.

The Stormers are usually the team with a lot of hype and expectation, without actually delivering results or trophies, but this year has been different. They have been very hard to beat, particularly in Cape Town where they have won five matches in a row, and the games they’ve lost have been by fairly narrow margins.

The ‘Tahs have been coming into some form, and have had a couple of good results against the Chiefs and the Hurricanes in recent weeks, but I think a victory at Newlands will be one step too far – my prediction is Stormers by 9.

The whole tournament has been hugely enjoyable to watch with some outstanding rugby being played, and this weekend’s games should be superb. It’s a very different brand to that seen in the Guinness Premiership and I’d normally assert that the interpretation of the laws is different, and that there’s less pressure to win, but I don’t think there’s any question that the skill levels are higher and that the games are played at a higher pace as a result.

If the Stormers win, they’ll guarantee a home semi, and they face the Bulls who already have done that. They are apparently going to field an under-strength team, so I’ve gone for a big Stormers win.

I think the Crusaders will beat the Brumbies to secure their place in the playoffs, and then there is a crucial game between the Hurricanes and the Waratahs which could decide the final semi-final spot. I’m backing the ‘Canes to edge it, based on the injury problems at the ‘Tahs – home advantage could make up for this though, and I’m not too confident in this one.

Here are my picks for the final round.

Game 88: Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders by 14
Game 86: Waratahs v Hurricanes: Hurricanes by 7
Game 87: Sharks v Force: Sharks by 13
Game 85: Blues v Chiefs: Chiefs by 7
Game 89: Reds v Highlanders: Reds by 21
Game 90: Cheetahs v Lions: Cheetahs by 23
Game 91: Stormers v Bulls: Stormers by 15

For some of the crucial matches that open the round, I’m sticking with home advantage and backing wins for the Hurricanes and the Bulls in what will be tough games against the Reds and the Crusaders.

I’m also sticking with the Chiefs who haven’t actually won at home all season, but surely they’ll give their fans something to cheer about? It’s a fairly under-confident tip for the Chiefs, and it’s likely that my main rival in SuperBru will pick the ‘Tahs, so this is a big game.

The other slightly controversial pick is for the Cheetahs over the Force. The Force have been hugely improved since some of their top players returned from injury, but so have the Cheetahs – Juan Smith is always central to their success, and they beat the Blues on his return last week.

My accuracy rate is hovering around 70%, which appears to be better than average, but I could really do with a 100% record this weekend! Here are my Super 14 predictions for Round 13.

Game 78: Hurricanes v Reds: Hurricanes by 8
Game 82: Bulls v Crusaders: Bulls by 11
Game 80: Chiefs v Waratahs: Chiefs by 5
Game 81: Brumbies v Highlanders: Brumbies by 11
Game 79: Lions v Blues: Blues by 13
Game 83: Cheetahs v Force: Cheetahs by 5
Game 84: Sharks v Stormers: Stormers by 5

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The Stormers v Crusaders is the game that catches the eye this weekend, and it has more importance since they both lost in Round 11. The home side don’t have a great record against the Crusaders, but the New Zealand side has not been at its best this year, and so I’ve gone for a home win.

There’s an all-New Zealand derby with the Hurricanes taking on the Chiefs. After last weekend’s draw with the Cheetahs where the Chiefs’ kicking record was 0 from 8, the ‘Canes have to be favourites here.

The Reds play the Brumbies in Canberra, a team they haven’t beaten in 11 games, but the Queenslanders have been the best side to watch this year, and they have beaten the top three sides in the competition, so I’m backing them to end their losing streak against their Aussie rivals.

Finally, I’m predicting another defeat for the Cheetahs and the Lions, and then it’s all eyes on the Bulls v Sharks to round off the weekend. The Sharks have won their last five games, but the Bulls are unbeaten at home in 16 matches, so it’s difficult to pick against them.

Here are my predictions for Round 12 of the Super 14:

Game 71: Highlanders v Waratahs: Waratahs by 8
Game 72: Stormers v Crusaders: Stormers by 7
Game 73: Hurricanes v Chiefs: Hurricanes by 11
Game 74: Brumbies v Reds: Reds by 9
Game 75: Cheetahs v Blues: Blues by 13
Game 76: Lions v Force: Force by 10
Game 77: Bulls v Sharks: Bulls by 11

The Reds and Stormers have been two of the best teams to watch in this year’s competition, and they finally go head to head this weekend in Brisbane. I’m backing the home side to win a close one, but after their recent wins over the Blues and the Chiefs, the Stormers will be full of confidence – it’s a tough one to call, but come on the Reds!

Elsewhere, I’ve favoured the home side, except if they are the Force or the Highlanders, who have both disappointed this year. The Force have been playing a lot better since the return of David Pocock, but the Crusaders should be too strong, and I’ve gone for the Highlanders to win the all-New Zealand affair.

Here are my Super 14 picks for Round 11:

Game 64: Chiefs v Cheetahs: Chiefs by 13
Game 65: Reds v Stormers: Reds by 5
Game 66: Force v Crusaders: Crusaders by 13
Game 67: Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes by 9
Game 68: Waratahs v Brumbies: Waratahs by 7
Game 69: Bulls v Lions: Bulls by 21
Game 70: Sharks v Blues: Sharks by 9

The key fixture this weekend is the Reds against the Bulls, and I’m backing the South Africans to overcome the in-form Reds in Queensland.

Otherwise, I’ve gone for home victories, except when the Lions host the Sharks, where I fancy the Durban team to win comfortably.

Game 58: Chiefs v Stormers: Chiefs by 10
Game 59: Brumbies v Hurricanes: Brumbies by 9
Game 60: Blues v Force: Blues by 9
Game 61: Crusaders v Cheetahs: Crusaders by 27
Game 62: Reds v Bulls: Bulls by 5
Game 63: Lions v Sharks: Sharks by 21

The first game is a repeat of last year’s final, and I’m backing the Bulls to win again. The hosts are without captain Mils Muliaina, and the Bulls should have overcome any jet lag on the second leg of their tour.

The Force now have David Pocock back in their ranks, and after their win over the Stormers last weekend, I fancy them to win again, particularly as the game is in Queenstown rather than Dunedin.

The Blues should beat the Stormers in Auckland, and then the Crusaders against the Waratahs could be the best game of the round. It’s third against first, and I’m predicting a win for the home side on the basis that the Tahs have not beaten the Crusaders since 2004.

Finally, I think there will be more misery for South Africa’s two second-string sides, with the Brumbies to beat the Cheetahs and the Reds to win away at the Lions.

Game 52: Chiefs v Bulls: Bulls by 6
Game 53: Highlanders v Force: Force by 5
Game 54: Blues v Stormers: Blues by 13
Game 55: Crusaders v Waratahs: Crusaders by 7
Game 56: Brumbies v Cheetahs: Brumbies by 17
Game 57: Lions v Reds: Reds by 8

The New Zealand derby is first up, and I’m backing the Crusaders who had a bye in the last round, and have only lost one game all season. It should be close, but their recent results suggest that Dan Carter and Richie McCaw’s team will edge it.

I’m expecting yet more misery for the Force against the Stormers, and then slightly controversially, I’m backing the Blues to end the Bulls’ unbeaten run. This is only the Champions’ second game out of South Africa, and although they have won every game, they’ve had a few scares and have looked beatable – and they’ve never beaten the Blues in Auckland.

I’m also predicting home victories for the Chiefs and the Waratahs against the Highlanders and the Cheetahs respectively, and then I’ve gone for the Reds to beat the Sharks in Durban – the Durban side have looked a little shaky, whilst the Reds have been very impressive with Quade Cooper and Will Genia running the show, so I can see a narrow away win.

Here are my Super 14 predictions for Round 8:

Game 46: Hurricanes v Crusaders: Crusaders by 5
Game 47: Force v Stormers: Stormers by 13
Game 48: Blues v Bulls: Blues by 6
Game 49: Chiefs v Highlanders: Chiefs by 9
Game 50: Waratahs v Cheetahs: Waratahs by 13
Game 51: Sharks v Reds: Reds by 5

A few of these games are particularly close to call, but I’ve backed the Chiefs to beat the Brumbies, the Hurricanes to beat the Sharks and the Waratahs to come through against the Blues.

Game 40: Highlanders v Lions: Highlanders by 13
Game 41: Brumbies v Chiefs: Chiefs by 6
Game 42: Cheetahs v Reds: Reds by 9
Game 43: Hurricanes v Sharks: Hurricanes by 6
Game 44: Waratahs v Blues: Waratahs by 8
Game 45: Force v Bulls: Bulls by 13