Auckland Blues have spiced up their do-or-die joust with the NSW Waratahs for a Super 12 rugby playoff spot with claims that the series front-runners have had a charmed run with referees at the breakdown.
The Blues, three points outside the top four in sixth place and needing maximum points from their last match in Sydney today to play in the semifinals, have been accused by the Waratahs of trying to influence the referee.
Auckland are one of three teams vying for the last playoff slot with South Africa's Northern Bulls occupying fourth spot and favored with a home match against the Western Stormers tomorrow.
New Zealand's Otago Highlanders are still in the mix, but they have lost their last two games at home and must come away with maximum points against the mid-table Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton tomorrow and hope other results go their way.
Blues assistant coach David Nucifora called on match officials to crack down on the Waratah forwards in the tackle contest, but NSW coach Ewen McKenzie countered by saying the former ACT Brumbies coach was trying to influence South African match referee Tappe Henning.
"This concept about slowing the ball, we certainly get out there and try and steal the ball and we don't apologize for that," McKenzie said.
The Waratahs, along with the Canterbury Crusaders the favorites to take out this season's southern hemisphere provincial tournament, need a winning bonus point to clinch top spot heading into the May 20 and May 21 semifinals.
The Crusaders can still take pole position if they win well against third-placed Wellington Hurricanes in Christchurch today, with the Hurricanes taking no risks and resting key players ahead of the playoffs.
The Waratahs have finished the season strongly with an impressive win over the Highlanders in Dunedin and chalking up their first-ever Super 12 success over Queensland Reds in Sydney last weekend.
The Blues have performed well in Sydney with three wins in four visits, but are beset with injuries and will be without fly-half Tasea Lavea, All Black fullback Mils Muliaina and utility back Sam Tuitupou.
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper has left three of his senior players out of the starting 15 against the Crusaders.
Cooper has given All Black skipper Tana Umaga (injured thumb) the night off, and has relegated two more of his leaders, flanker Jerry Collins and hooker Andrew Hore, to the reserves bench.
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has included All Black flanker Richie McCaw on the bench, but No.8 Sam Broomhall and fly-half Andrew Mehrtens will start, while loosehead prop Dave Hewett has been left out of the squad.
The Bulls have come home with a wet sail winning their last five games, but have never beaten the Stormers in nine years of Super 12 and a stomach virus outbreak won't help their chances.
Springbok lock Bakkies Botha has become the seventh victim of the virus.
While the Bulls medical staff won't yet term it a crisis, not having more than one-third of the starting line-up available for the practice session ahead of such a major game must be of concern.
The Highlanders have won three of their four matches away to the Chiefs, but the momentum may have shifted against them after losing home games against the Waratahs and Crusaders to drop out of the top four.
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