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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) The top-four standings in rugby's Super 14 underwent a series of seismic shifts during weekend matches which ended with seven teams in contention for semifinal places in next week's last regular season round. Drama, contention and emotion abounded as first the Wellington Hurricanes, then the New South Wales Waratahs and finally the ACT Brumbies with a last-gasp try forced their way into the top four during the 13th round. In doing so, they ended the Canterbury Crusaders and Queensland Reds' long residence in the top four, forcing those teams back to sixth and seventh places respectively and handing the Hurricanes a short-term tenancy as they moved back to fifth. The Pretoria-based Bulls started and ended the round on top of the table and, with an eight-point lead over compatriots the Stormers entering the final round, gave the tournament it's one certainty: that they will host one of the semifinals. Defending champions the Bulls (47 points) scored a contentious try in injury time to beat seven-time champions the Crusaders 40-35 to ensure they will defend an 18-match winning streak at home in the playoffs in two weeks' time. The Cape Town-based Stormers (39 points) held second place despite a 20-14 loss to the Sharks; their fifth-straight loss to their Durban-based compatriots. The Stormers had been in outstanding form and looked one of the teams most likely to make the playoffs but their chances are now more tenuous as they must face the Bulls in the final round. That clash between South African rivals will be one of the most compelling of the season, likely deciding whether the Stormers make the playoffs. The Waratahs and Brumbies, after bonus points wins in the 13th round, are now third and fourth, one and two points respectively behind the Stormers and placed to overtake the South African team if it falters next weekend. The Sharks took advantage of an error-ridden performance by the Stormers' Saturday to lead 14-0 at halftime with tries to winger Odwa Ndungane and flyhalf Ruan Pienaar. Flyhalf Peter Grant scored his first try of the season to give the Stormers hope, but the Sharks drew away again with two late penalties to Pienaar. "It was one of those performances you really want to write off and forget about, but I have to take positives and the bonus point we got towards the end is a very vital bonus point for us," said Stormers coach Allister Coetzee. "(The players) know they have disappointed themselves. They have to pitch up (against the Bulls) next week." Bulls winger Francois Hougaard scored a contentious try in stoppage time his second of the match to lift his team to a thrilling 40-35 win over the Crusaders. Canterbury have lost their past three matches on the road to the Western Force, Stormers and Bulls and return home to face the powerful Brumbies in the final round. Hougaard's winning score appeared to come from a forward pass but South African referee Marius Jonker awarded the try after consulting his touch judge. Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder was disappointed with the decision but saw no point in blaming Jonker for his team's defeat. "You can't control the uncontrollables," Blackadder told New Zealand's Sunday Star-Times. "Things were happening out there, everyone could see it, and everyone could form their own opinions. "We'll have a good look at it but we'll move forward. What's done is done." The outcome of 13th round games, particularly the defeat of the Stormers and Crusaders, has made the playoffs race more intense and the final round more compelling. While the Bulls are safe, the next six teams in the standings will not know their playoff fate until all of next week's matches have been completed. Several of those matches are direct confrontations between rivals for playoffs places, lending a greater sense of drama to the tournament's final round. The Crusaders (6th on 36 points) are at home to the Brumbies (4th with 37 points) in the first match of the round, the loser of which will miss the final four. Canterbury faces a difficult six-day turnaround, returning from South Africa to play Friday, and might have to return to South Africa immediately if it reaches the semifinals. The Waratahs (3rd with 38 points) play the Hurricanes (5th with 37 points) in Sydney Friday in another sudden death contest for both teams. Both kept alive their playoffs chance with bonus point wins in round 13: the Hurricanes 44-21 over the Queensland Reds and the Waratahs 46-19 over the Waikato Chiefs. Queensland dropped back to seventh place with its second-straight loss, but on 34 points and three points outside the top four, retains a small semifinals chance with a match remaining against the Highlanders. The Stormers and Bulls go head to head in the last match of the regular season in Cape Town. In other 13th round matches, the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs beat Australia's Western Force 29-14 and the Auckland Blues beat the Johannesburg-based Lions 56-14, leaving the Lions with a tournament record 12-straight losses.
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