Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinals draw: Which eight teams qualified, where and when are the games

The Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinals have been decided after an action-packed final round of the 2023 competition.

The first game of round 15 saw the Blues beat the Highlanders 16-9 to secure third place and leave the Highlanders needing other results to go their way. The Brumbies secured fourth spot with a win in Canberra while the Drua made the top eight, beating Queensland to eliminate the Highlanders and leave the Reds sweating on the final game of the round between the Force and Chiefs.

An understrength Chiefs came out blazing and beat the Force to end their hopes.

Finals match ups

Quarterfinals – 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6 and 4 v 5 with the top-ranked team hosting

QF 1 v 8: Chiefs vs Reds, Saturday time TBC,  FMG Stadium Waikato

QF 2 v 7: Crusaders vs Drua, Saturday time TBC, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch

QF 3 v 6: Blues vs Waratahs, Friday, time TBC Eden Park, Auckland

QF 4 v 5: Brumbies vs Hurricanes, Saturday 7.35pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Semi-Finals – top-ranked quarter-final winner hosts against lowest-ranked quarter-final winner & 2nd highest ranked quarterfinal winner hosts 3rd highest ranked winner.

Final – top-ranked semi-final winner hosts the other semi-final winner.

How the games affected table placings.

Friday

Blues vs Highlanders

The Blues finished third after a 16-9 win over the Highlanders. That sets up a match against the Waratahs next weekend, and form is on their side having beaten NSW 55-21 earlier this season. The Highlanders managed a bonus point but stayed in eighth and were eliminated after the Drua beat the Reds.

Brumbies vs Rebels, 7.35pm

The Brumbies stayed fourth and secured a semifinal against the Hurricanes with a 33-17 win that eliminated the Rebels.

Saturday

Drua vs Reds, 2.35pm

The Drua beat the Reds in Fiji to claim a first finals spot. They went to seventh where they stayed as the Force lost to the Chiefs. The Reds scraped through in eighth with the Chiefs beating the Force.

Hurricanes vs Crusaders 5.05pm

The Hurricanes beat the Crusaders 27-26 but it had no bearing on the standings with both teams fisnishing where they started the night – the Crusaders in second and Canes in fifth.

Waratahs vs Moana Pasifika 7.35pm

This game also had no bearing on the quarterfinal make up. The Tahs finished sixth regardless and play the third placed Blues. Moana Pasifika ended the season with the wooden spoon despite their win over the Tahs in Sydney.

Force vs Chiefs 10pm

The Chiefs finished first and made 13 changes to rest players ahead of the finals. The Force could have gone into seventh or eighth with a win but failed to match up to the Chiefs and were eliminated.