Power Rankings: Super 15

Rank	Team	Change	Last Week	Comment
1	2-0		1	No more Mr Nice Guy from Chiefs coach Dave Rennie. The Chiefs put almost 50 on the Cheetahs and Rennie was fuming. Too many schoolboy errors he raged which served to show how high standards have been set and also how the fairer sex continues to outperform - what about schoolgirl errors...or do they not make any?
2	2-0		5	All aboard the Blues' Bambina...JK has his team a rockin and he wants the fans to come a knockin. It's going to be week by week with this lot, though: it's still too early to believe all their ills have been cured but two games, 10 points...reads a little better than 12 games, 10 points as it did last year.
3	2-0		2	Mairangi Bay and Browns Bay will be empty on Sunday - as the residents will have decamped to Kingsland to create a 'Little Pretoria'. So much of their faith will be invested in Pierre Spies and Morne Steyn who will need to be convinced they really are in Pretoria as they never play well at Eden Park.
4	2-0		7	It has been a difficult period for sharks in general so the whole fish fraternity will be celebrating that at least one part of the family is going well. Actually, they are functional rather than impressive but wins build confidence and much like the first season of 'The Wire', patience through a slow beginning pays off.
5	2-0		4	The Brumbies have had a week off - in which time they have hit on the idea of playing both David Pocock and George Smith. Sounds sensible, especially when its considered how many great twin openside combinations there have been. Eh...hmmm...oh that's right, playing two 7s never works. Give them two weeks before they can it - even though they still should win with that combination.
6	2-1		6	The Reds dropped 'Aussie Mike' to play the Hurricanes and in his place put 'Aussie Steve' - as in referee Walsh. The Kiwi turned Aussie made a superb tackle on Conrad Smith, was ruthless at the breakdown and earned his side 18 points. Cited by the Hurricanes after the game - it was ruled there was no case to answer and the Reds are looking to offer him a permanent contract.
7	0-1		3	Backs coach Daryl Gibson was chopped last year for not delivering any attacking enterprise. Maybe Gibson wasn't the problem - maybe it is time for the Crusaders to ask what do they get out of Adam Whitelock? Ryan Crotty and Robbie Fruean as a pairing...what can they honestly deliver? And Israel Dagg at fullback? Just didn't make sense.
8	0-1		8	Gut feel - the Highlanders might actually be pretty good, but were made to look a little ordinary in their only game, by a seriously good Chiefs team. It's only gut feel - they need to dismantle the Cheetahs, deliver intense, relentless attacking rugby and remove the doubt.
9	1-1		10	Almost the entire Waratahs squad is coming off contract this year which means coach Michael Chieka is going to be pretty busy dealing with recruitment and retention. Which is a shame, because he needs to be pretty busy actually coaching the team who are struggling to make the conversion from being the most boring team in the world.
10	0-2		11	Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske warned that in his experience of travelling to play four games in Australasia, the effects of jet lag are usually strongest in week two of the trip. That's a worry given his side are playing the Highlanders: the time difference between Invercargill and the rest of New Zealand is about 25 years. Expect, then from the Cheetahs, more endeavour and just as little reward.
11	0-2		9	There's a strong chance the Hurricanes will be sitting 0-3 after Friday night with the Highlanders away next on the schedule. We hear all the time it is a long season, but it's probably not long enough for the Hurricanes to rescue themselves.
12	0-2		12	The Crusaders, rightfully, worry about their lack of attacking threat. But man, their issues are nothing in comparison with those of the Stormers. They are so dull, so devoid of good ideas and intent that they are vying with Seven Sharp as the single worst thing to watch.
13	1-0		13	Reality will most likely hit the Kings this weekend when they take on the Sharks. Hard to see them getting close but at least they have the security of knowing that should things start slipping away, they have former Blues utility Hadleigh Parkes on the bench.
14	1-2		14	Kurtley Beale has a broken hand which will affect his ability to do both his job and his hobby. James O'Connor has been asked to step up and do Beale's job - and there should be some optimism that the Justin Bieber look-a-like will add some spark, energy and imagination to the Rebels. They might, even, one day win a game.
15	0-3		15	The Force have a week off to work out how they might go about winning in Brisbane in round five. Here are their best hopes: sneak 17 players onto the park; bribe the referee; fake a few deaths within the squad and forfeit - earning a sympathy draw and two points. Conventional plans such as improving the set-piece, defence and attack - they are never going to work.