Newshub Super Rugby Tipping Competition: Battle for bottom heats up in final week

With the final week of the Newshub Super Rugby tipping comp about to begin - just two places are secure on the ladder - Ross Karl at the top, and Kristina Eddy second.

The trio of John Day, Ollie Ritchie and Andrew Gourdie are fighting it out for the bottom of the table.

It's a humbling prospect for Ritchie and Gourdie after their fast start to the competition.

The Crusaders-loving duo sat at the top of the leader board after the first two weeks - but boy, how things have changed.

Newshub Super Rugby Tipping Competition: Battle for bottom heats up in final week

At the halfway stage of the competition just two points separated Karl and Gourdie. Fast-forward to today and the difference is 32 - Karl on 123 and Gourdie on 91.

Eddy has put together an Oracle-like comeback to finish second behind the pre-season favourite.

She had just one point after the first week and sat 12 points behind second at the halfway stage of the comp - before she clawed her way to secure second spot with a week to go.

While everyone agrees on the Crusaders winning by more than 13 and the Jaguares winning, the margin is split in the Argentinians' match.

Newshub Super Rugby Tipping Competition: Battle for bottom heats up in final week

If the Buenos Aires-based side manages to thrash the Brumbies on Saturday morning (NZT) then we could have a tie at the bottom between Gourdie and Day - a result which could see Ritchie finish third, just one point behind Eddy.

The rules are simple:

Pick the winner and margin of any Super Rugby game involving a New Zealand franchise, with points awarded in the following manner:

Pick the winner and margin (13-plus or 12-under) = three points.

Pick the winner only = one point.

Pick all results correctly including margin: five bonus points.

Super Rugby semi-finals

Jaguares v Brumbies, Crusaders v Hurricanes.

*Margin is based on the classic 12-under or 13-plus format.

Newshub.

Join us for live updates of the Crusaders v Hurricanes match from 7:30pm Saturday