Aisle be back: Hurricanes v Bulls

My old college maths teacher was very good. Spook would take us through some elaborate calculation, and then when he was satisfied we surely must understand it, he'd without fail say "and now we're going to change the numbers to confuse the ignorant".

But then Spook had never seen Super Rugby. We've now reached the stage in the competition where teams have mathematical routes to the playoffs. For most New Zealand teams, the route is like a Peruvian mountain trail, perilous at many turns. For South African teams, the route is more like a four-lane highway blasting across the veldt. And for Australian sides, there is no route - just a big general walkabout from which only one side eventually wanders back in.

That's to say, the numbers and the weird conference system that cossets South Africa and Australia confuse both the ignorant, and you, the general fan. But that is how it is for now.

The Canes still have one of those famous mathematical routes to topping the New Zealand conference. It's however realistically very, very narrow.

By my reckoning,  with 43 points, we could score 18 off the next four games if we win everything (5 Bulls, 5 Force, 4 Chiefs, 4 Saders). Those last two games are a tall order, but let's be optimistic. Maximum possible is 63, which isn't going to happen. Are you feeling those three dropped bonus points right now?

The Crusaders of course are deservedly in the box seat with 54 points already. They just need 62 off three remaining games to effectively kill off the Canes for first place. Four of those eight points are in our hands, since we play them last round.

But that game is only going to be a potential clincher if the Highlanders knock over the Crusaders next weekend. Longshot, but not impossible.

The Chiefs of course are equally in the race for the New Zealand conference. Their key matches are this weekend against the Blues (and that could swing either way) and then against us on June 9.

As Spook would say, let's have a look next week - when the numbers will have been changed to confuse the ignorant.

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The above assumes we run over the Bulls and Force.

It defies logic that we can't do that to the former - has there ever been a more sad year for the once famous South African province?

Seemingly they have thought the pre-season was still going.

But I see they've just appointed John Mitchell as their director of rugby.

That means they're about to set off on one of Mitch's famous journeys. All the best, but I'm not sure that ends up well.

It seems a long, long way to fly to play one match in Pretoria.

I've never been there, but I suspect there's not much danger this time of the famous breach of curfew being repeated.

Just in case - everyone synchronise your watches.

Lifelong All Blacks supporter Kev has followed the Hurricanes since they began. Last year his faith in them was rewarded when they won the title – can they do it again?