Brumbies, Highlanders into Super 15 semis, South Africa out

Australia’s ACT Brumbies will face runaway league leaders Wellington Hurricanes while defending champions NSW Waratahs have home advantage over the Otago Highlanders in next weekend’s Super Rugby semi-finals. The Brumbies, twice championship winners, ended South African hopes of claiming the southern hemisphere provincial title with a 39-19 win over the Western Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday. It is the first time since 2003 that a South African side has missed out on the last four and five years since the last team from the republic, Northern Bulls, won the championship.