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Rebels v Force - Dane Haylett-Petty of the Force is tackled by Mike Harris of the Rebels during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Force at AAMI Park on June 12, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Luke Jones of the Rebels catches the ball during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Force at AAMI Park on June 12, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Dane Haylett-Petty of the Force breaks through a tackle by Mike Harris of the Rebels during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Force at AAMI Park on June 12, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Mike Harris of the Rebels is tackled during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Force at AAMI Park on June 12, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Force players celebrate winning the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Force at AAMI Park on June 12, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Brumbies v Crusaders - Henry Speight of the Brumbies is tackled during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Crusaders at GIO Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

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Jesse Mogg of the Brumbies is given a yellow card during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Crusaders at GIO Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

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Crusaders players celebrate during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Crusaders at GIO Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

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Richie McCaw of the Crusaders during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Crusaders at GIO Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

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David Pocock of the Brumbies reacts during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Crusaders at GIO Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

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Waratahs v Reds - Israel Folau of the Waratahs is tackled by Liam Gill of the Reds during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Reds at Allianz Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

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Quade Cooper of the Reds is tackled during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Reds at Allianz Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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Adam Ashley-Cooper of the Waratahs calls instructions during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Reds at Allianz Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

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David Dennis of the Waratahs scores a try during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Reds at Allianz Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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David Dennis of the Waratahs celebrates scoring a try during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Reds at Allianz Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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David Dennis of the Waratahs holds the Templeton Cup aloft after winning the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Reds at Allianz Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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Mike Harris of the Rebels is tackled during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Force at AAMI Park on June 12, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Force players celebrate winning the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Force at AAMI Park on June 12, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Crusaders players celebrate during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Crusaders at GIO Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

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Super Rugby's final round locks in title contenders

How the nation's sports photographers saw a crazy round 18.

Super Rugby's final round locks in title contenders

By Curtis Figon & Anthony Difederico Jun 15 2015 2:07PM

By Curtis Figon & Anthony Difederico

Jun 15 2015 2:07PM

How the nation's sports photographers saw a crazy round 18.

Two teams will represent Australia in this year's Super Rugby Finals, with defending champions the NSW Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies securing second and sixth spot respectively, earning the Waratahs the week off in the process. However, the story could have been much different heading into the final round of the season.

Both the Waratahs and Brumbies were equal on 47 points, leaving top spot in the Australian conference anyone's for the taking. However, on Saturday afternoon the Brumbies couldn't get past a spirited Crusaders outfit who were saying goodbye to cult heroes Richie McCaw and Dan Carter. They defeated the Brumbies 37-24 in the nation's capital.

This all but secured the Waratahs top spot and the week off before their match against the Reds. But that didn’t stop Michael Cheika’s men from overpowering the hapless Queensland Reds 31-5 in Sydney, improving the New South Wales side's chances of back-to-back titles.

Meanwhile, the Western Force ended a horror season on a high, upsetting the Melbourne Rebels 13-11. However, it wasn't enough to move the Force off the bottom of the ladder.

(SCOREBOARD: Melbourne Rebels def. by Western Force 11-13, ACT Brumbies def. by Crusaders 24-37, NSW Waratahs def. Queensland Reds 31-5)