The Chiefs were embarrassed by last week's loss to the Highlanders and that feeling needed to be rectified sooner or later.

Repeat finalists the Crusaders are out of the mix this time yet for some of their squad it is a victory, writes Wynne Gray.

The Crusaders are out of the playoffs but it's an absence which just might give the All Blacks and Richie McCaw an extra boost ahead of their World Cup defence.

Chris Rattue writes: Come on Sonny Bill Williams - time for the world's greatest athlete to start walking the walk again.

Sometimes it takes a moment of class to get a team going and last night, once again for the Crusaders, it came from their giant wing Nemani Nadolo.

The Crusaders see Ben Volavola, a 24-year-old not wanted by the Waratahs, as the answer to their exodus at first-five.

It’s an outcome that is the new normal under Dave Rennie — the Chiefs tonight reached the playoffs for the fourth straight season to continue their hunt for another title.

The Crusaders got the five points they needs and the Blues avoided total annihilation - a good night all round, then.

Sometimes it takes a moment of class to get a team going and last night, once again for the Crusaders, it came from their giant wing Nemani Nadolo.

Former All Blacks and Hurricanes team-mate Chris Masoe has paid tribute to his close friend Jerry Collins in unique fashion.

Daniel Carter will run out at Eden Park tonight to face 15 men looking to take chunks out of him - which is nothing new.

The death of Jerry Collins was keenly felt in New Zealand last night - especially in Napier where his former Hurricanes had the difficult task of playing after the news broke.

A dark day for the franchise ended on a bright note when the Hurricanes clinched top spot for the first time in Super Rugby history.

Much of the speculative money this week has been on lock James Broadhurst getting an All Black call-up after the season-ending injury to Patrick Tuipulotu.

Join us at 7.30pm for a live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders.

Could there be any truth to the rumours across the Ditch that Sonny Bill Williams will sit out the rest of the series?

Blues prop Angus Ta'avao is heading for the Waratahs next season as he eyes a way into test rugby.

The Chiefs are unbeaten with Brodie Retallick in their ranks this season but, without the big lock, have lost more than they've won.

Proposal will almost certainly be a compromise that would see Kirwan stay for a fourth and final year as head coach while the board looks for an alternative.

Coach Sir John Kirwan is using tomorrow's match against the Crusaders at Eden Park as a trial for next year's Super Rugby series, writes Wynne Gray.

It's a tough call to make, with several sides having put together outstanding seasons in the 19-year history of the competition.

Liam Messam leads the way with 21 penalties and one yellow card, with Ben Franks (18 penalties) and Richie McCaw (17 penalties, plus one yellow card) also high-profile offenders.

Dom Shipperley says he's a better player than when he last appeared for the Wallabies and he's hoping for a chance to prove that.