Nothing beats a grudge game and the whiff of verbal cordite is swirling ahead of the Super rugby semifinal between the Waratahs and Brumbies.

The Sharks swept the Highlanders before them in their qualifier by virtue of their powerful scrum but it is an area that the Crusaders, who possess their own heavy artillery, are likely to target in their semifinal.

This is the time when Super Rugby coaches and their players earn their money.

Wynne Gray writes: The real Beast roaming around the Super 15 rugby fields is Sharks captain Bismarck du Plessis.

Losing to the Sharks in pool play was so unlike the Crusaders, especially at home and with a man advantage after Jean Deysel was sent off early, they rarely got out of third gear.

Let's compliment the Highlanders on the way they approached the game against the Sharks, writes Justin Marshall.

It's been another confusing and often boring Super 15 season but Saturday night's semifinal clash in Christchurch should be well worth the wait, writes Chris Rattue.

Even though Henry Speight has been busy with the Brumbies for a while now, you still wanted to rub your eyes.

Todd Blackadder would have made the short journey from his home to the Crusaders' training base yesterday to begin the analysis for his team's semifinal in Christchurch.

After years of selling itself as a global game when it never really was, rugby is poised to take grip in territories it has always dreamed of conquering.

The first half of 2014 has very much been the Jerome Kaino show. Maybe the second will belong to Steven Luatua, who appears poised to re-emerge as a genuine international force.

I have been on holiday in Australia for a couple of weeks where I got the impression there's a fair bit of confidence brewing.

What a maddening night for the Chiefs. Their dream is over. They won't win their third successive title and they will only have themselves to blame.

Watch a replay of tonight's live updates from the Super Rugby playoff match between the Chiefs and the Brumbies from GIO Stadium in Canberra.

A late expression of interest in the Super 15 has been filed from the Caribbean which will gazump any ideas about expansion to Singapore or Japan.

Of the eight new names to be announced among the Chiefs ranks in Canberra tonight, one will reverberate around GIO Stadium a little louder than most.

Last year Brumbies back Robbie Coleman was best described as a handy utility, getting the odd gig off the bench.

The very fact that Sanzar decided to search by tender for its 18th team from 2016 is proof in itself that its latest expansion plan is flawed.

Coming out of the international break, the Brumbies were three points adrift of the Waratahs and strong contenders for the Australian conference crown.

The return of Richie McCaw to the Crusaders for their semifinal next Saturday will present coach Todd Blackadder with a dilemma. Where to play him?

White knows that losing just as easily becomes a habit and that is why the Sharks were so desperate for a turnaround in fortunes before the play-offs after the loss to the Cheetahs.

Star import Jacques Potgieter believes the Waratahs are unstoppable in their quest for a long-awaited maiden Super Rugby crown.

It won't be much consolation to the Blues, but Hurricanes-bound Ma'a Nonu believes his time away from Wellington has made him a better person.

Beware the prize of a week off in the Super rugby finals.

Changes will be few when the Chiefs travel to tackle the Brumbies this weekend, but there is one aspect the champs would ideally alter.