Take a decent bow you Highlanders. It's been a while since you gave Super Rugby a decent rattle and your season-ticketholders much to cheer about, writes Wynne Gray.

The Blues' stunning victory over the Force in Perth, which made a mockery of their woeful away record of the past two years, will mean little if they fail to back it up.

The Highlanders may not even have to win one of their final two games to gain a playoff spot as the cards continue to fall their way.

A victory over the Hurricanes, with two home fixtures left, would have put the Crusaders in the box seat for a home semifinal. Instead, they lost 16-9, writes Justin Marshall.

The Chiefs looked like the same side who entered the June window during Friday's 29-25 crushing loss to the Highlanders.

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett will have the depth of his squad tested this week as his men eye another must-win Super Rugby encounter against the Chiefs on Friday night

Versatility was their key strength last year but the Chiefs have desperately missed specialists and consistency of selection in 2014.

The Blues blew the Force off the field in the first quarter in Perth overnight, grabbing a rare Super Rugby win on the road.

Watch a replay of tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Hurricanes and the Crusaders from Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

The Hurricanes have beaten the Crusaders in three of the past five meetings and each time the winning points have come in the final 10 minutes.

There's a light and dark shade for Charles Piutau about rugby in New Plymouth.

Despite the extremely high level Jerome Kaino reached on his return to the All Blacks against England, he feels he let himself down in the third test in Hamilton.

The Chiefs’ reign as champions is virtually over but the Highlanders have shown there remains at least one Kiwi challenger for the Super Rugby title

Watch a replay of tonight's live blog of the Super rugby clash between the Highlanders and the Chiefs from Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

In the strict hierarchy of rugby in this country, it's rare to find a Super rugby side benefiting from the All Blacks rather than the reverse.

John Kirwan is preparing to receive a high-powered reinforcement in the form of returning fullback Charles Piutau

Just when McCaw was getting some traction and form, he's back on the sidelines with a broken rib, writes Brian Ashby.

The Chiefs are hoping some "top secret" changes made during the June break can propel them towards the Super Rugby playoffs.

Loose forward Luke Braid will see out the Blues' season and then go under the knife, possibly on both his shoulders, which have troubled him the last two years.

The Blues have secured their spot in the 2024 Super Rugby finals, beating the Brumbies 34-20. Video / Sky Sport