Rugby: Can anyone prevent the Crusaders from defending their Super Rugby title?

The Super Rugby title is the Crusaders' to lose. Photo / Photosport

The Crusaders' place at the top of the Super Rugby table has been cemented over the weekend without them having played a match, and the odds are shortening on them defending their title.

If a bye after the rigours of the test series against France was a well-timed break ahead of their final push to the top, the latest round could hardly have gone better in terms of the results concerning their closest rivals.

The Hurricanes' slump in particular has all but assured the Crusaders will finish on top of the New Zealand conference. The 24-12 defeat by the Brumbies in Canberra after the Hurricanes led at halftime has allowed the Crusaders to hold on to their nine-point lead over Chris Boyd's men with two rounds remaining.

Scott Robertson's side need only one win from their remaining two matches to ensure home advantage for as long as they progress in the playoffs, and with the Highlanders and Blues to visit in the coming weeks, the Crusaders will be favoured to win both.

In May, the TAB was offering $3.25 on the Crusaders to win the competition. That shortened to $2 before this latest round and it's now at $1.90. The Hurricanes, who have lost three in a row (to Crusaders, Highlanders and now Brumbies) are the next best on $3.10.

The Hurricanes, fourth, host the Blues next but will face a concerted challenge for their right to hold a home quarter-final in their final round-robin match against the Chiefs, who are currently fifth.

The Highlanders are sixth.

It is looking increasingly likely that the title is the Crusaders' to lose. They are unbeaten in six matches at home this year and while they lost away to the Hurricanes and Highlanders on successive weekends in March, they haven't lost since; a run of 10 victories.

Last year they finished second on the table behind the Lions, who didn't play a New Zealand opponent due to a significant quirk of the draw. They beat the Highlanders and Chiefs in Christchurch in their respective quarter-final and semifinal matches before travelling to Johannesburg and winning at Ellis Park, an historic achievement.

They have few injury concerns, with No8 Kieran Read now back in the mix and likely to play 40 minutes against the Highlanders on Friday, and in lock Scott Barrett, first-five Richie Mo'unga and centre Jack Goodhue they have three players who will be enhanced by their recent All Black experience.

Barrett was arguably the All Black of the French series, with Mo'unga and Goodhue making their test debuts in Dunedin, the latter playing 80 minutes and looking increasingly assured.

Coach Robertson has the Crusaders playing an adaptable style – they are equally comfortable with a wide game or a territory-based set-piece focused strategy – but are near unbeatable at home at this time of year with conditions favouring a side who can flourish despite a slippery ball.

They have one of the best scrums in the competition and their lineout maul is second to none. They have finals pedigree. It's difficult to imagine any other team lifting the trophy in 2018.