Will it be an all-New Zealand Super Rugby final or will the Lions spoil the party?

The stakes could hardly be higher but both the Hurricanes and the Chiefs might be missing their inspirational skippers for Saturday night's semifinal.

The Chiefs will face the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby semifinals after crushing the Stormers in Cape Town.

The top-qualifying Hurricanes will next weekend host the Chiefs in Wellington, while the defending champion Highlanders will travel to Johannesburg.

There's no questioning the Hurricanes' quality, writes Justin Marshall. Tonight against the Sharks is about learning the lessons of their past.

Stephen Donald has been handed another momentous task, named at second five for the Chiefs' do-or-die clash in Cape Town.

Will either the Chiefs or the Stormers benefit from the disparity in their respective schedules in Sunday's quarter-final?

COMMENT: Of all the strange rugby decisions made this season, the Liam Messam one has got to be the craziest, writes Scotty Stevenson.

Liam Messam has been ruled ineligible by Sanzaar for Sunday morning's Super Rugby quarter-final against the Stormers.

All the action as the Highlanders hosted the Chiefs in a vital Super Rugby clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

A wild night and a conference turned upside down ended with a familiar outcome - the Highlanders in title-winning form.

There's something about the Chiefs that makes them sit a little aloof from the rest of the title contenders.

Liam Messam's last Super Rugby start showed the Chiefs just how hard it can be to win on the road in the playoffs. It was more than

The Chiefs easily secured the bonus-point victory they needed to solidify top spot in the New Zealand conference.

Sydney's Daily Telegraph is calling it one of the most brazen trans-Tasman recruitment ploys in history. The newspaper reports that

Sam Cane still has capacity for a couple of firsts heading into tomorrow's clash with the Reds.

One All Black will be putting up his feet this weekend while another will have his head down as he attempts to master a new position.

Life moves on, says Liam Messam, and that progression will now be happening rather quickly for the overlooked sevens hopeful.

All the action from the top of the table clash between the Chiefs and Crusaders from Suva in Fiji.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder might have endured a difficult evening after watching his previously table-topping side lose their place.

Given the historical reluctance to play big matches in the Pacific Islands, Friday's Super Rugby match in Suva is welcome progress.

Stephen Donald will start the Chiefs' top-of-the-table clash with the Crusaders in Suva on Friday night.

The Chiefs and Crusaders are both likely to manage the workload of their All Blacks stars for their clash in Suva.

The legend grows. World Cup winner Stephen Donald got a hero's reception at Waikato Stadium, as he inspired the below-strength Chiefs to smash the Welsh rugby side.

For the first time in their 20-year history, the Chiefs unleashed a pre-game haka to mark the special occasion of their clash with Wales last night.

'Beaver' Stephen Donald stars as the Chiefs score six tries to deal a huge blow to Wales' hopes of taking anything from their tour.

They've already enticed one All Black up State Highway 1.

A police escort can clear traffic but, as the Crusaders have found this week, it also attracts attention.

Sonny Bill Williams has made the only fair and sensible decision, rejecting the Chiefs and joining the Blues, writes Chris Rattue.