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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Highlanders wings Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne showed their class as they scored tries during their team's 36-9 win over the Chiefs during the weekend, but where do they rank among the competition's best tackle-busters?

On a night that hearkened back to the franchise's formative years, the Highlanders created a little slice of history and remained right in the hunt for another.

With All Blacks on his inside going through injury-disrupted campaigns, Charlie Ngatai's chase for higher honours has made him the rock of the Chiefs' backline.

Messam will miss tomorrow night's game against the Highlanders after a knock to his left shoulder during last weekend's win over the Bulls.

With three rounds to go in Super Rugby, the Herald checks out the remaining contenders and rates their title chances.

The clock is yet to strike midnight on Ross Filipo's fairytale return to the Chiefs.

Over the course of 68 immaculate minutes from Augustine Pulu, the Chiefs' halfback picture became much murkier.

The Chiefs once again showed they know exactly how to set aside a setback and keep on racking up the wins.

A loose forward, a commentator and a debutant - the Chiefs' locking crisis could create a rather unorthodox combination in the second row tomorrow night in Rotorua.

Chiefs hooker Hika Elliot has made a miraculous recovery from a serious neck injury, which has thrust him in to the discussion for All Black selection.

A defeat in Wellington may have handed the Hurricanes home advantage in the playoffs but the Chiefs will hold no fear if a rematch eventually decides the season.

Relief will be washing through the Hurricanes. This wasn't a vintage performance and their 22-18 victory over the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium in Wellington last night will be one they might look back on and feel lucky to have escaped with the points. But the flipside to that argument is that this was another gritty win that shows how far this team has come when the heat goes on.

The All Blacks' defence of the World Cup feels jinxed. Good men are dropping all over the place. Conrad Smith is the latest, suffering concussion against the Chiefs in Wellington.

Ma'a Nonu was at his best during the Hurricanes’ 22-18 win over the Chiefs in Wellington tonight, extending their lead at the top of the New Zealand conference.

What was shaping as a showdown between two explosive attacks might now be a little less pleasing on the eye. The Chiefs yesterday suffered a serious blow ahead of tonight's clash with the Hurricanes with both Sonny Bill Williams and James Lowe ruled out