The Chiefs produced a performance tonight that suggested that their status as competition favourites is mired in reality, not myth.

Join us here for tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby showdown between the Chiefs and the Crusaders from Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

Past history has shown that clashes between the Chiefs and Crusaders can be decided by a whistle and a kicking tee.

Only four teams are unbeaten after two weeks of Super Rugby. The Hurricanes, Stormers, Chiefs and Cheetahs are the teams who have not lost.

Aaron Cruden's last-second penalty handed the Chiefs a narrow victory over the Brumbies in New Plymouth tonight.

His efforts against the Blues left little doubt that Damian McKenzie is a young man full of belief in his own abilities.

Forget the Brumbies v Crusaders classics, Wallaby test prop Scott Sio says his Super Rugby side have found a new transtasman grudge rival: the Chiefs.

A key cause of last year's inconsistent Chiefs campaign was the mid-season absence of Aaron Cruden.

Few things inspire confidence in a team like a first-five with a fully functioning computer for a brain.

It might not be a wise idea to be cautiously optimistic about the Blues' chances this year in the wake of a first round defeat, but they did enough for judgement to at least be reserved.

No surprise the Blues came second. Not against the Chiefs who have hovered around the top of the competition for the last few years while the Blues have puttered along in their own slurry.

Justin Marshall, in the first of his twice-weekly columns, casts his eyes over the strengths and weaknesses of the New Zealand franchises.

With Minnesota Vikings tight end Rhett Ellison visiting training this week, it's tempting to ponder how some of the Blues' best would handle a job swap.

The consistency that set the Chiefs apart during their title campaigns suddenly disappeared, the two-time defending champions winning their first three games but never enjoying another such streak.

The shadow of two World Cups hangs over Super Rugby, which kicks off next Friday, February 13.

Dave Rennie is not putting all his coaching eggs in the All Blacks basket for when his new Chiefs contract expires in 2017.

If the strength of a Super Rugby franchise is through its squad depth, then the Chiefs should be on to a winner in Sean Polwart.

Unlike others who often leave NZ rugby after switching allegiance to a Pacific Island nation, Tim Nanai-Williams is keen to stick with the Chiefs.

Successful sports teams always tinker and work on their next ideas. The All Blacks are top of the world ratings and continue to unpick and remodel their strategies.