Jamie Mackintosh, fed up with his treatment at the Highlanders which has seen him go from captain to virtually unwanted this season, is heading to the Chiefs.

Jamie Mackintosh, fed up with his treatment at the Highlanders which has seen him go from captain to virtually unwanted this season, is heading to the Chiefs.

A big factor in why the Chiefs looked a vastly improved side in the last 30 minutes of their victory over the Hurricanes in Hamilton can be found in one significant second-half substitution.

A rusty performance, this, from the Chiefs, but as we have seen so often over the past couple of years, it was enough to get the job done and in the end it was surprisingly easy.

Liam has been fantastic in both camps for a number of years, adapting very well to the instructions given to him while never forgetting his core jobs as a blindside flanker. In the Chiefs he is their co-captain so a lot more visible in the lead-up to game

Most rugby players carry niggling injuries during the season but James Marshall has struggled with the same complaint for the past four years.

The Chiefs changed the coaching landscape last year when they operated with four full-time coaches instead of the usual two.

Chiefs captain Craig Clarke was being tipped as the strongest contender for a fairytale call-up to the All Blacks today, with former All Blacks Jarrad Hoeata and Anthony Boric outside choices.

Chiefs captain Craig Clarke has revealed himself to be a keen student of the points table so he will be extremely satisfied with his team's lot as he prepares for a weekend off.

How important was that Chiefs win over the Crusaders? "Massive'', says playmaker Aaron Cruden, who has suggested it will give the younger members of his team a new belief in their abilities.

The question was whether the Chiefs can get better. The answer from coach Dave Rennie was a definitive yes. And it wasn't just the usual bluster coaches feel compelled to spout.

A match worthy of a final and on this form there is every chance the Chiefs and Crusaders will meet again in the play-offs.

Watch a replay of all the action from tonight's Super Rugby match between the Chiefs and Crusaders from Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

Hika Elliot's immediate goal is to help his Chiefs team beat the Crusaders in tonight's blockbuster in Hamilton - but also high up on his to-do list is finding an ITM Cup team to play for this year.

If the Crusaders are serious about landing the top spot in Super Rugby's New Zealand conference then tonight's game against the Chiefs in Hamilton seems like the prime time to make their move.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie believes Sir Graham Henry made some good points in his blast at match officials.

Judging by what we saw on Friday night in Wellington, we are reaching the stage of the season when the rugby is going to tighten up and become a lot closer to test matches in terms of style, intensity and physicality.

When Dave Rennie inherited the Chiefs in September 2011, people weren't expecting him to work miracles. Now they expect his side to win every week.

Tim Nanai-Williams is due to be released from Waikato Hospital today.

A dubious performance by the Chiefs has been followed by a definitive forecast about key players Gareth Anscombe and Tim Nanai-Williams who have been ruled out until after the June tests.

A real test for the Chiefs tonight this, and one they passed but only just. Questions remain about why they are struggling to put teams away this season.

Five points safely in the bag and yet the Chiefs left Melbourne with questions unanswered about their defence and a sense of confusion about the TMO rulings.

Project Ben is still going and the odds of success - of turning Ben Tameifuna into a world-class hybrid front-rower - have risen.