Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder knows his side face a tough task ahead in South Africa after a bruising finish to the Super Rugby

An already difficult assignment for the Crusaders in Todd Blackadder's last few weeks as coach has just been made much tougher.

The quarter-final lineup is set in Super Rugby after the Hurricanes thrashed the Crusaders and the Highlanders overcame the Chiefs. Were those matches of test intensity? The All Blacks will release a new jersey in the coming days. How will it differ from the others? More golden point heartbreak for the Warriors after going down late to Manly in Perth.

Crusaders fans may be hurting tonight but one Christchurch man will be counting his lucky stars after winning $25,000 cash at the game.

On a night when no one knew what to expect, a bonus point record win for the Hurricanes over the Crusaders helped them clinch the NZ conference.

Relive all the action from the crunch Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and Hurricanes.

Ngani Laumape looks like he will be starting in the Hurricanes' midfield against the Crusaders and the former Warrior says he is up

The Crusaders will target the Hurricanes scrum and an untried new midfield combination in Saturday's high stakes contest in Christchurch.

The Crusaders will be feeling good about life again. There's nothing quite like a proper thumping to warm the cockles.

Friday night's Super Rugby clash between the Chiefs and Crusaders in Suva, Fiji, has been praised as an enormous success, with future games already in the mix.

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.

A number of All Blacks return to their Super Rugby teams battered a bruised ahead of this week's returning round.

COMMENT: The selection of Scott Robertson to replace Todd Blackadder as Crusaders head coach from next year will have come as a huge blow to the team's assistant Tabai Matson.

Tabai Matson might look to coach elsewhere after being overlooked in favour of Scott Robertson for the Crusaders job.

Jimmy Tupou and Alex Hodgman will join the Blues on two-year deals.

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

COMMENT: Watching the Blues play the Crusaders at Eden Park on Saturday, the character and promise within Tana Umaga's team was obvious.

The Blues, according to coach Tana Umaga, were tired this week.

The Blues are too far into their redevelopment to be enthused by brave defeats. They can't really shrug off losses any more as all being part of the learning curve.

In holding on to beat the Force in Perth, the Blues won two matches on their South African road trip for the first time in eight years.

The Waratahs had little response to a Crusaders team determined to right the wrongs of their loss in Dunedin.

COMMENT: Nadolo will make a big difference when he returns. He asks so many more questions of the defence.

Join us for a live blog of the tantalising Kiwi derby between the Highlanders and the Crusaders.

WATCH: A truly heavyweight contest - in all senses - finished with the Highlanders beating the Crusaders to join their southern cousins at the top of the table.