What is shaping up as an epic semifinal deserves a similarly gigantic subplot.

The swagger has come from the Crusaders, the stagger from the Chiefs.

The Chiefs are aware of the awakening monster that is the Crusaders forward pack but are confident they have the personnel to combat it

They fell at this hurdle last season, but the Crusaders feel they have the momentum and confidence to leap the Chiefs and go all the way this year.

Even All Black rivals are getting sick and tired of Kiwi fans jeering Wallaby playmaker Quade Cooper.

He warned that despite their emphatic performance in despatching the Reds, they can't take anything for granted.

The new Wallaby coach would have dearly wanted his boys to beat the Crusaders in his first match against a NZ team since his Wallaby appointment, writes Richard Loe. Bad luck, Ewen.

For the Crusaders, the pressure of the finals series was embraced shortly after the final whistle of the Hurricanes victory in Christchurch a week ago.

Quade Cooper and Will Genia, the Reds' dynamic duo, will come in for special attention from the Crusaders tomorrow, but the initial focus from the home side will be on putting their pack on the back foot.

What, Todd Blackadder was asked the other day, should the Reds fear most about the Crusaders on Saturday?

Richie McCaw keeps popping up in Matt Mustchin's rugby career and he's done it again.

The Chiefs have claimed the New Zealand conference title thanks to the Crusaders' unimpressive 25 - 17 victory over the Hurricanes in Christchurch tonight.

Highlanders first-five Colin Slade is set to make a dramatic return to the Crusaders next season as a replacement for Dan Carter.

A performance to celebrate - and there was plenty of toasting in the changing rooms afterwards, but the Crusaders have quickly put their stunning victory over the Chiefs in its place.

By selecting Ben Tameifuna at prop, Chiefs coach Dave Rennie is hoping to spike the Crusaders' scrum with the biggest piece of artillery he has.

Crusaders centre Robbie Fruean has withdrawn from the remainder off the Super 15 season after being forced to undergo further heart surgery.

With the blood running hot, it took the cool head of Daniel Carter to steer the Crusaders home tonight.

The news last night that more than 4000 extra seats have been made available for tonight's Highlanders match against the Crusaders in Dunedin should add to the alarm bells ringing in the visitors' camp.

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