The grapes were very sour in Sydney as the Highlanders hillbilly forwards soaked up all the hometown posturing - then rattled to the winning post, writes Wynne Gray.

Pick any quality and the Highlanders showed it in Sydney tonight to make it an all New Zealand final.

History has not been kind to the Highlanders - but they have proven history to be irrelevant time and time again.

From playing rugby with an old plastic bottle to pulling on the black jersey, Waisake Naholo's path to the top has not been straightforward.

Where will the match turn, what can we look for to see who's getting some traction? Wynne Gray provides the analysis.

Liam Coltman is not getting ahead of himself. The Waratahs - and their big, bristling forwards - await, but the Highlanders hooker and his team are staying calm.

Aaron Smith is the one of the most vital players in All Black rugby today. And he is in the form of his life.

Considering the Chiefs lost five from five against the Kiwi sides still alive in the Super Rugby playoffs, no arguments can be made of an unjust exit.

The brilliance of the Highlanders' attack poses questions about whether it can be repeated at All Black level, writes Wynne Gray.

There were 16 long years between home playoff games for the Highlanders - but this one was well worth the wait.

Catch everything that happened in the big Super Rugby quarter-final between the Highlanders and the Chiefs.

It is just another game - but then again it is not. Trying to find the blend between the two is what the Highlanders need to do tonight in Dunedin.

The Blues just need to look at the Highlanders, writes Justin Marshall.

Flanker John Hardie looks to be the biggest injury concern for the Highlanders as they get into playoff mode. The team will start training today.

Watch a replay of tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Highlanders from Eden Park.

The second five-eighth has slipped quietly under the radar to bring up his 50th game against the Blues tonight.

The Highlanders are not getting ahead of themselves before playing the Blues in Auckland tomorrow night.

The Highlanders have scotched suggestions that Brad Thorn could make a return to their injury hit side for Friday night’s clash against the Blues.

Whichever way you look at it, the Blues are limping towards one of the worst seasons in their history.

The death of Jerry Collins was keenly felt in New Zealand last night - especially in Napier where his former Hurricanes had the difficult task of playing after the news broke.

A dark day for the franchise ended on a bright note when the Hurricanes clinched top spot for the first time in Super Rugby history.