Super Rugby

All roads are expected to lead through Christchurch to claim the Super Rugby crown, although the Brumbies have the small matter of a Buenos Aires long haul to negotiate first.

The Hurricanes have reached the Super Rugby semi-finals for a fifth straight season after holding out the hard-charging Bulls 35-28 in Wellington.

First-five Richie Mo'unga grabbed two tries in a flawless 23-point game as the Crusaders stormed into the Super Rugby semi-finals with a 38-14 hiding of the Highlanders in Christchurch.

All Black Ben Smith is back in the Highlanders' lineup to take on the Crusaders in their Super Rugby quarter-final in Christchurch on Friday night.

Chiefs captain Sam Cane says their stunning transformation from Super Rugby strugglers to playoffs contenders was sparked by a desire to prove their critics wrong.

The Hurricanes have delivered a stirring second-half comeback to chase down the Blues 29-24 as they fine-tune ahead of next week's Super Rugby quarter-finals.

The Super Rugby playoffs race reaches a crescendo in the final round as eight teams battle for four remaining wildcard slots and a place in the quarter-finals.

The Crusaders are retaining their name at least until the end of next year's Super Rugby competition, but will drop the knight and sword image from their logo in 2020.

The Hurricanes have secured a home advantage in the Super Rugby playoffs as they beat the Lions 37-17 away at Ellis Park in a convincing victory.

The Blues' slim Super Rugby finals hopes have evaporated after they conceded a late try to suffer a 29-28 loss to the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Friday.

The Highlanders hopes of reaching the Super Rugby playoffs have been dealt a near fatal blow after Jaco Visagie scored a late try to snatch a 24-24 draw for the Bulls in Dunedin on Friday.

A setback for the Hurricanes as they head towards the Super Rugby play-offs with All Blacks flanker Vaea Fifita suspended for what could be the rest of their season.

Beauden Barrett returned to help keep the Hurricanes well on course for Super Rugby's post-season playoffs as they beat the Sharks 30-17.

The Chiefs have staged a stunning six-try comeback in tonight's Super Rugby clash in Fiji.

The Chiefs came from 20-0 down after 21 minutes to hand the runaway Super Rugby leaders their second defeat of the season after a breathless 80 minutes in the heat of Fiji's National Stadium.

First five Harry Plummer missed a last-minute penalty attempt as the Blues were held to a nerve-jangling draw by an undermanned Bulls side at Eden Park.

Richie Mo'unga had a hand in all of the Crusaders points as they put a controversial week behind them to beat the Blues 19-11 in a patchy Super Rugby derby in Christchurch.