New Zealand's Super rugby conference is primed for a high-octane start next year with a clash between the Chiefs and Crusaders.

The Crusaders continue to wait on Julian Savea, with an apparently straightforward process - stay with the Hurricanes or move on - looking increasingly complicated.

The Crusaders have made a big step towards making up for the loss of Dan Carter next season with the expected signing of All Blacks wing Julian Savea from the Hurricanes.

The Crusaders had momentum going into the play-offs, but tripped up again. Not good enough for a team with seven titles, writes Patrick McKendry.

On a night when the future of Super Rugby was cast into doubt, the Chiefs showed they were a team for the present, downing the Crusaders in a semifinal thriller.

Watch a replay of our live blog from tonight's Super Rugby semi final between the Chiefs and the Crusaders from Waikato Stadium.

Kieran Read last year watched the Crusaders' semifinal defeat to the Chiefs in Hamilton from the discomfort of his couch.

Todd Blackadder lives in a house about a kilometre from Crusaders' headquarters in suburban Christchurch.

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.

The Crusaders produced a scintillating display of footy tonight to thrash the Reds 38-9 at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

Join us here for our live blog of the Crusaders taking on the Reds in the Super Rugby playoffs in Christchurch.

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.

Watch a replay of our live blog from the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and Hurricanes in Christchurch tonight.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw could be back in the Super 15 next week if Saturday's highly-anticipated return to club rugby is a success.

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.