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Getting success out of a team is hard to do and harder to quantify.

For All Black Kieran Read, widely regarded as one of the world's best loose forwards, enjoying his final school years was more important than playing winning rugby.

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

The Chiefs will be without the injured Tim Nanai-Williams when they take on the rapidly improving Crusaders midfield in Saturday's Super Rugby semifinal, but second-five Bundee Aki believes his side has the depth to cope.

Are Quade Cooper's best years as a rugby player behind him?

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?

Now that the Crusaders have finally hit on a successful formula, coach Todd Blackadder is wary about tinkering on the eve of yet another play-offs appearance.

The Highlanders will play the final match of their disastrous season against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday, but no matter what the result is Jamie Joseph won't be sacked.

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, including for centre Robbie Fruean, who had heart surgery during the week - but the Crusaders have quickly put their stunning victory over the Chiefs in its place.

The Crusaders have stunned the Chiefs 43-15 tonight in a match which was supposed to answer a few questions about the two best teams in the New Zealand conference. Instead, it raised several more.

Jamie Mackintosh, fed up with his treatment at the Highlanders which has seen him go from captain to virtually unwanted this season, is heading to the Chiefs.

A rusty performance from the Chiefs was enough to get the job done in a 34-22 win over the Hurricanes.

Sonny Bill Williams could return to the Chiefs as early as next year, says coach Dave Rennie.

Centre, wing or fullback - the questions about where Ben Smith is best suited remain and are likely to continue for some time.

Of all the All Blacks returning to the Super Rugby competition after the three-test sweep of France, it is perhaps Keven Mealamu and his fellow Blues players who have it the toughest.

After two stunning performances off the reserves bench against France, Rene Ranger gets the chance to demonstrate his unique brand of high-octane rugby from the opening whistle in New Plymouth on Saturday.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has his issues but at least he won't be losing any sleep about the way the All Blacks finished the three-test series against France.

The main reason why Aaron Smith has been struggling so much with the Highlanders this season is because he was trying to do too much.