Chiefs

After four wins on the bounce, the Blues were handed a 33-29 defeat at FMG Stadium Waikato, despite the hosts losing Damian McKenzie to a leg injury early in the second half.

It turned into a thrilling contest for the 14,977 in attendance, in a tit-for-tat second half where the Blues just wouldn't say die. The collisions were typically fierce and the action blood-rushing.

The number out to report on the Chiefs' game against the Highlanders was higher than usual - this time last year there would have been about three of us.

But it's a World Cup year so that number tripled last night - and we got a decent idea of what this season will be like for the All Blacks who will go to the cup games, thanks to the man with the fastest mouth in rugby.

It's one win each so far for both teams, but more importantly the Chiefs beat the Hurricanes last weekend without a number of their stars and playing much of the second half with only 14 men.

In fact the red card and subsequent suspension of back Jonathan Fa'auli left a bit of bitterness between the two sides.

Back at home in Wellington for the quarter-final, the Hurricanes are determined to redeem themselves as well as send their five departing players, and coach Chris Boyd, off in style.

The final will be on 6 July.

It also means Super Rugby will run uninterrupted for 21 weeks and there will be a uniform start to the tournament with a full schedule of seven matches in round one.

Previously the South African and Australian sides have kicked off the competition a week earlier than the New Zealand teams.

The Blues will host the Crusaders in their opening game and the Hurricanes are away to the Waratahs. Both those matches are on Saturday 16 February.

The Waratahs got off to a flyer on Saturday night, leading 14-0, and looked in great shape to back up their win over the Highlanders, which ended 40 straight losses for Australian teams against Kiwi foes.

The game was closer than the scoreline suggests, with just two points separating the teams with five minutes remaining.

But Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie scored his second try after the final siren to claim a bonus-point win and ensure the Waratahs left empty-handed.

Due to All Blacks commitments Damian McKenzie, Brodie Retallick, Anton Leinert-Brown and Nathan Harris have returned to New Zealand following last week's win over the Stormers in Cape Town.

Add to that the injury toll the chiefs have suffered and they're without a total of 20 players for the match.

In the forwards, Liam Polwart starts at hooker for Harris, Tyler Ardron moves to lock in place of Retallick and Pita Gus Sowakula gets a start in the number eight jersey.

In a display of power and efficiency, the South Americans strangled the life out of the disappointing Chiefs to record a fourth successive win for the first time since their introduction to the competition in 2016.

All four have come on the road in Australia and New Zealand, suggesting they are emerging as a force to be reckoned with.

After losing four of their first five games this season, the Jaguares have unearthed a formula based on stifling defence and forward muscle which frustrated the hosts.

A table-topping Kiwi derby featured no shortage of highlights as the hosts ran out three tries-to-one winners tonight in Wellington, led by more scintillating attack from Ben Lam, Ngani Laumape and Beauden Barrett.

The trio shared the tries, although Chiefs five-eighth Damian McKenzie and winger Solomon Alaimalo also continued their brilliant campaigns.

Both teams were out to add to five-match winning streaks after losing their respective opening matches.

The Chiefs are now undefeated in their last 14 games against the Blues, which is the longest unbeaten streak for any team against another in Super Rugby history, but they were behind for much of the match before securing their hard-fought success.

The Chiefs came from a 14-19 half-time deficit to win when referee Paul Williams awarded a penalty try in the 74th minute as the home scrum powered towards the line against a battling Blues side, down to 14 men.

Both missed last week with niggling injuries, although the squad still has 12 players unable to be considered for selection.

Coach Tana Umaga said he is looking for a significant improvement in their team defence and discipline for the repeat game against the Chiefs, after last week's loss to the Sharks.

"We let ourselves down with our team defence. The boys all realise that and have come in this week with a determined attitude. Last year we were developing into a strong team defensive unit and we must get back to that level.