With the 2015 Super Rugby play-offs fast approaching we review the 16th round of games, focusing on the New Zealand franchises with the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour in mind.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph believes his team can go all the way this year after watching them leapfrog the Chiefs with a 36-9 win at at Rugby Park in Invercargill.
The Highlanders have all but assured themselves of a play-off berth with the victory that saw All Black Ben Smith go over late on for the bonus-point fourth score.
The Chiefs and the Highlanders are still both well placed to make the post season and when asked how far the Highlanders can go in 2015 Joseph confidently responded, "We can go all the way."
"There is two games to go, but if you look at the competition, this team has beaten all of the teams really," Joseph told Stuff.
The Highlanders have two matches left – against the Hurricanes and the Blues – and the first thing on Joseph's mind is cementing their place in the play-offs and booking a home clash.
The Crusaders are still clinging on to a chance of a play-off spot after they saw off the table-topping Hurricanes with an emphatic 35-18 victory.
Dan Carter pulled the strings impressively at fly-half why the unstoppable Nemani Nadolo added another try to his season tally.
The Hurricanes have already qualified for the play-offs and are all but guaranteed to top the table but tries from Dane Coles and Ardie Savea were not enough to hold off the seven time champions.
Defeat in the previous round to the Waratahs could end up costing the Crusaders in the final reckoning but with two rounds to go they will not be giving up yet.
It was a bye week for the Blues who will now look to finish off the season on a high, but elsewhere the Brumbies beat the Bulls to close the gap in the Australian conference to defending champions the Waratahs.
The Tahs lost to the Lions while elsewhere the Stormers beat the Cheetahs, the Sharks beat the Rebels and the Reds beat the Force.
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