Super Rugby

With their backs against the wall for much of Saturday’s match, and barely one-third of possession, the Crusaders seized on every chance.

Midfielder-cum-winger Seta Tamanivalu bagged a clinical double, after earlier efforts by halfback Bryn Hall and Test stalwart Israel Dagg.

Without the ball, the Crusaders were equally impressive, holding a territorially dominant Chiefs outfit — with Damian McKenzie lurking from deep — to a single try, a late consolation to lock Brodie Retallick.

A quarter-final packed with tension remained in the balance through the final stages and was ultimately won by the visitors' superior defence and the goal-kicking boot of Damian McKenzie.

It means the Chiefs must next face the Crusaders in Christchurch, with the possibility of a return to South Africa for the final if the Lions beat the Hurricanes.

Handling errors predominated throughout the match, which didn't remotely resemble the Chiefs' 60-21 win in the equivalent match at the same venue last year.

Chasing their eighth title and first since 2008, the Crusaders will remain in Christchurch next week to meet either the Stormers or the Chiefs who play later on Saturday in Cape Town.

RNZI reports driving rain and wind greeted both teams at a sodden AMI Stadium, but the conditions played into the hands of the home side's dominant pack while dampening the Highlanders' attacking firepower.

Front-rowers Joe Moody and Codie Taylor rumbled over for tries to drive the Crusaders to a 17-0 lead at halftime that the Highlanders were unable to budge in the second half.

It was far from a perfect performance from the defending champions as they struggled up front early and had to break down a rugged Brumbies defensive line to keep their hopes of back to back titles alive.

Faumuina, 30, is heading to French club Toulouse at the end of the season.

He earnt his 50th test cap in the drawn third test against the British and Irish Lions at the weekend and this weekend's match against the Japanese side the Sunwolves would have been his 100th Super rugby game had he not missed the match against the Queensland Reds in Samoa earlier this season due to tonsillitis.

Former All Black loose forward Steven Luatua will also play his last match for the Blues.

However, eight-Test flanker Liam Squire returns from injury to boost the Highlanders, who are fourth in the New Zealand conference and set to meet either South Africa's high-flying Lions or competition-leading countrymen the Crusaders in the quarter-finals.

Halfback Aaron Smith is rested after playing every match in the All Blacks' drawn Test series with the British and Irish Lions, while influential fullback Smith has been given another week off after vertigo kept him out of the final two tests.

The game was level at 7-7 with 15 minutes left on the clock before a break from Chiefs winger Shaun Stevenson set up James Lowe in the left corner to give the visitors the lead at 14-7.

RNZI reports the try was a fitting trophy for Lowe who played in his 50th Super Rugby match tonight.

Chiefs fullback Damien McKenzie then added a penalty in the final 10 minutes to push their lead to 10 points.

Then in the final three minutes of the game, the Hurricanes got down the other end of the field and scored through Wes Goosen, getting within three points of the Chiefs.

The Blues edged the Queensland Reds 34-29 in Apia on Friday but the 8000-capacity stadium was less than half-full, prompting criticism on social media that ticket prices were too expensive.

Outspoken former Samoa international Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu told New Zealand radio that the Blues management were "ignorant" and "arrogant" in their approach to the game in the developing country.

The Blues region is home to about 150,000 Samoans while the team itself has a number of players with Samoan heritage, as well as head coach Tana Umaga.

"We've seen the amount of Samoan players that are playing overseas and it's good to take something back to the islands," he said.

"We saw it with obviously other teams going to Fiji and now it's Samoa's time. It will showcase what they can do and how they can cater for these big games, which is a positive," said Tana Umaga.

The family of Blues and All Black lock Patrick Tuipolotu emigrated to New Zealand from Samoa.

The match is scheduled to be played at nib Stadium in Perth on Friday 20 October, with players from Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory eligible for Affiliated States selection later this year.

NRL Affiliated States Manager Martin Meredith said the opportunity for an Affiliated States side to play one of the powerhouse rugby league sides in England would be a once in a lifetime match for some players.