After an almost traditional slow start, the New Zealand Conference is now the form group in 2014 Super Rugby.

While this points towards a typically formidable squad for the All Blacks in the coming weeks, the Kiwis will not have it all their own way in the closing stages of the regular season.

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Internal cannibalisation to re-adjust table

With 4 teams in the top 7, the continued form of the New Zealand teams in theory could see them dominate the Super Rugby Finals Series.

But this will not be the case.

In the first 13 weeks of Super Rugby, there have been 10 Kiwi derbies.

In the final 6 rounds, there are a further 10.

4 Of those 6 rounds will feature doubles, meaning that collectively (draws aside), there are 10 guaranteed defeats waiting for the New Zealand teams.

Crusaders form must be backed by home rights

Over the last 3 years at this time of the season the Crusaders have been 6 points (2011) or 7 points (2012, 2013) away from the ladder leaders.

This year the 7-time champions have a 5-point gap but more importantly have a game in hand compared to the Cell C Sharks, Brumbies and Chiefs.

It will be difficult to argue that they are the team to beat.

2 Wins in South Africa, success in Hamilton and 97 points in 2 games against Australian opposition is backed by 4 games at AMI stadium in their last 6.

They also have 2 more outer conference games to come in that home stretch.

Against the Cell C Sharks (who have never won in Christchurch), and the Western Force (1 draw, 2 losses), the Crusaders also have their almost insane records against South African and Australian teams to enhance their claims.

Only once has a side from the Republic won in Christchurch (Northern Transvaal in 1996), while only 4 times has an Australian team won in Crusaders territory.

Home advantage counts for so much, and few teams win final’s rugby with red and black flags waving.

Chiefs bid back on track at neighbours expence

Already the more powerful New Zealand teams are killing off the chances of their local rivals.

The Blues loss to the champions wasn’t mathematically terminal, 4 wins from their last 5 with some bonus points will keep them in the calculations.

However they will need to beat the likes of the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Chiefs if they are to have any hopes – 3 teams that have proved they are championship contenders.

The Chiefs, with back-to-back victories for the 1st time since March, showed for the 1st time in some matches the tremendous mana and belief that exists within the side, not to mention a ruthless counter-attacking ability.

With a week’s rest to come, and Aaron Cruden’s return imminent, the famous ‘three-peat’ is still achievable.

Fringe contenders about to enter their defining fortnight

The Hurricanes and Highlanders are well placed, 6th and 7th on the table respectively.

With perfect planning the 2 play each other in Round 14, likely propelling 1 firmly into the top 6 and potentially scuppering the hopes of the other.

Even more dramatic is the fact that in Round 15, the Hurricanes host the Chiefs and the Highlanders welcome the Crusaders.

The champions and 7-time winners have resumes to embellish their recent form, while the men from the Deep South and capital are still to conquer Super Rugby, let alone the New Zealand Conference.

We will soon know whether that will be case in 2014.

A year of blackness?

It seems like a long time ago that many pundits were quite fairly predicting it would be game on come Bledisloe Cup time.

With 8 wins in the last 10 Super Rugby trans-Tasman matches to New Zealand teams, in more than 1 case convincingly, 1 man likely sleeping very well of late, is Steve Hansen.

If a handful of All Blacks are still to hit their straps, plenty of new faces are putting their names forward, while there isn’t a position – even considering the need for more depth at centre and rake (hooker) – that doesn’t have a world class operator available.

Led by their most experienced player, in Richie McCaw, the skipper has made over 40 tackles in his last 2 matches and on both occasions had more ruck arrivals than any other man on the field.

When the World Cup winning captain sets such an example, often his All Blacks follow.