The New Zealand Super Rugby Conference will once again be the most competitive of the three Conferences.
The 2018 Super Rugby season is fast approaching and our rugby writers have been hard at work running through transfers and injuries as well as coaching changes to provide you with in-depth analyses of each Conference.
Below, Darry Worthington takes a look at how the New Zealand Conference is shaping up this year and where the teams are likely to finish.
To Win Tournament Outright
Crusaders 4/1 | Hurricanes 4/1 | Chiefs 7/1 | Highlanders 8/1 | Blues 16/1
To Win Conference
Crusaders 2/1 | Hurricanes 5/2 | Chiefs 15/4 | Highlanders 9/2 | Blues 8/1
Auckland Blues
2018 Finish: Round-Robin Phase Exit
New Zealand's perennial underachievers have once again assembled a mighty looking squad which features All Blacks sensation Rieko Iaone as well as one of the most divisive figures in World Rugby, Sonny-Bill Williams.
It's not only in the back division where the Aucklanders are able to field quality rugby players. They have arguably the deepest back-row stocks in the tournament with coach Tana Umaga able to call upon Akira Ioane, Kara Pryor, Blake Gibson, Jimmy Tupou, and provided he isn't snatched up by French heavyweights Toulon at the last minute, Jerome Kaino.
The Blues have an Achilles heel, even on paper, with their fly-half stocks looking rather thin with the departure of Ihia West to the Hurricanes. West's departure was offset by the arrival of former All Black Under 20 representative, Otere Black. Black sustained an ACL injury during the offseason and won't feature in Super Rugby this term. As such, a lot of pressure is going to fall on the young shoulders of Stephen Perofeta.
Player to Watch: Stephen Perofeta
There's a lot of hype around this youngster with his debut Super Rugby performance, in which he scored a try and kicked two conversions, against the Reds last year only stoking the flames. He's a real throwback to Blues' pivots of the nineties. He's not scared to attack the gainline but his most impactful asset is undoubtedly his vision. He sees space that few pivots do, which will be crucial in unleashing this lethal Blues back division.
Verdict: 4th-Place Conference Finish, Quarter-Final Exit
It's going to be interesting to see how all the new Super Rugby permutations play out. If this year's qualification rules were in-play last year, then the Blues would have only missed out on qualification by five points. We could well see them make it this year with all five New Zealand Conference sides able to qualify for the knock-out phase.
I think the Blues may just sneak into the knock-out phase this year especially with the Waikato Chiefs losing a few of their stars.
Canterbury Crusaders
2017 Finish: Champions
2017 was the year of Canterbury with the Crusaders lifting the Super Rugby trophy for the first time since 2008 and Canterbury retaining their Mitre 10 Cup title. The Province is certainly heading into this year's tournament in rude health.
Key to Canterbury and the Crusaders' success last term was the form of pivot Richie Mo'unga. The 23-year-old has even more incentive to be at his best this season as his competition for the backup fly-half role for the All Blacks, Lima Sopaga, is set to leave New Zealand at the end of the Super Rugby season.
The 'Saders will once again start the campaign without talismanic eight, Kieran Read, with the All Black skipper sidelined until April after undergoing back surgery at the close of last season. He will be a big loss to the 'Saders but his fellow old heads in the forward pack - Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, and Joe Moody - showed that they are more than capable of assuming the leadership duties when Read was out injured last season.
Player to Watch: Jack Goodhue
The obvious candidate here is Richie Mounga but I think the man who will stand out the most for the Crusaders this year is Jack Goodhue. Able to play in a multitude of backline positions, the 22-year-old has a blistering turn of pace and one of the best dummys in the game.
Verdict: 2nd-Place in Conference, Beaten Finalists
They will once again put in a mighty run but I think they are destined to finish behind the Hurricanes in both the outright stakes and the Conference stakes.
Otago Highlanders
2017 Finish: Quarter-Final Exit
Was it just me or were the Highlanders the most boring of the New Zealand Conference sides to watch last year? The 2015 Champions continued to implement their kicking orientated game plan with the system bearing far less fruit than it had the two years prior. It will certainly be interesting to see if the newly appointed head coach, Aaron Mauger, brings in a more possession-based style this term.
The Highlanders do have a backline that is capable of producing with ball-in-hand. So should Mauger change things up, his side could well become one of the more exciting teams to watch. If fly-half Lima Sopaga - who will take up a contract with the London Wasps at the close of the Super Rugby season - is given license to thrill, he will be more than capable of setting a backline this lethal backline - which features Waisake Naholo, the returning Ben Smith and Tevita Li - alight.
Player to Watch: Tyrel Lomax
The former Melbourne Rebels man has returned to his father's homeland with much fanfare surrounding the move. The son of former New Zealand Rugby League representative, John Lomax, is a solid scrummager but also gets around the park a la Charlie Fauminia. You can expect the off-season recruit to bag a few tries this term.
Verdict: 3rd-Place Conference Finish, Semi-Final Exit
I think we will see a better showing from the Highlanders this term. Mauger was a big believer in keeping ball-in-hand during his time at the helm of the Leicester Tigers. He's likely to bring that mantra with him to the Highlanders. And if his players buy into it, we could well see the men from Otago launch a real assault on the title they won three seasons ago.
Waikato Chiefs
2017 Finish: Semi-Final Exit
The Chiefs have endured massive personnel turnover since the close of last season with James Lowe, Aaron Cruden, Tawera-Kerr Barlow, and Stephen Donald all moving on. I mean that's your first choice half-back pairing, one of your most lethal strike weapons and your most experienced backline player gone in the blink of an eye! How exactly do you come back from that?
Well, to answer my own questions, if the Chiefs are to come back from losing such keymen they are going to need their youngsters to fire. They have many quality youth players that have proved themselves at Under 20's and Mitre 10 Cup level, but the likes of Shaun Steenson and Tiaan Falcon are going to need to up their games if their side is to have any chance of having a title run.
Player to Watch: Damien McKenzie
The all-action McKenzie is set to take over the fly-half reigns this year which is both exciting and worrying for Chiefs fans. The 22-year-old has been nothing short of magnificent for the Chiefs at fullback over the past two seasons but he will need to adapt his game if he is to be a success in the 10 jersey. His attacking verve should see the Chiefs claim their fair share of tries from turnover ball but he may be caught out trying to force the issue from time to time.
Verdict: 5th-Place on the New Zealand Conference
I think the Chiefs are going to struggle this year. McKenzie is a great player but he's no fly-half. He'll cost his team vital points in the big games. Also, the Chiefs' back three is an extremely youthful looking one and, like McKenzie, they are bound to make a few mistakes when the pressure is on.
Wellington Hurricanes
2017 Finish: Semi-Final Exit
Everyone's favourite team to watch will be looking to claim their second title in the space of three seasons when the tournament gets underway. On paper, they have the squad to do this with the likes of Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Vince Aso and Ngani Laumape the human highlight reels in the backline, while the likes of Dane Coles, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifta and Brad Shields will bring the pain upfront.
The Hurricanes don't just have a star-studded starting XV, they have an extremely deep squad as well. They made some shrewd acquisitions in the off-season ensuring that they are well-stocked in every position. They also have some extremely talented youngsters coming through including New Zealand Under 20's sensation Asafo Aumua.
Player to Watch: Asafo Aumua
If you have not seen the YouTube videos of this lad yet, then I urge you to drop what you're doing and go and check them out as this youngster is the most hybrid front-rower you will ever see on a rugby. He has the pace to outstrip most wings and a skillset that most backline players would be jealous of. He doesn't shirk from his core duties either being both a solid lineout thrower and a powerful scrummager. I have no doubt that this man will be the All Blacks' starting hooker for years to come.
Verdict: New Zealand Conference Winners, Overall Champions
I have never seen such a strong Super Rugby squad announced. The Hurricanes have depth in every position - the members of their bench would make every Australian franchise's starting line-up with ease. That squad depth is the reason why my money is on the Hurricanes to claim this year's title.