Ben Smith provides the Highlanders with a wonderful counter-attacking threat © Getty Images

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If the Highlanders can keep performing at that level they will be a threat to anyone in the last stages of the Super Rugby season. Come finals time the raised interest is always the same. I think last year there was some confusion around how the conference system would work. But this year the quality of rugby at the end of the competition has been as good as you could wish to see.

I think what has added to the interest for New Zealanders this year is that both the Highlanders and the Hurricanes are facing new territory which is good; it's what the competition needs. There is a lot more enthusiasm from Wellington and the Otago-Southland region over what is going on with their teams.

It's probably the dawn of a new era for rugby dominance in New Zealand. The power often shifts around and we can see it shifting again.

Waratahs v Highlanders a match of contrasting styles

The Highlanders' style of duck and weave is what makes them dangerous. They shouldn't deviate from the way they have been playing. They don't want to get into a slog fest in the forward battle, or an arm wrestle, because that is not the Highlanders' style. It's punch and move, punch and move.

When you look at the way they play the game, they will often send two players into the contact area when they are carrying the ball because it is all about getting really lightning quick possession. But, they hang onto the ball for long phases and they create something. And they've got X-factor as well as knowing the best moment to strike. They can tire teams out with the constant movement.

Conversely, what the Waratahs need to do is smother them. But that is hard to do because the Highlanders players have been conditioned to help the person who goes to ground with the ball so the half-back can shift it as quickly as possible, and if he's not there then someone else will play halfback.

It's a style that's been good to watch but their Achilles heel, as I say, is the team that can smother them. Slow the game down, then just grind them out. The Highlanders' forward pack has been good but I think coming up against a big forward pack like the Waratahs you can expect that will be where the defending champions will take the Highlanders on.

Will Skelton is now playing 80 minutes for the Waratahs © Getty Images

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What the Chiefs tried to do was go through the middle and expose them that way. I think I heard Dave Rennie say they kept doing it rather than shifting the point of attack.

The Waratahs will back their forward pack and they will employ their physical power. The Waratahs have demonstrated they are a tough side. They have got that foundation up front and they can really squeeze a team and put pressure on but again they will want to knock the front door down. It's a bit like comparing two boxers: one lightweight who is going to duck and weave and move around, and the other is a heavyweight who is going to want to thump them.

In saying that the Waratahs have got X-factor right through their backline as well.

This just seems like the Hurricanes' year

I think the travel factor is going to be huge for the Brumbies. They went over and beat a fairly average Stormers team and coming all the way back from South Africa is tough, especially against a side that has got so much to play for. I think this year it has been all about the Hurricanes and everything they have done, and now they have their fallen brother Jerry Collins to add in. They have got more motivation than ever to put on a real performance this weekend.

I can't see anyone going to Wellington and beating them in the state of mind they are in. Add in a couple of new players being named in the All Blacks, and a couple who didn't get named, and there is probably something for them to prove. They are good enough reasons for them to go out and win well.

The Hurricanes have played some scintillating rugby on their way to a home semi-final © Getty Images

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Tana will need support for Blues success

In relation to Tana Umaga being appointed coach of the Blues I have to say that I would have liked to have seen the job advertised. I think by shoulder tapping Tabai Matson, and talking to Kieran Keane and now appointing Tana, there has been a lot of shoulder tapping going on; whereas if you throw the job out for people to apply you may have to spend a week interviewing people. But what is a week at this stage of the season?

Under the system the Blues have used, should Tana not be able to get the wins required, they are going to crucify him in a couple of years time. He needs to get all the support possible, he needs to appoint his own management team and he needs time to do that.

If they had advertised it, Tana would probably have got it. But from the outside looking in, it would have been a better look to have advertised the role and avoided any hint, rightly or wrongly, of an inside job - which is the last thing the Blues need at the moment.