Overview
- After six rounds, the Hurricanes, Blues, Brumbies, Reds, Crusaders and Chiefs are viewed as effectively locked into the finals, with the Chiefs three points clear of the seventh-placed Waratahs despite Sydney’s side having four home games.
- Chief executive Jack Mesley has urged hard conversations about salary caps and drafts to even up the competition.
- The Crusaders have pushed back on changing the current model following a stretch of eight titles in nine years.
- Talent concentration is intensifying, highlighted by the Chiefs signing rising outside back Kyren Taumoefolau and keeping him in reserve grade while boasting about a dozen current All Blacks.
- Inequality is weighing on viability, cited in the Melbourne Rebels’ collapse and sparse crowds for the Western Force and Moana Pasifika, even as the Brumbies keep uncovering contributors such as winger Kye Oates.