Blues rise, Crusaders fall marks Super Rugby power shift in New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The 12th round of Super Rugby Pacific may have seen a changing of the guard in New Zealand rugby.

The Auckland-based Blues surged to the top of the championship ladder with a 31-27 win over the formerly first-place Hurricanes while the seven-time defending champion Crusaders dropped further back in the playoffs race when they lost 32-29 to the Highlanders.

The only remaining obstacle to the Blues finishing first at the end of the regular season appears to be a clash with the Hamilton-based Chiefs in the last round.

The Crusaders have won only two of their 11 matches in the regular season and seem to have little chance of reaching the playoffs with matches to come against the third-placed ACT Brumbies and the Blues.

A playoffs series without the Christchurch-based Crusaders and with the Blues in top spot could mark a major power shift in New Zealand rugby, at least a return to a different era.