The Chiefs have won the local Super Rugby conference after the Crusaders beat the Hurricanes 25-17 in Christchurch on Friday night to secure home advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
The Crusaders were hunting a bonus-point win to put pressure on the Chiefs but only scored three tries, handing the champion Chiefs a second straight local conference victory.
The Hurricanes, who were already out of the playoffs race, fought to the finish and took it to the hosts, pulling within a point in the last 15 minutes when winger Julian Savea scored a late try.
The visitors searched desperately for a late score, but jet-heeled winger Tom Marshall dribbled a kick to the left corner in the final minutes and bolted half the length of the field to touch it over the line.
