New Zealand Rugby is having to fend off criticism of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs format.
Fans, pundits and even some of the All Blacks have been left baffled at the disparity between the top teams and those who snuck into the post-season - case in point: the eighth-placed Highlanders who qualified with just four wins.
But NZ Rugby insists there are no changes imminent for the much-maligned format that many are struggling with, including All Blacks hooker Dane Coles.
"It would've been nice to have it top six," Coles said.
NZ Rugby maintains the Highlanders - who boast just four wins and 10 losses - deserve their spot though.
"People will always have their views won't they about what's right and what's not," general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum told Newshub.
"I know in the case of the Highlanders, while they've only posted four wins, they've also come incredibly close in a large number of other games."
On Saturday, the southerners will face a Blues team that finished 35 points ahead of them.
"Part of the thinking behind the eight team finals series was leaving tension in the regular season for as long as possible," Lendrum added. "And so to that extent, we saw it work."
Regardless of the various challenges it faced, NZR believes it was a successful regular season, with the advancement of Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua among the highlights.
"We are all looking forward, not just those teams, but all of us, to a more normal year, next year."
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