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ESPN Assistant Editor- Brittany Mitchell has been a sports fan from an early age, with a keen interest in netball, cricket and rugby. Brittany interned at Rugby Magazine and the Australian Rugby Union before joining ESPN.
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Special to ESPN- John Goliath is a long-suffering Tottenham Hotspur fan, who likes to watch running rugby on sunny days at Newlands. He also wishes he could hit low stingers off the tee like Tiger Woods.
Almost halfway through the season, derby matches are starting to hold even more weight, while the fight to lead conferences continues.
Round 9 will see three derbies that have the potential to see a new leader in each conference, while the Australian conference begin their perilous run of games across the ditch.
Read on for some of the key storylines for Round 9.
Australian Conference
Brumbies desperate for respect
The Brumbies have only just returned to their ways of old, coming from 15-0 down against the Reds in Canberra last week to get their season back on track. But just seven days later they face one of their biggest tests when they take on the Highlanders in Dunedin.
With at least one trans-Tasman showdown scheduled each week for the remainder of the regular season, a shadow looms over the Australian conference. The Brumbies are the first side to travel across the ditch and attempt to end Australia's abysmal 33-game losing streak over there.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar admitted this week that the Australian Super Rugby teams had lost respect in New Zealand with their poor performances. He was adamant that this game was more than just a chance to move closer to the top of the Australian conference; it was about them "going to New Zealand and earning respect as a club and a team".
It was 2013 when the Brumbies last defeated the Highlanders away from home and it's a match the Brumbies have been looking back on at training; becoming a significant talking point for the side.
But the Brumbies will need more than distant memories and their recent revival to be the first Australian side to break the New Zealand drought. David Pocock's recent return could prove the difference for the side.
Playing an instrumental role in their second half charge last week, Pocock will yet again need to step up for Brumbies in Dunedin.
Yet to be deterred by the new breakdown laws, the No.7 continues to make an impact at the breakdown; generating several pilfers, forcing the penalty and making an average 13.5 tackles in a game, ranking him sixth in the tournament.
Pocock's domination alongside the Brumbies return to their old ways, keeping the ball in tight and utilising their strong set piece, could finally see an Australian victory in enemy territory.
Match Centre: Sunwolves vs Blues
Match Centre: Rebels vs. Jaguares
Match Centre: Waratahs vs. Reds
New Zealand Conference
Battle of New Zealand fly-halves
It's the world's best fly-half against one of New Zealand's newest to take on the position when the Hurricanes host the Chiefs on Friday night. Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie are set to go head-to-head in a battle that could prove whether McKenzie really fits the bill as the Chiefs' playmaker.
Moving into the No.10 jersey at the beginning of the season, McKenzie produced an underwhelming start, suffering from a lack of space, before finding his rhythm against the Sunwolves in round 6 and further growing into the role.
But McKenzie will face his true test as a No.10 when he takes on fellow All Black Barrett.
Currently under an injury cloud, McKenzie has proved himself a vital piece in the Chiefs machine, playing in the side's last 48 successive games and until last weekend, when he was substituted at the half, had played the full 80 minutes for the past 40 games.
While his opposite Barrett is also suffering injury doubts - withdrawn from the Hurricanes line-up minutes before their win over the Blues - it's unlikely McKenzie's test against the world's best will be any easier.
The current All Blacks No.10, Barrett is a true master in his playmaker role, instrumental in the Hurricanes ability to quickly turn from defence to attack and threaten from every position on the field.
McKenzie leads the competition with five try assists, second with line break assists and fourth in tackle busts, however, he also turns the ball over far too often, with nine turnovers and 10 handling errors, errors the Hurricanes are sure to exploit.
Looked at as a potential No.10 option for the All Blacks, McKenzie has this opportunity to prove that he's a genuine contender for the role.
Match Centre: Hurricanes vs. Chiefs
Match Centre: Highlanders vs. Brumbies
African Conference
The Sharks had a couple of massive weeks in New Zealand before heading back to South Africa.
They scored more than 60 points in their victory over the Blues in a pulsating match, while they should have beaten the Hurricanes last weekend in one of their standout performances of the last couple of years in Super Rugby.
But how much did those high-intensity, antirational battles take of them ahead of what is going to be another physically demanding fixture against the Bulls?
The Pretoria side are coming off a good win over the Stormers and an off weekend during the last round of fixtures, while the Sharks had two tough matches and had to make the trip back from Australasia.
South African derbies aren't for the faint of heart and the Sharks will need to be up for the challenge physically, as well as mentally. The Sharks' forwards have started to hit their straps over the last few weeks, but the Bulls will test them up front, especially with their powerful maul.
Hopefully the Sharks have got enough left in the tank to make Saturday's solitary game in the republic a memorable one.
Match Centre: Sharks vs. Bulls
It's a big week for ...
Jamie Booth
Coming on at halftime against the Sharks last week to replace an injured TJ Perenara, Jamie Booth has been given the starting No.9 jersey in the absence of Perenara again this week.
Suffering some technical issues last week, Booth said he was determined to work alongside his teammates throughout the week to get rid of the yips that plagued him.
Lining up alongside Beauden Barrett, who missed last week's game through a late withdrawal, Booth is sure to have more options as he looks to fill a giant hole in the Hurricanes backline.
Playing in such a pivotal position, in a game that is sure to impact the New Zealand conference standings, people throughout New Zealand will be interested to see if the young gun will rise to the challenge, or falter.