The angst surrounding Sonny Bill Williams just may be unfounded.

Sir John Kirwan's Blues regime has received another knock, with a key player backing away from endorsing his coaching credentials.

The Highlanders have scotched suggestions that Brad Thorn could make a return to their injury hit side for Friday night’s clash against the Blues.

The Hurricanes will top the standings and play at home during the finals but the rest of the ladder will be determined this weekend.

Whichever way you look at it, the Blues are limping towards one of the worst seasons in their history.

Repeat finalists the Crusaders are out of the mix this time yet for some of their squad it is a victory, writes Wynne Gray.

The Crusaders are out of the playoffs but it's an absence which just might give the All Blacks and Richie McCaw an extra boost ahead of their World Cup defence.

Chris Rattue writes: Come on Sonny Bill Williams - time for the world's greatest athlete to start walking the walk again.

Sometimes it takes a moment of class to get a team going and last night, once again for the Crusaders, it came from their giant wing Nemani Nadolo.

The Crusaders see Ben Volavola, a 24-year-old not wanted by the Waratahs, as the answer to their exodus at first-five.

It’s an outcome that is the new normal under Dave Rennie — the Chiefs tonight reached the playoffs for the fourth straight season to continue their hunt for another title.

The Crusaders got the five points they needs and the Blues avoided total annihilation - a good night all round, then.

Sometimes it takes a moment of class to get a team going and last night, once again for the Crusaders, it came from their giant wing Nemani Nadolo.

The death of Jerry Collins was keenly felt in New Zealand last night - especially in Napier where his former Hurricanes had the difficult task of playing after the news broke.

Daniel Carter will run out at Eden Park tonight to face 15 men looking to take chunks out of him - which is nothing new.

A dark day for the franchise ended on a bright note when the Hurricanes clinched top spot for the first time in Super Rugby history.

Much of the speculative money this week has been on lock James Broadhurst getting an All Black call-up after the season-ending injury to Patrick Tuipulotu.

Join us at 7.30pm for a live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders.

Could there be any truth to the rumours across the Ditch that Sonny Bill Williams will sit out the rest of the series?

Brayden Mitchell was meant to be with the Hurricanes for only 10 weeks to slog through pre-season while All Blacks hooker Dane Coles took a break. He's still there.

Blues prop Angus Ta'avao is heading for the Waratahs next season as he eyes a way into test rugby.

Coach Sir John Kirwan is using tomorrow's match against the Crusaders at Eden Park as a trial for next year's Super Rugby series, writes Wynne Gray.