They have done great service for the All Blacks and their Super Rugby sides, but right now many of the Crusaders and Blues' senior players are struggling to get out of a rut.

The Highlanders' three-match winning streak came to a brutal end at the hands of the Brumbies in Canberra last night.

A week that began with Aaron Cruden being ruled out for the rest of the season ended in much more positive fashion for the Chiefs.

Benji Marshall says his short stint playing for the Blues made him a better league player.

After spending the season in the shadow of his younger brother, Marty McKenzie has earned the opening opportunity to fill Aaron Cruden's boots.

Milestone man Pek Cowan hopes the Western Force will break their eight-match losing streak when they play the Chiefs in Hamilton.

One person who might have mixed feelings after Aaron Cruden’s World Cup dream was almost certainly ended by a knee injury is Charles Piutau.

Luck has completely deserted the Reds this season but captain James Slipper senses their fortunes may have finally turned.

Damian McKenzie's form has seen him touted as an All Black-in-waiting, with that elevation potentially arriving as early as next year.

Four years after suffering heartbreak at the final hurdle, Aaron Cruden's World Cup hopes have been dashed in equally unfortunate circumstances.

Every team has played at least eight games this season, which means we are at - or past - the halfway point of the 2015 Super Rugby campaign.

Aaron Cruden's season-ending injury is a dreadful blow for his ambitions, but we can appreciate the depth of our five-eighths talent, writes Wynn Gray.

In sporting circles and rugby conversation, failure has become the accepted outcome for the Blues and they stayed true to that course against the Highlanders, writes Wynne Gray.

This week will start with a different feeling for the Hurricanes.

Blues coach John Kirwan believes his team are still in with a slim chance of making the play-offs but is considering resting his captain Jerome Kaino from the must-win match.

After watching the demolition job the Chiefs did on the Crusaders, there was one really disappointing aspect to emerge.

Richie McCaw knows he's playing short of his peak - and the statistics support that assertion.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has admitted he is struggling to recapture his world-class form in the first half of this year's Super Rugby season.