Aaron Cruden will come up against a pair of mates and rivals when the Chiefs visit the Crusaders.

Kees was among 90 youngsters whose names were drawn from a ballot in an exercise in which 10 others received jerseys through the BNZ and team Facebook pages.

The last time Sonny Bill Williams and Charlie Ngatai started together in midfield, the Chiefs produced their attacking performance of the season.

New Zealand Rugby wants to ensure last weekend's concussion incident doesn't happen again and believes the key lies in making television footage available to the match-day doctor.

Concussions are not an area where there can be too much of a good thing - better 10 people saying a player might be concussed than no one, writes Gregor Paul.

Cowan, Bekhuis and Woodcock or Naholo, Fekitoa, Aaron Smith, Ash Dixon and Dan Pryor - Wynne Gray wonders, which team got the better deal?

Rugby great Sean Fitzpatrick says it's a good thing that some of New Zealand's finest are choosing to play abroad - both for the "phenomenal" money and experience.

Highlanders prop Josh Hohneck should never have played on after being knocked cold during Saturday night's Super Rugby game vs the Crusaders.

Colin Slade's decision to play overseas next year has just made Todd Blackadder's rebuilding job at the Crusaders in 2016 a whole lot tougher.

The Highlanders made a big pitch to keep star winger Waisake Naholo but he had all-but signed a deal to go to France before the season had even kicked off.

Hika Elliot is one man who can empathise with the life-changing decision made by Ben Afeaki to quit rugby.

Luke Braid is another concussion casualty for the Blues and will miss Saturday's match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

The Chiefs have emerged from the bye in rude health and ready for another "brutal" battle with the Crusaders.

The Highlanders certainly showed they have playoff credentials by going to Christchurch and winning. It was a statement win, writes Justin Marshall.

The Highlanders' performance in chasing down the Crusaders in Christchurch for a significant victory on Saturday should have been enough to bring the Blues back down to earth.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says it's "obvious" he's not liked or respected in New Zealand as the fallout continues from his unsolicited entry to the referee's room.

At the start of the Super Rugby season, the Blues had a mish-mash of backs while the Highlanders would struggle with forwards. Combine them and they might be handy, writes Wynne Gray.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says it's "obvious" he's not liked or respected in New Zealand.

There is a bit of John Kirwan that is wondering whether there's any point in continuing with this coaching business given that every week the fate of his side lies mostly in the hands of the....

Time to take the Highlanders seriously. A victory in Christchurch suggests they are good enough to win this thing and no one should take their eye off them now.

The Blues offered another true grit performance crowned by another gladiator performance from Kaino.