Justin Marshall writes: If the Blues are going to break their drought before it reaches double figures, it has to be this Friday night at Eden Park.

Sixth and climbing. The surge of the Crusaders on the last leg of their South Africa tour is a warning shot for the rest of the tournament, writes Wynne Gray.

The Crusaders ran riot with eight tries in a 52-10 hammering of the Sharks in South Africa this morning to lay down the biggest marker in round eight of Super Rugby.

Charles Piutau will be a loss to New Zealand rugby, of that there is no doubt, but the last couple of nights have provided ample evidence that the loss will soon be forgotten.

Nearly every player is an All Black and only the No15 jersey is up for grabs each week. Nehe Milner-Skudder is on the way to making that fullback spot his own and could be an All Black one day, too.

It's become a painful business watching the season play out for the Blues, writes Gregor Paul.

Join us here for tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby showdown between the Chiefs and the Blues from Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

Herald columnist Justin Marshall identifies the three big match-ups that will determine tonight’s northern derby.

Trace the Blues' fluttering form and you could settle on events in the middle of 1998 as the birth of their professional rugby problems.

After missing five weeks - the longest injury lay-off of his professional career - Retallick is back to bolster a Chiefs team that have struggled for consistency in recent weeks.

Wynne Gray writes that, on Super Rugby form, Ben Smith and Charles Piutau must head the selectors' World Cup choices.

In a season full of gloom for the Blues, Josh Bekhuis, a new signing from the Highlanders, is standing out like a fair-haired beacon.

The Hurricanes are yet to taste defeat in 2015 and tonight’s 25-20 win over the Stormers in Wellington took them to their seventh win on the bounce.

Charles Piutau yesterday spoke publicly for the first time since signing with Irish club Ulster rather than the Blues.

Slow to start before bubbling towards the playoffs.

Charles Piutau will be lost to the All Blacks next year, but maybe not the Blues.

Sam Cane's outstanding season is set to enter uncharted territory against the Blues on Saturday night.

The Chiefs have mounting choices in their bid to stem a niggling pattern which has hit them mid-season.

Charles Piutau is a player the All Blacks definitely didn't want to lose. But it is understood he has been offered and has already signed a deal in Europe.

A long-held perception among Super Rugby followers is that New Zealand teams are more exciting to watch. Generally, they run the ball more and play an open game.