As the Blues face their latest drama, one of their coaching castoffs, Joe Schmidt, is aiming at a landmark with Ireland.

There is a glaring difference between the two sporting products on offer: the cricket is exciting; the rugby is anything but, writes Paul Thomas.

An encounter with the unbeaten Stormers represents an ideal time for Aaron Cruden to rediscover his radar.

If there is a straw the Blues can clutch ahead of tonight's game it is the story of the spreadsheet - which shows there is a foundation from which they can work.

The smart money is on the unbeaten Hurricanes claiming the competition points tomorrow, but statistics offer a few gremlins.

John Kirwan faces the very real prospect of losing his job if the results don't come over the next three or four weeks.

The struggling Blues will be without captain Jerome Kaino for their clash with the Hurricanes in Palmerston North on Friday as the All Black recovers from a concussion.

Go on then, write them off. Screw up your tickets and burn your scarves and refuse to watch them for the rest of the season.

the Blues have been lolling in mediocrity in the 12 years since they last won the Super rugby title, writes Wynne Gray.

After four rounds a Super Rugby pattern is starting to emerge around who's performing well this season.

John Kirwan's "bring it on" defiance in the aftermath of the Blues' depressing loss to the Lions was slightly more measured yesterday.

John Kirwan has received the backing of Blues chief executive Michael Redman following the team's defeat to the Lions, which has left them in last place in the competition.

After watching his team blow a 10-3 lead to the bottom-placed team in the competition for their fourth defeat in four games in 2015 Kirwan said: "I like moments like this. Men need to stand up, so bring it on."

A match the Blues should have won, needed to desperately to win for themselves and coach John Kirwan, was spilled, fumbled and thrown away.

The only thing more humiliating about being dragged into a dog fight with the Lions, is being dragged into that fight and then losing.

Marty Banks kicked two penalties in the final five minutes to overturn a deficit and help the Highlanders to a last-minute win over the Chiefs.

If the Blues are to turn their season aroundthey need to chalk up more than a solitary victory against the Lions, writes Gregor Paul.

Editorial: John Kirwan is clearly on borrowed time.

Nathan Sharpe tells a good story about Keven Mealamu, the man who will tonight break his individual Super Rugby appearance record by playing in his 163rd match.

Join us here for the live blog of tonight's Super Rugby clash between the Chiefs and the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium.