Chris Boyd and John Plumtree have been named as the Hurricanes new coaches for next season.

It sounds incongruous but Aaron Cruden will benefit from the reduction in responsibility that arrives in the All Black environment.

Melbourne Rebels back Jason Woodward has agreed to a two-year deal with the Hurricanes, allowing him to pursue a childhood dream of playing for the All Blacks.

Ihaia West's performance in the Blues' big victory over the Hurricanes on Saturday night proved he is not only at home at this level.

Apart from the failure to gain a bonus point in their victory over the Force in Christchurch, the past weekend couldn't have gone any better for the Crusaders.

The Brumbies kept their Super Rugby season alive with a 37-10 bonus point win over the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra.

The Blues will be denied access to their most influential and arguably best asset until round eight of Super Rugby next year, as Eden Park is off-limits until early April due to the Cricket World Cup.

Strange business this Super Rugby competition. It takes a three-week break now and yet it's in the hiatus where it has previously been won and lost.

Relive all the action from the Super Rugby clash between the Blues and the Hurricanes from Eden Park in Auckland

The Chiefs' title defence suffered a serious blow in the Waratahs' gutsy win and the question now for the defending champions will be whether they can even make the playoffs

Something had to change when Stuart Lancaster took over. England had to shelve the arrogance which surrounded them, writes Wynne Gray.

The rise of Simon Hickey from the Blues' wider training group to starting No 10 makes you realise things can change quickly in professional rugby.

Steven Luatua, a standout for the Blues last year but unable to break into the starting line-up this season, is set to miss the All Blacks cut when the final squad is named in Auckland tomorrow.

Thought worthy of only a couple of games for the Hurricanes development team this season, Ihaia West could help the Blues pose a few problems against the franchise that didn't want him.

It doesn't take much to leave Matt Proctor speechless. The Hurricanes fullback is a reserved young man and one of the things he and his coach Mark Hammett acknowledge he has to improve is his communication skills.

Wayne Smith's defensive wizardry has won the Chiefs a fair few games over the last three seasons.

The New Zealand Rugby Union today confirmed that Crusader Zac Guildford's contract has been terminated.