The Blues future is easy enough to predict with five games of this campaign left.

A couple of things will have become clearer for the All Blacks coaches after the Highlanders' defeat of the Hurricanes - not least the fact they will be feeling pretty good about Malakai Fekitoa.

The Blues probably lack a genuine team culture and departing Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett failed to understand the region he represented, according to Massey rugby researcher Jeremy Hapeta.

An academic has lifted the lid on how the Chiefs have won Super Rugby titles, highlighting the use of Maori cultural themes and responsibility to the community.

If the recent defeat to the Chiefs marked the death knell for the Blues' season, the haemorrhaging started last year.

The Hurricanes may have to start relying on more than themselves if they want to make the Super Rugby playoffs.

The Coltmans will be at Westpac Stadium tonight, watching their son hopefully be part of a Highlanders victory over the Hurricanes, and complete what has been a dream week for the bush-bearded hooker.

From two seasons in the All Blacks' wider training squad to fighting for a place on the Hurricanes bench, it has been a tough run for Brad Shields.

Kieran Read's concussion-enforced absence from the Crusaders is likely to end next week. Coach Todd Blackadder said yesterday that Read was now back to 100 per cent health after his head injury suffered in the narrow victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton.

Tim Bateman has put family first in his decision to leave the Hurricanes at the end of the Super Rugby season.

It is a long way from the tiny Tongan village of Faleloa to the white-hot cauldron of an All Black test.

The Hurricanes and Highlanders couldn't have experienced a more contrasting build-up ahead of their Friday night showdown in the capital.

The Hurricanes can look forward to home cooking for the rest of the Super Rugby season.

Back in the top three and once again the competition's leading try scorers - this should be a rather relaxing bye week for the Chiefs.

This wasn't a message to the rest of the competition from the Crusaders, this was a massacre.

Join us here for tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and the Reds from Suncorp Stadium.

They did their best to throw away the win but the Highlanders hung on to set up an intriguing battle with the Hurricanes on Friday night.

Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands are on the hunt for players and are putting pressure on those eligible for the Island nations.

Big Ben Tameifuna has a big decision to make — stay with the Chiefs or sign with Toulouse and most likely commit to playing for Tonga at next year’s World Cup.

They did their best to throw away the win but the Highlanders barely hung on to set up an intriguing battle with the Hurricanes on Friday night.

The ball-carrying power of Patrick Tuipulotu has been noted by the All Black selectors who will almost certainly name the Blues lock in their wider training squad on Monday.

A perfect try played a big part in deciding an imperfect game.